Atlas of China
Drepung Monastery 哲蚌寺Zhébàng Sì
4A scenic area · National heritage site · Lhasa, Tibet
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Lhasa
- Region
- Tibet
- Type
- Culture
- Listed as
- 4A scenic area, National heritage site
About Drepung Monastery
One of the three great Gelug monasteries of Lhasa, founded in 1416 by Jamyang Chöje Tashi Palden, a disciple of Tsongkhapa, on the slopes of Mount Gephel west of the city. A visitor in 1936–37 reported some 7,700 monks here, which made it the largest monastery in Tibet at the time, and its Ganden Phodrang palace, built in 1518, was the residence of the Dalai Lamas before the Potala Palace was built. Visitors walk up through the hillside complex to its assembly halls and chapels.
How to get to Drepung Monastery
About 8 km west of the Potala Palace off Beijing West Road, a short taxi ride from the centre.
Nearby
- Potala Palace 布达拉宫 under 10 km
The red and white palace of the Dalai Lamas, rising in tiers above Lhasa - Jokhang Temple & Barkhor 大昭寺与八廓街 under 10 km
Tibet's holiest temple, ringed by the pilgrim circuit of the Barkhor
Also within 20 km: Norbulingka 罗布林卡 (under 10 km), Tibet Museum 西藏博物馆 (under 10 km), Qinghai-Tibet-Sichuan-Tibet Highway Monument 川藏、青藏公路纪念碑 (under 10 km), Tibet Planet Astronomy Experience Hall 藏域星球天文体验馆 (under 10 km), Drak Lhalupuk Cave Temple 查拉鲁普石窟 (under 10 km), Tibet Yak Museum 西藏牦牛博物馆 (under 10 km).
On the map
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Open Drepung Monastery on the map