Three Monasteries of the Yellow Sect Buddhism - The Ganden Monastery:

The Ganden Monastery lies 45kms (28 miles) east of Lhasa. Lying on the mountainside, it looks magnificent and grand. Tsong Khapa, the founder of Gelugpa, established it in 1409. A story says that when Tsong Khapa and his disciples were selecting a construction site a crow pecked his hat suddenly and dropped it on the mountainside. Then the monastery was constructed there in accordance with Buddha's wish. Ganden monastery is the first Gelugpa monastery in Tibet. Its tripa, abbot of the monastery, is actually the Throne Holder of Gelugpa, which is Panchen Lama and Dalai Lama's order. Structures in the monastery consist of the Main Assembly Hall (tshomchen) and Tantric colleges. The hall has 108 pillars and occupies a floor space of 1,600 sq. m, capable of holding 3,500 lamas. Maitreya and Tsong Khapa are enshrined and worshiped in the hall. Left of the huge hall is a small hall, which was the numen chapel of the monastery. The chapel was built in 1416 and the fourth Panchen added a gold roof to it in 1610. Behind the chapel, there is a huge stone which flew here from India according to legend. Tri Thok Khang is one of the early structures, which is the residence of Tsong Khapa and the successive tripas. Their clothing has been kept in the hall. In 1720, it was expanded and its gold roof was constructed during reign of the Seventh Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas usually would stay here during visits. Serdhung is a three-story building which houses Tsong Khapa's and his successors' stupas. In 1419, Tsong Khapa died and his disciples built the hall to house his tomb which was made of 900 taels of silver, equaling more than 1,100 troy ounces. The thirteenth Dalai Lama changed it into gold later. More than 95 silvers tombs were built for deceased Ganden tripas. Ganden monastery has two Tantric colleges which were both built by Tsong Khapa's disciples. Both the chanting halls of the two can hold 1,500 lamas chanting. Except for the two, there are more than 20 small chanting halls, which belong to different Khangtsens, smaller organizations than colleges. Each of them can house 200 chanting monks. Dormitories and Debating Courtyards are scattered in the monastery. Debating is an essential training method for lamas, and will be held almost every morning. Mural telling Buddhist stories. The monastery has extremely delicate and fine murals and sculptures. It also keeps an armor decorated with gems, which was worn by Emperor Qianlong and was bestowed to the monastery as an offering to Tsong Khapa. Its thangkas are special and similar with embroideries originating in south China. The most important and valuable arts left are the paintings of Buddha and Jataka stories drawn by the First Panchen Lama.

Three Monasteries of the Yellow Sect Buddhism - The Drepung Monastery:

Drepung Monastery, the largest and richest monastery in Tibet and is situated on the slope of Mount Guopei, 10km to the west of Lhasa. It was founded in 1416 by Jiangyang Qujie, a disciple of Tsong Khapa under the patronage of a noble family and later enlarged by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Drepung, which means rice heap in Tibetan, lies 8kms west of Mt. Gambo Utse. The monastery covers a floor space of more than 200 thousand sq. m. At its peak, it had a registration of more than 10,000 thousand monks. Many high and learned lamas had studied here. The main structures of the monastery include the Main Assembly Hall (known as Tshomchen), four Tantric colleges and Ganden Palace (Ganden Potrang). The Tshomchen of Drepung, covering 4,500 sq. m and supported by 183 pillars in the center of the monastery, is the best known, most powerful tschomen of all the monasteries in Tibet. The monastery consists of a number of grand halls, chambers, and residential units for lesser lamas. Nearly 190 huge pillars support the Grand Hall of Guoqin, which could seat as many as 10,000 lamas. The temples of the monastery are lavishly decorated with statues of the Buddha, Tsongkapa, and other venerable figures of the Buddhist pantheon. The statue of Buddha Jiangba, said to be unearthed by Tsongkapa, is enshrined on the second floor of the monastery. Also enshrined here is the white conch with a counter-clockwise spiral believed to have been buried by Buddha Sakyamuni's disciple, Mujianlianzang; this also was unearthed by Tsongkapa and passed on to Jiangyang Qujie. Gilded Buddha and Sakyamuni are enshrined and worshipped in this hall where the Iron Bar Lama, assistant to the chief of the tshomchen, would take over administrative power of Lhasa during the Great Prayer Festival. Upstairs, a collection of valuable scriptures is kept. Northwest of the hall is a small hall in which a bronze Jowo Maitreya aged 8 is enshrined and worshiped. In front of Buddha, a conch shell, once used by Sakyamuni and hidden at Mt. Gambo Utse, is also worshipped. Later Tsong Khapa discovered it and bestowed it to his disciple to be the monastery's treasure. Four Tantric colleges in the monastery are the place where many Buddhist monks were trained. Each has a chanting hall; Loseling's, the largest, can seat 5,000 monks. Monks in other colleges have to pass the sutra examination in order to learn Tantra, which is taught exclusively at Ngapa. Ganden Potrang Palace was the regular residence of the Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala palace. The palace is divided into two sections. The front section is Dalai Lamas' living quarter and the rear is the chanting hall. On the first day of the grand Shonton Festival, ceremonies are held in the courtyard of this palace. The monastery is still open to worshipers.

