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Founded in the 12th century as a Black Hat monastery, Rutok Monastery converted to the Yellow Hat sect in 1509 during the reign of the second Dalai Lama…
Must-see attractions in Tibet
Lhasa
This small but active monastery is a real delight and is invariably crowded with elderly Tibetans thumbing prayer beads or lazily swinging prayer wheels…
Lhasa
On the northern Barkhor Circuit, 10m down a side alley, is the entrance to the Jampa Lhakhang, on the right. The ground floor has a huge two-storey statue…
Ngari
On the banks of the Sutlej, only a few hours’ drive northwest of Darchen, the hot springs at Tirthapuri are where pilgrims traditionally bathe after…
Lhasa
The wood-block printing press in the middle of this traditional housing compound doesn’t welcome visitors, so head instead to the atmospheric chapel in…
Lhasa
Just outside the Ramoche Temple, a doorway to the right by a collection of yak-butter and juniper-incense stalls leads to one of Lhasa's hidden gems, the…
Lhasa
Gomang is the second-largest of Drepung’s colleges. The main hall has a whole row of images, including those of Jampa, Tsepame and the seventh Dalai Lama…
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The Jampa Ling, on the western side of the Samye complex, is the site of Samye’s Great Debate, which determined the course of Tibetan Buddhism. On the…
Lhasa
This retreat complex high in the hills above Lhasa is home to 23 monks. The original hermitage lies in ruins in an incredible location on the side of the…
Lhasa
The first chapel you reach from the monastery's parking area is Ngam Chö Khang, one of Ganden's oldest. It is built on the site of Tsongkhapa’s original…
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After a visit to Mindroling Monastery it's worth popping into this traditional factory just off the parking lot. Tibetan workers split fragrant logs and…
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The restored Aryapalo Ling was Samye’s first building and retains a lovely ancient feel. The statue of Arya Lokeshvara is similar to one seen in the…
Tsang
This mountain pass is one of the highest points on the drive from Lhasa to Gyantse. It climbs from the Yarlung Valley to its 4795m apex, where a parking…
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Founded by Drignung-Til as a branch of the Drigung Kagyu school in 1253, Chulong's 112 resident nuns are now members of various Red Hat sects. Inside the…
Ngari
Trugo has a great location on the southern shore of Manasarovar, at a spot where many Indian pilgrims make their ritual immersion in the lake. The main…
Lhasa
On the northern section of the Barkhor Circuit is a small building on the right, set off from the main path. This is the Mani Lhakhang, a chapel that…
Tsang
It's worth making the short (1.5km) drive southwest of town to this canyon, which you can cross on a vertigo-inducing suspension bridge draped in prayer…
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The green-walled, Chinese-roofed Jangchub Semkye Ling houses a host of bodhisattvas around a statue of Marmedze (the Past Buddha) on an ornate lotus…
Lhasa
A 10-minute walk from Sera Ütse is this superb viewpoint, probably Lhasa’s most scenic picnic spot. From here a new road continues east down into the Dode…
Tsang
The lovely old pillars and carved wooden snow lions and garudas lend this chapel in Dzongkhar's southern old town an ancient feel. Look for the antique…
Ngari
The monastery dukhang (assembly hall) here has the stone footprints of Guru Rinpoche and his consort Yeshe Tsogyel to the right of the altar. Outside the…
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The Drayur Gyagar Ling was originally the centre for the translation of texts, as depicted in the wall murals. There's an inner kora (pilgrim circuit)…
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The large, active, Gelugpa-sect Riwo Dechen Monastery sprawls above Chongye's old town across the lower slopes of Mt Chingwa below the fort. The main…
Eastern Tibet
Around 500m back to the west from the Mid-lake Island Tourist Service Centre (湖心岛旅游服务中心, Húxīndǎo Lǚyóu Fúwù Zhōngxīn), climb a small hill to a viewing…
Lhasa
Before leaving the monastery it’s worth having a look at the printing blocks in this new hall. Photos are ¥10. Prints made on site are for sale (¥25 to …
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Once the monastery printing press, now serving as a small chapel. Look for the sacred stone in the centre of the chapel which was once used to hold ink…
Lhasa
This hermitage high above Lhasa has three simple caves associated with Gelugpa founder Tsongkhapa. It's best visited on a hike from Sera Monastery to the…
Ngari
In the hills north of Purang are many meditation retreat caves formed around the cliff-side Gokung Monastery. A ladder leads up to a couple of upper-floor…
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If you pass this yellow-walled residential college between 11am and noon, or between 5.30pm and 7pm, listen for the sounds of teachings from the main hall…
Ngari
If you fancy a relaxing post-Kailash soak or just need to get clean after a kora, the small hot springs beside Chiu village are piped into clean, private…
Lhasa
Southeast of the Gomde Khang residence is this debating courtyard. You should be able to hear the clapping of hands as you pass if there is a debate in…
Lhasa
Pilgrims pause at this small chapel behind the main assembly hall to pour yak butter on the wall, glimpse holy rock images of Jampelyang and Drölma and…
Lhasa
This small chapel, just across from the exit of the Tomb of Tsongkhapa, holds two large images of the Future Buddha, plus the eight bodhisattvas.
Lhasa
There are some 136 nuns resident at Chupsang and it’s a very friendly place. Visit it as part of a walk from Pabonka Monastery.
Lhasa
This interesting chapel houses the monastery printing press. You can see the printing and assembling of Buddhist texts here.
Lhasa
The northeastern corner of the Potala kora is home to this small prayer hall, humming with the murmurs of chanting nuns.
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This small temple is dedicated to the moon (dawa), with notable old murals of Tara on the wall to the left.
Lhasa
The tiny meditation cave of Jamyang Chöje, Drepung's founder, has some fine rock paintings.
Lhasa
Built by King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century, Pabonka Monastery is one of the most ancient Buddhist sites in the Lhasa region. Though one of the lesser…
