Home > Travel Attractions > Tashilunpo Monastery
Large   |  Small

Tashilunpo Monastery

Stars:

  • Summary
  • Picture
  • lines
  • Destination
  • Comments
      • Tashilunpo Monastery is one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa (or Yellow Hat Sect) in Tibet. Also called the Heap of Glory, the monastery is located at the foot of Drolmari (Tara‘s Mountain), Shigatse. Founded by the First Dailai Lama in 1447, the monastery‘s structure was expanded by the Fourth and successive Panchen Lamas. Tashilhunpo Monastery covers an area of nearly 300,000 square meters (3,229,279 sq. ft.). The main structures found in the Tashilunpo Monastery are The Maitreya Chapel, The Panchen Lama‘s Palace and The Kelsang Temple. Tashilunpo is the seat of the Panchen Lama since the Fourth Panchen Lama took charge in the monastery, and there are now nearly 800 lamas.
      Standing on the entrance of Tashilunpo, visitors can see the grand buildings with golden roofs and white walls. The remarkable Thangka Wall which is nine floors high was built by the First Dalai Lama in 1468. The wall displays the images of Buddha on the 14th, 15th and 16th of May every year following the Tibetan Lunar Calendar. The images are so humongous that one can easily see it in Shigatse City. Visitors can find The Maitreya Chapel by strolling into the monastery on the west side of Tashilunpo. One can find the biggest statue of a sitting Maitreya Buddha inside the chapel. The statue stands 26.2 meters (86 ft) high and is decorated with gold, copper, pearl, amber, coral, diamond and other precious stones. The statue was handcrafted by 900 craftsmen in 9 years. The chapel has been divided into five floors. Visitors can tour the upper floors of the chapel using a wooden staircase to see the statue more clearly and appreciate the superb skill of the Tibetans.
      The Stupa-tomb of the Tenth Panchen Lama lies east of the chapel. Covered by 614 kg (1,354 pounds) gold, 868 precious stones and 246,794 jewels, the Stupa-tomb built in 1993 is the most splendid and costly mausoleum in China since the 1950s. The Panchen Lama‘s Palace which stands nearby the Stupa-tomb is a grand white palace mainly built during the reign of the Six Panchen Lama (1738-1780). It is still closed to tourists and local visitors alike. To the east of the Panchen Lama‘s Palace lies the Stupa-tomb of the Fourth Panchen Lama who is one of the most famous Lamas in Tibetan history. He is also the teacher of the Fifth Dalai Lama. His gorgeous stupa-tomb decorated with gold and silver was built in 1662. The Stupa-tomb of the Fourth Panchen Lama is the first stupa-tomb in Tashilunpo.
      The Kelsang Temple is one of the oldest and biggest buildings in Tashilunpo. It is a colossal compound. The Main Chanting Hall is a place for lamas to learn the sutras and listen to the Panchen Lama‘s sermon. On the back end of the hall lies a 5 meters (16 ft) high statue of Sakyamuni. It is said that a part of Sakyamuni‘s relics was placed in it. Two chapels sit on both sides of the Main Chanting Hall. The left one is devoted to Tara, the goddess who is believed to be the avatar of Avalokitesvara. A White Tara is in the middle and two Green Taras on each side. The right chapel is dedicated to Maitreya Buddha. With a height of 11 meters (36 ft), one can find the statue of Maitreya Buddha in the middle of the chapel. The statues of Avalokitesvara and Bodhisattva Manjusri created by the First Dalai Lama stands near the statue of Maitreya Buddha. The Great Courtyard of the Kelsang Temple is the place for lamas to practice and debate. The wall around the courtyard is covered by thousands of images of Sakyamuni in different postures and expressions
      Besides the grand palace and gigantic statues, the Tashilunpo Monastery also treasures characteristic wall paintings. Because of the variety of shapes, resplendent colors and exquisite painting, the murals are considered to be another masterpiece of Buddhist art. Rare sutras, thangka, china and glass services of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911) are also invaluable assets found in the monastery. These are good relics for researching the history and society of Tibet.
      The Attraction Pictures
      PingYao
      PingYao
      PingYao
      PingYao
      PingYao
      PingYao
      PingYao
      PingYao
      Related lines
         
      9 days & 8 nights Sichuan and Tibet Exploration Tour
      		$ 1690.0
      Destinations: Chengdu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Lhasa  
      Featured itineraries at CTE can take you to the remote, ethnic minority areas in China and help you to understand the exotic, romantic and even primitive aspects of these groups as they really are. You will be surprised and excited as you discover the ethnic diversity of various regions within China.
         
      9 days & 8 nights Sichuan and Tibet Exploration Tour
      		$ 1690.0
      Destinations: Chengdu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Lhasa  
      • Featured itineraries at CTE can take you to the remote, ethnic minority areas in China and help you to understand the exotic, romantic and even primitive aspects of these groups as they really are. You will be surprised and excited as you discover the ethnic diversity of various regions within China.
         
