Ganden Monastery
travel wonder in China

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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©2008 HQP / Hillman Quality Publications