Driving on the road far away from Shigatse, from the west city you can see the gold roof of Tashilunpo Monastery shinning under the sunshine. Experiencing five centuries, it still maintains the magnificent vigor. Tashilhunpo Monastery (meaning auspicious) is one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa (or Yellow Hat Sect) in China and the biggest Tibetan Gelugpa Buddhism monastery in back Tibet area. Also called the Heap of Glory, the monastery is located at the foot of Drolmari (Tara's Mountain), Shigatse.
Gendun Drubpa, the first Dalai Lama and a most outstanding disciple of Tsong Khapa founded Tashilhunpo Monastery in 1477. In 1600, the Fourth Panchen Lama started a large-scale expansion and his successors carried on. In 1713, the Chinese emperor finally ascertained the Fifth Panchen Lama’s title and status. The monastery became the seat of Panchen Lama. At its climax, there are 3,000 rooms with more than 5,000 lamas, above 50 underling temples and over 30 manors. From the Fourth Panchen Lama, all the successors take it as seat. The monastery now has a building space of 300 thousand square meters (3,229,279 sq. ft.). The main structures found in the Tashilhunpo Monastery are The Maitreya Chapel, The Panchen Lama's Palace and The Kelsang Temple. Tashilhunpo is the seat of the Panchen Lama since the Fourth Panchen Lama took charge in the monastery, and there are now nearly 800 lamas.
Location:
Tashilunpo Monastery is located on the southern slope of the Nyima Mountain to the west of the Shigatse city. (Gatehouse Tel: 0892-8222933)
How to Get There:
The Tashilhunpo Monastery is situated at the west part of Shigatse City; you can take a walk to the monastery or you could opt to travel by pedicab.
Admission Fee:
RMB 55 Yuan compromises a nice Tashilunpo Monastery introduction video or RMB 45 Yuan per one without the video. If you come during some important Tibetan festivals, such as Tibetan New Year, and Dancing Deity Festival, you may enter the monastery for free. No discount for students.
Opening Hours:
08:00 to 16:00(closed for lunch from 12:00 to 14:00)
Recommended Time for a Visit:
Ordinary you need three hours, but the monastery is quite big with lots of things worth appreciation, so spend as much time as possible
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