Three Monasteries of the Yellow Sect Buddhism - The Sera Monastery
Sera, one of the three largest monasteries of Gelugpa, sits at the foothills of Tatipu. It is as prestigious as Drepung and Ganden, which both have longer histories. Sera, in Tibetan, means "Wild Rose Garden" since opulent wild rose woods once grew around it. A legend says that Tsong Khapa and his two disciples traveled in the area, spreading their religion. One day, they heard a horse whinnying underground when they were taking a walk in the rose woods. They dug up a statue of Hynagriva (a horse-headed demon-god) and Tsong Khapa began construction of a monastery to enshrine Hynagriva. However, the truth is that in 1414, Jamchen Chojey (or Sakya Yeshe), one of Tsong Khapa's disciples, visited Emperor Chengzu as Tsong Khapa's emissary. The Emperor Chengzu granted him a title of Dharma King of Great Mercy, sutras, and a set of sandalwood Arhats. In order to preserve them, Tsong Khapa instructed Jamchen Chojey to build a monastery to house the treasures. The Sera monastery was completed in 1419. Sera is designed around a Main Assembly Hall, or Tshomchen in Tibetan, which is the grandest hall of Sera, occupying a floor space of 1,000 sq. m. The four-storied hall has four chapels in which Arhats, Manjushri, Tsong Khapa, and Chenrezi are enshrined. Later, a huge Maitreya was enshrined in the hall during the reign of the Seventh Dalai Lama. The valuable Buddhist sutras that Jamchen Chojey brought back from Beijing are kept in a sutra pigeonhole adjacent to the hall. Sera houses three colleges as well as Drepung and Ganden. Sera Me college was the first one built, in 1419. It was later destroyed by a lightening strike, but restored in 1761. Its Chanting hall is remarkable. Sera Me is prestigious for its fine, undamaged murals. Sera Je college was first founded in 1435 and expanded by a Mongol King in 17th Century. The building has five stories, covering a space of a thousand sq. m. Its main hall contains 11 stupas of Ganden tripas and Ratreng tripas. The original Hynagriva statue is enshrined in its Hynagriva Chapel. Ngagpa college was established in 1559. The smallest of the three colleges, it houses its founder Jamchen Chojey's statue in its chanting hall. The set of sandalwood Arhats granted to the monastery is housed in this college. For the sake of perfect preservation, they are encased in the bellies of a set of clay Arhats which have been authenticated as the original ones. Sera's collection of murals is maintained in perfect, original condition. Its statues of Maitreya, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats are very noteworthy. Scriptures written in gold powder, scroll paintings, a tapestry portrait of Jamchen Chojey, and thangkas can be seen throughout Sera.

Norbulingka (the Summer Palace)
Norbulingka, meaning "Treasure Park" or "Jeweled Garden," was first built in the 1740s. As a result of continuous expansion by the Dalai Lamas, it covers an area of 40 hectares. The Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD) magistrate dispatched to Tibet built the original palace for His Holiness, the Seventh Dalai Lama who often visited the area. In 1751, the Seventh Dalai Lama began construction on the Kelsang Potrang as his palace where he ruled and received officials and high lamas. The Fourteenth Dalai Lama lived in the Kelsang Potrang during the construction of his new palace. Construction seldom stopped under the reigns of different Dalai Lamas. In 1956 the Fourteenth Dalai Lama finished his own palace - Takten Migyur Potrang, usually called the New Summer Palace. In the past, each spring a grand procession of lamas would follow the Dalai Lama to move into the park. Before 1959, common people had no access to the palace. Khamsum Zilnon is a very eye-catching building behind the main gate. It was originally a Han style pavilion and later changed into a theater where the Dalai Lamas watched Tibetan opera. Tsokyil Potrang is a group of buildings on water. Dalai Lamas used to read in a hall of the palace. In 1922, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama began construction on his Golden Lingka and Chensel Potrang, which are located at the back of the woods. Various flowers, grasses, and trees surround the palace which was heavily painted with murals, bearing strong Han characteristics. Takten Migyur Potrang, meaning "Eternal Palace" in Tibetan, was completed in 1956 for the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Though it is called the New Summer Palace, it is a very traditional architecture except for its interior modern facilities. In the palace there are many splendid murals painted by a Fourteenth Dalai Lama's painter. The topics of the murals are vast, including: Tibetan officials, Sakyamuni preaching under a Bodhi tree, Tibetan history from its founding by the Holy Monkey, the vicissitudes of the Tubo Kingdom (633-844), Tibetan Buddhism, and the Panchen Lama's and Dalai Lama's interviews with Chairman Mao Zedong in Beijing. The present Dalai Lama's private apartment is also on view, remaining untouched. In a little sutra hall, there is a Dalai Lama's throne which is wrapped in gold foils and decorated with gems.

