Monasteries in Lhasa bear Tibetan cultures

Tibet impresses visitors with not only its beautiful natural scenery but local people's devotion to their faith. In Tibet, there are more than 1,700 monasteries scattered over the region. They are important places, like the Tibetan historical and cultural museum that presents the Tibetan culture. As the capital of Tibet, Lhasa is the most frequently visited place in Tibet.

Jokhang Monastery

Jokhang (also known as Dazhao Si in Chinese), located at the center of old Lhasa City, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, is the early Buddhist Temple with a history of over 1,360 years and one of the most important temples in Tibet. The temple, covering an area of over 25,000 square meters, includes buildings like the Hall of Sakyamuni, the Hall for Worshiping Buddha and bKa'-gshags governmental agencies. The temple keeps many precious cultural relics, including more than 300 Buddhist statues, 2,600 square meters of Tibetan frescoes.

Ramoche Monastery

Ramoche (also known as Xiaozhao Si in Chinese) is considered to be the sister temple of Jokhang, completed about the same time. Tradition says it was built originally to house the much revered Jowo Rinpoche statue, carried to Lhasa via Lhagang in a wooden cart, brought to Tibet when Princess Wen Cheng came to Lhasa. Unlike the Jokhang, Ramoche was originally built in Chinese style.

Drepung Monastery

Situated at the foot of Mt. Gambo Utse, 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from the western suburb of Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. The Drepung Monastery houses many cultural relics of high historical and artistic value.

Sera Monastery

Sera Monastery is one of the 'great three' Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located about 3 kilometers north of Lhasa. The monastery is magnificent and covers an area of 114,946 square meters (28 acres). Its main buildings are the Coqen Hall, Zhacang (college) and Kamcun (dormitory). Scriptures written in gold powder, fine statues, scent cloth and unparalleled murals can be found in these halls. Colorful debates on Buddhist doctrines are held here and these employ a style distinctive from those at Lhasa's other famous monasteries.

Ganden Monastery

Founded by Je Tsongkhapa in 1409. Ganden belonged to the Geluk order originally, and it was traditionally considered to be the seat of Geluk administrative and political power. The head of the Gelukpa school is also the Ganden Tripa or 'throne-holder of Ganden'. In 1419, his disciples entombed Tsongkhapa's preserved body there in a silver and gold encrusted tomb.