      9 days & 8 nights Sichuan and Tibet Exploration Tour
      		$ 1690.0
      Destinations: Chengdu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Lhasa  
      • Featured itineraries at CTE can take you to the remote, ethnic minority areas in China and help you to understand the exotic, romantic and even primitive aspects of these groups as they really are. You will be surprised and excited as you discover the ethnic diversity of various regions within China.
         
      9 days & 8 nights Sichuan and Tibet Exploration Tour
      		$ 1690.0
      Destinations: Chengdu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Lhasa  
      • Featured itineraries at CTE can take you to the remote, ethnic minority areas in China and help you to understand the exotic, romantic and even primitive aspects of these groups as they really are. You will be surprised and excited as you discover the ethnic diversity of various regions within China.
         
      9 days & 8 nights Sichuan and Tibet Exploration Tour
      		$ 1690.0
      Destinations: Chengdu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Lhasa  
      • Featured itineraries at CTE can take you to the remote, ethnic minority areas in China and help you to understand the exotic, romantic and even primitive aspects of these groups as they really are. You will be surprised and excited as you discover the ethnic diversity of various regions within China.
         
      9 days & 8 nights Sichuan and Tibet Exploration Tour
      		$ 1690.0
      Destinations: Chengdu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Lhasa  
      • Featured itineraries at CTE can take you to the remote, ethnic minority areas in China and help you to understand the exotic, romantic and even primitive aspects of these groups as they really are. You will be surprised and excited as you discover the ethnic diversity of various regions within China.
         
      9 days & 8 nights Sichuan and Tibet Exploration Tour
      		$ 1690.0
      Destinations: Chengdu - Lhasa - Gyantse - Shigatse - Lhasa  
      • Featured itineraries at CTE can take you to the remote, ethnic minority areas in China and help you to understand the exotic, romantic and even primitive aspects of these groups as they really are. You will be surprised and excited as you discover the ethnic diversity of various regions within China.
      Chui trip on the lake
      The company recently participated in the one-day half expand training activities, through this training, I have benefited from that, life unforgettable. Through coaching, I understand the original "Outward Bound" is a test of will and wisdom, and tap potential and teamwork spirit of the campaign, but its not completely belong to the scope of sports. Because of time constraints, we participated in the project, not many, but it is these small projects, let me come to understand the importance of teamwork. The event, under the arrangement of the coaches being carried out in good order, and each item in the design and arrangement are very creative, especially after the end of each project experience and the experience of all the coaches comments, sum up, and people emotionally, popular inspired. Most of the three projects is the project team, including the Broken Bridge is a project of self-challenge. Experienced in the challenges and stimulation, I was left to more reflection. Broken Bridge, the challenge of personal self-item can be "terrifying" four words to sum up. Project design and organization is very simple, just two disconnect between the wooden planks to do a simple jump back and forth, but it was shelved two wooden planks in the eight, nine-metre high tree. On the ground looking at the rise of the distance between the two wooden boards, I feel very close distance, it seems that can be lightly leaped past. When their chatter Chanweiwei climbed to 8, 9-metre-high scaffold, narrow wooden planks come to the end of Looking at the opposite one another narrow wooden planks, I immediately silly. On the night so far? I wonder what their own, I can jump past? So in the narrow wooden planks, I will rise? Partial will jump? At this moment, the opposite is so far little wooden boards, I could not help but begging for the old coach, "do not jump?" The coach says it is the answer: "No!" He then used the relaxed tone said "Do you think so many Hom life are gone, this is a simple jump Suandeile? think yesterday's" dark, eyes closed "game until the final才被that you are" murderers " , reflecting the quality of your psychological well ah, jump! you must visit. "After listening to coach remarks, I relax a little, but fear still haunting the normal operation of the board to continue the stalemate. Almost 20 minutes later, no way, the coach said, "If we do not jump, I will push you!" I know that the posterior can be no retreat, so will Xinyiguang, Zongshen jumped results secured fallen on the The opposite appears to narrow board, a look back, not far ah, only one meter just…… "Air a small step, a big step in life", in fact, we will be in life often face such challenges, knowledge and skills is only tangible capital, is the will and spirit of the invisible forces. The activities of deep indeed, I think the most important thing is for our future work, study and life to inspire and guide. This is a valuable asset.
      Jiuzhai's Comments List

      • Lucy (2008-02-26 10:30:37)

        The activities of deep indeed, I think the most important thing is for our future work, study and life to inspire and guide. This is a valuable asset.

      • Lucy (2008-02-26 10:30:37)

        The activities of deep indeed, I think the most important thing is for our future work, study and life to inspire and guide. This is a valuable asset.

      • Lucy (2008-02-26 10:30:37)

        The activities of deep indeed, I think the most important thing is for our future work, study and life to inspire and guide. This is a valuable asset.

      • Lucy (2008-02-26 10:30:37)

        The activities of deep indeed, I think the most important thing is for our future work, study and life to inspire and guide. This is a valuable asset.

      • Lucy (2008-02-26 10:30:37)

        The activities of deep indeed, I think the most important thing is for our future work, study and life to inspire and guide. This is a valuable asset.

      Your Nickname: