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Sakya Monastery
Lies 143km to the southwest of Shigatse, Sakya
Monastery, the center of the sakya order of the
Tibetan Buddhism, was founded in 1073 by Knochok
Gyalpo. During the rule of the Skayapas the
priest patron relationship between Tibet and
China was established. Sakyapas rulers reigned
over Tibet for nearly a hundred years from 13th
- 14th century. Many of its priceless images,
frescos, statues holy scriptures remaining today
date back to the time of its founding.
Tashilunpo Monastery
Founded in 1447 by Dendun Drup, the first Dalai
Lama. It is the seat of the Panchen Lama who is
second to the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhist
hierarchy. The 05 the Dalai Lama declared that
his teacher, then the Abbot of Tashiliunpo, was
a manifestation of the Buddha Amitabha and the
fourth in line of incarnate lamas who would
hence forth be referred to by the title of
Panchen Rinpoche, Tashilhunpo has one of the
world's largest statues-a 09 storied gilded
bronze statue of Maitriya, of the future Buddha.
Sera Monastery
Once it was the second largest of all
monasteries in Tibet. Sera "Enclosure of Wild
Rose ", it was founded in 1419 by a disciple of
Tsong Khapa. At its peak, it housed over 7000
monks and was famous for its warrior monks, the
"Dob-Doa " ' We will visit Ngawa chanting ball
and see the remarkable murals in the Drezme
college's chanting Hall.
Jolkhang Temple
Situated in the heart of old Lhasa, houses which
was brought as a gift by the Chinese princes Wen
Cheng on the occasion of her wedding the Tibetan
king, Songtsen Gompo. Surrounding the Jolkhang
Temple is the bustling Bharkhor market place
which is the religious and social focus of Lhasa.
Shigatse Monastery
Shigatse Is the second largest town in Tibet and
the capital of Tsang, lying 254km west of Lhasa
at an altitude of 281Otn.
Drepung Monastery
Drepung lies 8km west of Lhasa on the main road,
then 3km north a steep unpaired road. Its name
Drepung Means "Rice Heap ", was the biggest and
the richest of all monasteries in Tibet. This
monastery is said to be the largest monastery in
the world, housing over 10000 monks and governed
7700 subsidiary monasteries and was divided into
four colleges, each with its chanting ball,
dormitories, kitchens and offices. It was
founded in 1416 by the disciple of Je Tsonkhapa,
founder of the Yellow Hat Gelukpa Sect of
Tibetan Buddhism. The second, third and fourth
Dalai Lamas lived and were entombed here. The
entire monastic communities assemble only for
special ceremonies and festivals. Today, about
400 monks lived there. Approaching Drepung, you
will see the Nechung Temple, the home of the
State Oracle the present oracle lives in India. |
