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Why the Ganden
Monastery is special
The Ganden Monastery
has a rich Buddhist history. It was built in 1409 by the
celebrated Buddhist leader Tasongkhopa and majestically
sits on a mountain slope.
Interesting insights about
the Ganden Monastery
Tasongkhopa founded the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) Buddhist sect, the largest and most influential in Tibet.
The Ganden complex includes two
Buddhist religious colleges and extensive dormitories for the resident monks.
Ganden Monastery once housed
thousands of monks. Today the count is several hundred.
Ganden Monastery has been largely
restored after having been severely damaged. The restoration work continues.
The name Ganden means
"paradise" in Tibetan.
Tips for your
vacation tour or trip
The main assembly hall is the chief highlight of the
sprawling Ganden Monastery. The room is supported by over a hundred columns and is large enough to accommodate
several thousand chanting monks.
Other highlights include The tomb of
Tasongkhopa (in Serdung college) and the Ngam Cho Khang chapel (Tasongkhopa supposedly taught his disciples in this room). The Ganden
Monastery also has some notable murals and sculptures.
Hikers should reserve a few hours
for a walk on the pilgrimage route near Ganden. It reaches an altitude of 4,500 meters (15,000 feet) and
offers breathtaking views of the river valley below. The path is picturesquely lined with prayer flags
fluttering in the brisk mountain wind. A moving
stream of devoted pilgrims adds mystique to
your hiking experience.
Nearest major city
The Ganden Monastery is 45 kilometers (28 miles) east of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet
(Xizang is its
Chinese name). See my map below for the general location of Tibet.
Pronunciation guide
Ganden: gehn-den
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