Now, it is another new year. Many travelers begin to consult about Tibet tours. If you travel to Tibet, do not miss the three esteemed Gelug monasteries in Lhasa, Ganden, Sera and Drepung. The Lhasa monastery impression tour will help you get a general idea about Tibetan Buddhism which has a deep impact on Tibetan culture and customs.
Ganden Monastery
The Ganden Monastery stands on the 3800 meters high Wangbur Mountain in Dagze County, some 60 km from downtown Lhasa. It is the ancestral monastery of the Gelug Sect built in 1409 by Tsongkapa, Jamchen Choj or Shakya Yeshe with the financial aid of the royal family of Nedong. Taking Ganden Monastery as the base, the Gelug Sect was formally established. The monks of the sect wore yellow hats, so the sect was known as the "Yellow Sect". The Ganden Monastery boasts not only over 90 stupas of Ganden Tripa, the abbot of the monastery, but also countless cultural relics and exquisite artwares dated back to the Ming Dynasty.
Sera Monastery
Famous for its Buddhist scripture debating, the Sera Monastery, meaning "hailstones" in Tibetan language is located in Mt. Sera Wuzi in the northern suburb of Lhasa. But most people would give it a more romantic interpretation - the "wild rosebush". The monastery, fully named the Sera Monastery of Big Vehicle, was established by a disciple of Tsongkapa, Jamchen Choj or Shakya Yeshe in 1419, who was granted the title, one of the "Three Dharmaraja", by the emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). When you pay visit to the Sera Monastery, do not miss Buddhist scripture debating beginning at 3:00pm every day. In 1982, it was listed as the second batch of historical sites under state protection.
Drepung Monastery
Located at the foot of the Mountain Gambo Utse in the western suburb of Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery is the most important monastery of the Gelug lineage in Tibetan Buddhism. The first sight to the monastery is this holy cliff, where three Buddha portraits are painted. Since there is one biggest portraits and two smaller ones, the Buddha cliff is called "portraits of master and disciples". The Drepung Monastery holds religious activities every Wednesday. The lamas gather at the Tsochen Hall, the main hall of the temple, and chant prayers for the Tibetan family who stages the religious ritual. Other Tibetan people who come afar to worship Buddha will give donations to the monks.
Except the three great monasteries, there are many other monasteries in Lhasa and other areas of Tibet, such as Jokhang Temple in Lhasa – the holiest temple in Lhasa, Ramoche Temple in Lhasa- sister monastery of Jokhang, Samye Monastery in Tsedang– Tibet’s first monastery, Tashilunpo Monastery in Shigatse - the seat of the Panchen Lama, Sakya Monastery in Shigatse – “the second Dunhuang” of Tibet, etc. We know that many tourists are interested in monasteries in Tibet, we have designed many Tibet monastery tour routes for your reference.
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