Ganden Monastery Tourism

Monastery, Religious Site4.5(127 reviews)

About Ganden Monastery

Ganden Monastery, located about 50 km northeast of Lhasa on Wangbur Mountain at an altitude of about 4300 meters, is one of the 'Great Three' Gelug university monasteries of Tibet. Established by Je Tsongkhapa in 1409, it plays a significant role in the history of Buddhism in Tibet. Ganden is the Tibetan name for Tushita, the celestial realm where it's believed the bodhisattva Maitreya resides. The monastery complex includes several chapels, shrines, chörtens, and monk's dormitories, and is famous for its unique architectural style and stunning mural paintings. A kora, which is a circular pilgrimage route, goes around the monastery offering breathtaking views and spots for meditation. Ganden Monastery is also home to the Ganden Tripa, the head of the Gelugpa school. The site has faced destruction and reconstruction over time, particularly during the Cultural Revolution but was largely restored by the Tibetan population since. It remains an important cultural and religious site, with monks residing, studying, and practicing there.

Top 5 Reviews on Ganden Monastery

BhasinRohit
5.0
Wrote on 2 Jan 2020
A sight to Behold - Massive and Elegant Monastery
One has to take a fairly long car trip through the mountain roads to visit and witness the grandeur of this beautiful monatery. Most of the monastery has been renovated and still undergoing renovation after being demolished in the cultural revolution. The monastery is one of the top three monasteries of significance in Tibet and is located at a beautiful location. Ganden in the local language stands for 'joyful'
Canary289
4.0
Wrote on 9 Oct 2019
Stunning architecture
The monastery looks amazing from afar. I was so lucky that the rain stopped and the sun revealed when I was there. It is just a short walk to the monastery. The view and atmosphere here are great, but I don't have a sacred feeling. It is crowded and commercial.
axelsL1196YB
4.0
Wrote on 1 Aug 2019
Make the trip to Ganden Monastery by a guided tour!
Ganden Monastery is one of the "great three" Gelug university monasteries of Tibet. It is he oldest monastery in Tibet - about 45 km outside of Lhasa. Today there are maybe 500 monks at Ganden - in 1959 it was 7500 ! - the same reduction they had at Drepung monastery! Read about Ganden before your visit - much interesting info! You should wait a couple of days in Lhasa for acclitatisation - before your trip to Ganden. Here it's going up to the hight of 4300 meter! The most of the monastery buildings were largely obliterated during the Cultural Revolution in the 60s. There has been a Re-building since the 1980s - and now it's going on with repainting. Ps. my pics was taken before! The monastery runs a guesthouse for visitors and you can get lunch! They have a good kitchen! (vegetarian) The best part at Ganden is climbing up the mountain behind the Monastery - very, very beautiful views /lookouts - wow! :)
Yokeko
5.0
Wrote on 23 Jun 2019
Good Visit and Food- Few Tourists
Highly recommend a trip to Ganden Monastery. It can be done as a day trip from Lhasa and the monastery kitchen puts out some good, yet basic, food. My husband and I were the only foreigners eating there at the time we went and enjoyed the experience very much. This monastery was largely obliterated during the Cultural Revolution, but don’t let this keep you from going. It has been rebuilt and the oldest part, the inner temple complex, was not destroyed. This part, in my opinion, was the best part and experience of the visit.
KPC7
5.0
Wrote on 29 May 2019
Good lunch!
Others have commented on the beauty and the views of this large working monastery. We ate in the refectory. The vegetarian food was excellent.