Zimchung Tridok Khang

Lhasa


To the east of the Assembly Hall's Ser Trikhang (Golden Throne Room) and slightly uphill, this residence contains the living quarters and throne of the Ganden Tripa.

Other rooms include a protector chapel, with statues of Demchok (Samvara), Gonpo Gur (Mahakala) and Dorje Naljorma (Vajrayogini); a Tsongkhapa chapel; and an inner room of living quarters used by the Dalai Lamas when visiting the monastery. To the right is the ‘Nirvana Room’, which has a shrine to Kurt Cobain (only kidding – it’s Tsongkhapa again, who is said to have died in this room). The upper-floor library has a round platform known as a kyingor, used for creating sand mandalas.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Lhasa attractions

1. Assembly Hall

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The recently renovated tsogchen (assembly hall) has statues of the 16 arhats (literally ‘worthy ones’) and two huge statues of Tsongkhapa (only visible…

2. Samlo Kangtsang

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One of the monastery's recently renovated minor residences, this building can be missed if you are running short of time.

3. Jampa Lhakhang

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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.

4. Nyare Kangtsang

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Below the main assembly hall, the rather innocuous-looking Nyare Kangtsang houses a controversial statue of the deity Dorje Shugden, worship of which has…

5. Tomb of Tsongkhapa

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The red, fortress-like structure of Tsongkhapa’s mausoleum is probably the most impressive of the reconstructed buildings at Ganden. It’s above a…

6. Lumbung Kangtsang

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Tsongkhapa himself was from Amdo (modern-day Qinghai), and many monks came from the province to study here – hence the chapel's alternative name. Look for…

7. Gomde Khang

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One of the monastery's recently renovated minor residences, this building can be missed if you are running short of time.

8. Debating Courtyard

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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…