Plaza in front of the main gate to Tashilhunpo Monastery |
A secondary gate to Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the Gelugpa sect, was founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama |
Tashilhunpo serves at the seats of the Panchen Lamas |
Monks gathered around the gate to Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Monk with a book on gate duty |
Main gate to Tashilhunpo Monastery, Shigatse |
Tibetans entering Tashilhunpo Monastery through the main gate |
Tibetan woman in traditional clothing with a colorful apron |
Monks at Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Snow Lions, the national emblem of Tibet |
Map of Tashilunpo Monastery, Shigatse |
From the courtyard of Tashilhunpo there is a view of the monastery's four dominant structures that line the northern side of the |
...Jamkhang Chenmo, the Chapel of Jampa |
...Sisum Namgyel, the Tomb of the 10th Panchen Lama |
...Kundun Lhakhang, Tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama |
...Tashi Langyar, Tomb of the 5th thru 9th Panchen Lamas |
The main assembly hall is next to the Tomb of the 5th-9th Panchen Lamas |
Tibetan monk in red stands out against the white wash of Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the few that survived the Cultural Revolution |
Tashilhunpo Monastery AAA National Tourist Attraction |
Tashilhunpo Monastery, Shigatse |
Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Headed for the Chapel of the Jampa |
Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Chörten, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Set of three chörten, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Gilded spire of a chörten (stupa) |
Tibetan incription at the three stupas, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Small kora circuit around the stupas |
Stupas, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Stupas (chörten) Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Stupas (chörten) Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Stupas, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
The mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" carved in stone |
Chapel of Jampa (red) |
Gilded roofs of Tashilhunpo Monastery with the giant Thangka wall |
Monks walking from the Chapel of Jampa |
Tibetan monks, Tashilhanpo |
Jamkhang Chenmo, the Chapel of Jampa, built in 1914 to house a colossal 26m tall statue of Jampa, the Future Buddha (Maitreya) |
Jamkhang Chenmo, the Chapel of Jampa |
Looking east from Chapel of Jampa |
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Swastika of semi-precious stones embedded in the pavement, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Gilded roof tops of Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Sisum Namgyel, Tomb of the 10th Panchen Lama, who died in 1989 |
Golden garuda on the Tomb of the 10th Panchen Lama |
Tomb of the 10th Panchen Lama |
Garuda flying with a snake |
The Four Compatible Brothers |
Kundun Lhakhang, Tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama |
Kundun Lhakhang, Tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama, survived the Cultural Revolution in tact |
Curtain in front of the Tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama |
Gilded dragon, Tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama |
Vitarka Mudra - gesture representing discussion and transmission of Buddha's teachings. |
Each of the smaller figures holds one of 8 Auspicious symbols of Buddhism |
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The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism |
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Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Antique Tibetan lock |
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Swastika made of coins, Tashilhunpo |
Palace of the Panchen Lamas, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Palace of the Panchen Lamas, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama to the west of the Palace, Tashilhunpo |
Painting with the 8 Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism |
Tomb of the 5th to 9th Panchen Lamas |
The Tombs of the 5th to 9th Panchen Lamas were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution - rebuilt by the 10th in 1989 |
Kelsang Temple Complex with the Tombs of the 5th-9th Panchen Lamas |
Part of a colorful mural, Kelsang Temple Complex |
Bhavacakra - Wheel of Life - supported by Yama, lord of the underworld |
World of Humans - top left |
The World of Devas or Gods, at the top of the wheel |
World of Asuras - Fighting Demons - top right |
World of Animals - bottom right |
World of Pretas - Hungry Ghosts - bottom left |
