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About 170km southeast of Lhasa, on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra River) is Samye Monastery, the first monastery in Tibet. Founded in…
Must-see attractions in Ü
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The central building of Samye, the Ütse comprises a unique synthesis of architectural styles. The ground and 1st floors were originally Tibetan in style,…
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Tsurphu has four main buildings and you could easily spend half a day here – longer if you plan to do the excellent outer kora (pilgrim circuit). If you…
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Chim-puk Hermitage is a collection of cave shrines northeast of Samye that grew up over the centuries around the meditation retreat of Guru Rinpoche. Chim…
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Dating back to the 7th-century reign of Songtsen Gampo, Tradruk is one of the earliest Buddhist temples in Tibet. It was founded at the same time as Lhasa…
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Drigung Til sprouts from a high, steep ridge overlooking the Zhorong-chu Valley. The 180-degree views from the main courtyard are stunning and it’s a joy…
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Surprisingly large, the Sakyapa-school Gongkar Chöde Monastery, founded in 1464, is famous for its 16th-century Kyenri-style murals. It lies 400m south of…
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The waters of sacred Nam-tso, the second-largest salt lake in China, are an almost transcendent turquoise blue and shimmer in the rarefied air of 4730m…
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A 4km drive north of the turn-off to Taklung brings you to Sili Götsang, an amazing eagle’s-nest hermitage perched high above the main road, home to 10…
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From Chusi Nunnery it’s a tough 1½-hour climb up to the Drak Yangdzong caves. Access to the upper caves is via a 10m ladder secured with strips of yak…
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About 1km northwest of town is the Drigungpa-school Dzongsar Monastery. A short but steep climb brings you to a monastery located on a jagged slope; its…
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Hepo Ri is the hill some 400m east of Samye where Guru Rinpoche vanquished the demons of Tibet. A 30-minute climb up the side ridge brings you to an…
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A fine, tapering finger of a structure that sprouts from a craggy ridge overlooking the patchwork fields of the Yarlung Valley, Yumbulagang is considered…
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Along with Mindroling Monastery, Dorje Drak (3520m) is one of the two most important Nyingmapa monasteries in Ü, both considered among the six great…
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Although a small monastery was founded at the present site of Mindroling as early as the 10th century, the date usually given for the founding of…
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Dynamited by Red Guards and with ruins still visible in the green fields of the Pak-chu Valley, the sprawling monastic complex of Taklung is around 120km…
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Ruins dwarf the rebuilding work at Nalendra, but it's still an impressive monastery. Founded in 1435 by the lama Rongtonpa (1367–1449), a contemporary of…
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Founded in 1056, Reting Monastery was completely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Once the seat of the Reting Rinpoche, several of whom served as…
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The tombs of the Tibetan kings at Chongye represent one of the few historical sites in the country that give any evidence of a pre-Buddhist culture in…
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This small Sakyapa monastery of 20 monks is of interest mainly to art specialists for its rare murals, which combine Indian (Pala) and inner Asian …
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A popular pilgrimage site associated with the illustrious Milarepa (1040–1123), the scenic ruins of Rechung-puk Monastery are set high on a dramatic…
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Originally founded as a hospital of Tibetan medicine, this site transitioned first to a Kagyupa monastery. In the 14th century the highest lamas here set…
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This dzong can be seen clearly from Chongye town and from the burial mounds, its crumbling ramparts straddling a ridge of Mt Chingwa. Once one of the most…
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The Kordzo Pehar Ling was the home of the oracle Pehar until he moved to Nechung Monastery outside Lhasa. Before the ongoing renovation, pilgrims would…
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The impressive 600-year-old Shedruling Monastery rises from the main road like a miniature Potala, and is home to 31 monks. The monastery is less…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.
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Though this small branch of Lhasa's Sera Monastery may not look like much, home to only three or four monks at a time who are sent for a year to maintain…
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Just 2km southeast of Nyima Jiangre, Sha is dedicated to the Dzogchen suborder. A highlight of the monastery is the pair of 9th-century doring (inscribed…
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There are two separate monastery buildings near the Tashi Dor camp. The further of the two from the main Tashi Dor tourist compound is the main monastery…
