The Tashilhunpo Monastery

The Tashilhunpo Monastery is located at the foot of Drolmari, also called Tara's Mountain, in Shigatse. As its full name implies in Tibetan language, Tashilhunpo Monastery is the Heap of Glory or "the place all fortune and happiness gathered". It founded by the First Dailai Lama in 1447 of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) , is one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa in Tibet. Tashilhunpo Monastery covers an area of 300 000 square meters at present, it was so expanded by each Lama. The main structures found here are the Maitreya Chapel, the Panchen Lama's Palace and the Kelsang Temple. Tashilhunpo is the seat of the Panchen Lama since the Fourth Panchen Lama took charge in Tashilhunpo Monastery, and there are now nearly 800 lamas. The best time to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery is Spring and Autum when the weather is most delightful. It usually takes 3-4 hours to finish the tour of this Monastery.