World of Hell - bottom |
Hub of the Bhavacakra, Wheel of Life, with the Three Poisons - boar, serpent, fowl representing delusion, hatred and greed |
Eastern entrance to the Kelsang Temple Complex |
Snow Lions, protectors of Buddha, national emblem and celestial guardian of Tibet |
Prayer wheels, Tashilhunpo |
Ram wandering around Tashilhunpo Monastery |
The Tomb of the 5th to 9th Panchen Lamas |
Gilded roof of the Tombs of the 5th-9th Panchen Lamas |
Kelsang Temple Complex with the Tombs of the 5th-9th Panchen Lamas |
The great festivla thangka wall of Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Festival Thangka Wall, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Mural showing a giant thangka painting unrolled on the festival thangka wall |
Inscribed stone fragments littering the yard at the east end of Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Kelsang Temple Complex from the east end of Tashilhunpo Monastery below the great thangkha wall |
Tashi Langyar, Tomb of the 5th-9th Panchen Lamas |
Tashilhunpo Monastery |
The Tashilhunpo Kora Circuit on the hillside beyond the monastery walls |
Kelsang Temple Complex, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Old monk resting, Tashilhunpo |
Kelsang Temple Complex |
Tashi Langyar, Tomb of the 5th-9th Panchens |
Kelsang Temple Complex, Tashilhunpo |
Courtyard of the Kelsang Temple Complex |
Kelsang Temple Complex dominated by the Tomb of the 5th-9th Panchen Lamas |
Monks leaving the assembly hall |
Golden Deer with Dharma Wheel, Kelsang Temple Complex |
The guide chatting with some old monks while I wander |
Tashi Langyar with the Festival Thangka Wall, Tashilhunpo |
Tibetan woman carrying a baby on her back |
Courtyard of Kelsang Temple Complex |
Kelsang Temple Complex, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Monks chatting at the entrance to the Tomb of the 5-9 Panchen Lamas |
Thousands of small Buddha images painted on the cloister walls around the central courtyard of the Kelsang Temple Complex |
Thousands of small Buddha images painted on the cloister walls around the central courtyard of the Kelsang Temple Complex |
Thousands of small Buddha images painted on the cloister walls around the central courtyard of the Kelsang Temple Complex |
Detail of one of the Buddha images |
Kelsang Temple Complex |
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Thousands of small Buddha images painted on the cloister walls around the central courtyard of the Kelsang Temple Complex |
Kelsang Temple Complex |
Tibetan monks, Kelsang Temple Complex |
Passageway leading out of the temple complex |
Tashi Langyar, Tomb of the 5th-9th Panchen Lamas, Kelsang Temple Complex |
Sign of the times, Chinese inscription, Kelsang Temple Complex |
Tibetan monk |
Tibetan monk, Kelsang Temple Complex |
Layperson working at Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Kelsang Temple Complex |
Monk heading for noon assembly |
The yellow hat of the Gelugpa Sect |
Young monks gathering in the courtyard before noon prayers in the main assembly hall |
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Young monks gathering for noon prayers |
Novice monks of the Gelugpa order |
Is wearing the hat sideways just young rebellion? |
Kelsang Temple Complex as monks gather |
The hats and cloaks do look warm |
Monks gathering in the courtyard of Kelsang Temple Complex for noon prayers |
Tourists may go inside the main assembly hall to hear the monks chanting |
Yellow Hat monks |
Young monks roughhousing |
Smiling monk |
Young monk |
Monks in heavy cloaks filing into the main assembly hall |
Gelugpa monks entering the assembly hall |
I'm not sure if the boy in brown is a monk or not |
Getting the tea ready for the ceremony |
Monk Shoes |
...going to be late... |
Philosophy College, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tibetan woman carrying a bundled up child |
Back at the square inside the main gate to Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tashilhunpo Monastery |
New-looking building, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Large open square inside the main gate, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Jampa Chapel and Tomb of the 10th Panchen Lama |
Monk carrying a heavy jug |
View from the main gate Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Monks returning from the noon assembly |
Tibetan monks, Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Monks headed for the monastery gate after noon prayers |
Tibetan men, Tashilhunpo |
A very worthwhile place to visit... |
Tibetan monks walking outside Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tibetan man doubling his luck with 2 prayer wheels |
Foreign monk at Tashilhunpo |