Monastery – Tibetdaily

Ganden Monastery: Tsongkhapa’s seat at 4,300 m

Ganden Monastery is the first and primary monastery of the Gelug sect. This image illustrates the classic Tibetan architectural style found in the Lhasa valley.

Ganden Monastery was founded in 1409 by Tsongkhapa himself on Wangbur Mountain at 4,300 m, 40 km east of Lhasa. It is the mother seat (gdan sa) of the Gelug school — the monastery from which Drepung and Sera descend — and offers the widest valley panorama of any Lhasa day trip..

Drepung Monastery: once the world’s largest monastic seat

Panoramic view of Drepung Monastery at the foot of Gambo Utse mountain in Lhasa.

Drepung Monastery, founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje Tashi Palden, was once the largest monastery in the world with up to 10,000 monks. It sits at 3,800 m on Gambo Utse mountain 5 km west of central Lhasa and remains the principal Gelug seat alongside Sera and Ganden..

Sera Monastery: Lhasa’s famous debating courtyard

Tibetan monks engaged in energetic debating at the famous courtyard of Sera Monastery in Lhasa.

Sera Monastery, founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje Shakya Yeshi, is one of Lhasa’s three great Gelug monasteries and is best known for its afternoon debating sessions in the courtyard. It sits at 3,700 m on the northern slope of Lhasa valley, 5 km from the Potala..

Jokhang Temple: Tibet’s holiest shrine since 652 CE

The shimmering golden roofs of Jokhang Temple in Lhasa with the Potala Palace visible in the distance.

The Jokhang Temple on Barkhor Square in Lhasa was founded in 652 CE by King Songtsen Gampo and holds the Jowo Shakyamuni — a gilt statue regarded as Tibet’s most sacred image. The temple anchors the Barkhor pilgrimage circuit and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage ensemble (site 707) with the P