Drepung Monastery Lhasa - Tibet's Largest Monastery Complex

Drepung Monastery (蚌哲寺) is one of the three great Gelukpa monasteries, along with Sera Monastery and Ganden Monastery. As the official seat and residence from the mid-16th century to 1653, it enjoyed unparalleled status among Tibetan monasteries — once the political and religious heart of Tibet. Located on western suburbs of Lhasa on Gephel Utse Mountain, it consists of a magnificent white complex, adorned with exquiste religious treasures. Its Tibetan name "Drepung" translates to "heap of rice", a reference to its grand scale. From afar, clustered white buildings cascade down the hillside like a massive rice mound, symbolizing prosperity. Besides, it was here that the famous and significant Shoton Festival to unveil Buhhda first celebrated. A premier destination for travelers, it offers an unparalleled opportunity for in-depth immersion into Tibetan culture and traditions.

Drepung Monastery was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Chojey, a revered disciple of Tsongkhapa who was the founder of Tibetan Gelug Buddhism. Just two years later, it housed over 2,000 monks, reaching its heyday with some 10,000 monks studying and residing here. Its influence spread rapidly, becoming one of the most holy monasteries in Tibetan regions.

Drepung Monastery has been dedicated to promoting the study of Buddhism, teaching both Esoteric and Exoteric Buddhism. There are four dratsangs (core teaching colleges), each following the doctrinal lineages of one of Tsongkhapa's four principal disciples. There is also one Ngagpa Dratsang, a specialized institute attached to the exoteric colleges for Esoteric Buddhism practice. Throughout history, numerous prominent Tibetan religious leaders studied here.

Before the construction of the Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery served as both the political and Buddhist center of Tibet. Since then, Drepung has remained a prominent monastery and a renowned center of Buddhist learning until today.

Since Drepung Monastery's founding in 15th century, many constructions were made. A great many of monasteries, pagodas, chapels have been well preserved. The most important historical buildings are: Ganden Potrang, Coqen Hall, the four Zhacangs (or Tantric colleges) and numerous Kamcuns, subjected to the Zhacang.

Ganden Potrang: a sumptuous palace built in 1530 by Gendun Gyaco, serving as his presidential palace. It consists of a yard of houses. The main building is a monastery of 3 floors. The first floor is used as holding ceremonies. The second floor is the administrative site. The third floor is the personal living space.

Tsokchen Great Hall: the monastery's central hub, featuring a giant bronze statue of Qamba Buddha which was built according the appearance of Qamba Buddha at his age of eight. The conch which was gifted by Tsongkhapa in front of the Buddha cannot be missed. If you visit during monthly sutra-chanting ceremonies in the 5th, 8th and 15th, you can experience the spiritual rituals here that last the whole day, and learn about kitchen utensils and cooking material. Standing on the ground before Coqen Hall, you could take a panoramic view of Lhasa city. For a bird's-eye view of the monastery and ancient Lhasa city, it is also suggested to climb to the Thangka Exhibition Hall.

Zhacang: the unite of academy in Gelug schools. There are four Zhacangs studying different instructions of Gelug. Each Zhacang has its own chapels, kamcuns and dormitories. Visitors can watch lively Buddhist debates in their courtyards, which is a dynamic display of intellectual and spiritual practice.

There are a large number of historical and cultural relics kept in Drepung Monastery. Feature 1) Chinaware: lots of ornate chinaware from the early Song, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. Most of them are cups, bowls, and bottles. 2) Thangka: there are several hundred Thangkas, mostly made during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The most famous ones are four giant hanging Thangkas themed by the "scholar's four jewels" (writing brush, ink stick, ink slab, and paper) 3) Wenshu Bronzed Mirror: this mirror was carved beautifully with the appearance of Wenshu Buddha. It was received as a gift from the Shunzhi Emperor of Qing. 4) Buddha Statues: there are thousands of statues of Buddha, Bodhisattva, etc. 5) there are a considerable number of ancient weapons and armors. These artifacts provide vital materials for the study of Tibetan cultural history.

Shoton Festival

As one of the main Buddhist ceremonies, Shoton Festival is quite grand in whole Tibet and Drepung Monastery is especially known as the center site of this festival, which is held on June 30th in the Tibetan calendar (Mid-to-late August). There will be a dramatic unfurling of a giant Buddha tapestry with 30 meters long and 20 meters wide hang on the hillside Thangka Exhibition Platform in the morning, followed with various kinds of Tibetan opera performances and other activities. On this day, many Buddhists and tourists will come to celebrate it. Begin with Drepung Monastery to spread throughout Tibet, the Shoton Festival is one of the best ways to join in the local Tibetans and learn their traditional culture and religion.

Traverlers visiting Drepung Monastery are highly advised to explore clockwise. It's a traditional way to pray for blessings and accumulate merit in Tibetan Buddhist culture.

1. Classic Quick Route: (2-3 hours) Ticket Checkpoint - Ganden Phodrang - Tsokchen Great Hall - Nearest Zhacang - Exit

2. In-depth Cultural Tour: (3-4 hours) Ticket Checkpoint - Thangka Exhibition Platform (20-minute climbing needed with slow slopes and few steps) - Ganden Phodrang - Tsokchen Great Hall - Four Major Zhacang - Prayer Wheel Path

Drepung Monastery is situated on the mountainside in the western suburb of Lhasa, with a distance of about 8 km from Lhasa downtown. It's

● about 7 km away from Potala Palace

● about 8.6 km away from Jokhang Temple

● about 8.5 km away from Barkhor Street

● about 4.9 km away from Norbulingka Park

● about 9.5 km away from Lhasa Railway Station

● about 60 km away from Lhasa Gonggar International Airport

Taxis and private cars can take you directly to the area near Drepung Monastery's parking lot halfway up the peak, which is close to the ticket checkpoint — no extra hiking required. Buses, however, only go to the foot of the hill (Gate of the Drepung Monastery), requiring a 30 to 50 minutes climb for about 2.5 miles that's quite tiring and time-consuming. If you want to get rid of the hassle of public transportation and worry about language barriers with local drivers, travelling by private car is a good choice. And you may know that independent travel is not available for foreigners in Tibet. It's highly suggested to travel with us Tibet Discovery if you need support with your Tibet trip. In our Tibet tour packages, we take care of everything for you, including airport/train transfers, ticket, meals, accommodation, etc. Contact us now >>

1. Opening Time (for reference only): 9:00-16:00 year-round. Buddhist debates are occasionally held at 14:30. Though smaller in scale than Sera Monastery's, the unique ritual is still worth experiencing.

2. Length of Travel: 2~3 hours.

3. Ticket (for reference only): CNY 60, available for on-site purchase at the mountain foot.

4. Shoton Festival Note: During the Shoton Festival (mid-to-late August), traffic controls may be implemented. Visitors are required to hike uphill to the monastery.

5. Packing & Wearing Tips: Wear comfortable shoes as there are uphill steps to climb throughout the visit. No shorts, short skirts, or sleeveless tops are allowed. Please remove your hat when entering chapels.

6. Photography Guidelines:
● No photography is allowed inside Buddha halls, chapels, or prayer rooms.
● Exterior architecture, courtyards, and mountain views are photo-friendly.
● Always ask permission before photographing monks, pilgrims, or their prayer items.
● Avoid flash near cultural relics to prevent damage.

7. Nearby Attraction: Nechung Monastery about 500 meters in the southeast direction, is a Buddhist college renowned for its various kinds of vibrant colored murals — also well worth a visit.