Drepung Monastery

Chinese Name: 哲蚌寺
Address: center of lhasa, Tibet, China
Address: 西藏自治区拉萨市城关区北京西路276号(西郊根培乌孜山下)
Opening Time: 09:00AM~14:00PM
Building Time:AD 1416
Recommend tour time:3 hour
offical website: https://www.drepunggomung.org
Sect: Gelug
Total Area:360 thousand sqm
Phone:+86 830 124 5619
Number of Monks:>2000
Admission Fee:50 RMB/Per

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery is located in the mountains in the western suburbs of Lhasa. The buildings of the monastery are large in scale. White houses and red halls are lined up all over the mountainside. It looks like a huge pile of rice from a distance. The photos taken on the mountainside very impressive. It has a very high status in the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The interior architecture is magnificent and resplendent. There are many beautiful treasures, and there are monks’ debating ceremonies to watch.

Tour Route

To visit Drepung Monastery, first arrive at the gate of Drepung Monastery. In front of the gate, you can see that the monastery is located in a mountain depression, surrounded by mountains on three sides, facing the Lhasa River and the flat river in front. The buildings are layered and magnificent, like a white mountain city. After entering the Drepung Monastery, you can see the Tibetan-style buildings in the monastery at close range. The houses are all built with white walls, and the halls with golden roofs and red edges are scattered among them, all of which are Tibetan characteristics. The monasteries in Tibet are different from those in the Han Dynasty in the mainland. The buildings are not symmetrical in the central axis, but scattered in the mountains. You can watch them clockwise along the road. The total circumference of Drepung Monastery is about 2 kilometers, and it is not easy to walk down. At the same time, going around the temple clockwise is also a way to pray for yourself and accumulate good karma.

majestic main halls

The main halls of Drepung Temple are majestic and majestic. Among them, the Sutra Hall of the temple has 183 columns, and the carvings on each column are very exquisite. There are many solemn and noble Buddha statues in the temple, and there are also a large number of exquisite Thangkas, embroidery, murals and other precious art treasures, which can be viewed one by one.

Debating Sutras at Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery is full of incense, and there are many Tibetan people who turn around and kowtow here. Following in the footsteps of pilgrims, turning around and worshiping together is also a rare way of meditation. In addition, every afternoon, the lively debating ceremony in the scripture debate field of Drepung Monastery is also a scenery that cannot be missed when visiting Drepung Monastery. The monks often sit on the ground while the other stands opposite, debating scriptures with exaggerated movements, which is very interesting.

Shoton Festival

Every year on the Shoton Festival at the end of June in the Tibetan calendar, Drepung Monastery will hold a grand Buddha-sheltering ceremony. A large Buddha statue about 30 meters long and 20 meters wide will be exhibited on the Buddha-shelving platform on the mountain. At the same time, there will be performances such as Tibetan operas. One of the grand sights, every year attracts the almost empty city of Lhasa to join in the grand occasion.

Drepung Monastery Video

Drepung Monastery Photo

Drepung Monastery Tourist Map

Drepung Monastery Travel Guide

Must See Travel Tips：

According to the rituals of Tibetan Buddhism, walking around the temple, turning around the scriptures, and turning around the hall should all be in a clockwise direction.
To respect the beliefs of the local people, do not point your fingers at the Buddha statues, take off your hat and be quiet after entering the hall, and do not take pictures casually. For believers in the Zhuan Temple, please be careful not to take photos indiscriminately, and you can ask for the consent of the person being photographed.
The altitude of Drepung Monastery is about 3,800 meters. When visiting, try to be as calm as possible and avoid strenuous exercise to avoid high reaction.
Every afternoon, many main halls of Drepung Monastery will be closed. It is recommended to visit here in the morning or at noon. In the afternoon, you can look at the debates.
The monks in Drepung Monastery are very friendly, and they will accompany tourists to visit and explain when it is convenient. You can ask when buying tickets to enter the monastery. If you are lucky enough to be accompanied by monks, you can learn more about Drepung Monastery.