The Tashihunpo Monastery
The Tashihunpo Monastery stands on the slope of Mount Niser, southwest of Shigatse. It covers an area of about 300,000 sq. m and has a floor space of about 30,000 sq. m. Painted in red and white, the buildings in the monastery are clustered in terraced rows, offering a grand and majestic view. The monastery was founded in 1447 by Gendun Zhuba, one of the principal disciples of Tsongkapa, founder of the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism. It underwent several renovations and expansions by successive generations of Panchen Lamas until it acquired its present dimensions. Gendun Zhuba was the first abbot of the monastery. In 1600, at the invitation of the monastery leaders, the fourth Panchen Lama became the 16th abbot, thus making the monastery the dwelling of successive panchen lamas ever since. There are many rare and valuable historical articles in the monastery, among them a lot of gold and jade signets, imperial certificates bestowed by emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), as well as a seal of "Daitu" of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD) inscribed in the new Mongolian language. The Tashilhunpo Monastery is associated with the Gelugpa order and is one of the six great Gelugpa institutions along with Drepung, Serea and Ganden in Lhasa and Kumbum and Labrang in Amdo. The monastery is probably the largest functioning monastic institution in contemporary Tibet and is an impressive place to explore. Genden Zhuba was retroactively named the first Dalai Lama and he is enshrined in Tishilhunpo. Despite its association with the first Dalai Lama, Tashilhunpo was initially isolated from the mainstream of Gelugpa affairs which were centred in the Lhasa region. The monastery's standing rocketed, however when the fifth Dalai Lama declared his teacher then abbot of Tashihunpo to be a manifestation of Amitabha (a deification of Buddha¡'s faculty of perfected cognition and perception) Thus Tashihunpo became the seat of an important lineage line: the Panchen Lamas. The title Panchen means "great scholar" and was the title traditionally bestowed on abbots of Tashilhunpo. The Monastery Tashilunpo is one of the few monasteries in Tibet that weathered the stormy seas of the Cultural Revolution relatively unscathed. It is a real pleasure to explore. Go to the monastery several times if you can as there is really too much to see in a single visit. From the entrance to the monastery visitors get a grand view of the complex. Above the white monastic quarters in a crowd of ochre buildings topped with gold tombs of the past Panchen Lamas. To the rights and higher still is the great white wall that is hung with massive, colorful Thangkas during festivals. the entire complex is surround by a high wall.

The Sakya Monastery - An Art Gallery
Construction of the Sakya Monastery was begun in 1073 by Kung Gung Quijiepuo on the orders of Basba. It resembles a castle in typical Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD) style. Among the historical articles here are a lot of imperial certificates, gold signets, crowns, and costumes bestowed by the Yuan Dynasty emperors. There are also a lot of statues of Buddha, ritual artifacts, and articles of scripture handwritten in gold powder or cinnabar. The monastery contains over 10,000 volumes of Tibetan books on astronomy, medicine, calligraphy, and history.

The Xialu Monastery
The Xialu Monastery is located in Rikuozuo. Its construction was begun in the year 1,000, and its architecture is a typical combination of Tibetan and Chinese styles with archways, carved pillars, tiled roofs, and Song and Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD) style murals. In addition to the various statues  of Buddha, it has four other treasures of inestimable value. The first is a scripture printing board carved out of sandalwood. The second is a copper jar for holy water. (It is said that the water is changed every 12 years, but that the quantity and quality of the water do not change even if the water has been in the jar for 12 years. The third is a stone basin which is said to have been used by Shaja Banzhida. The fourth is a stone board with the six-character principle engraved on tin. On each of the four corners of the board is also engraved a pagoda. It is said that this board was unearthed when the construction of the monastery first started.

The Kubum Monastery and the 10,000 Buddha Pagoda
The Kubum Monastery, situated in the western part of Gyantse, was built in the 15th Century. Encircled by mountains on three sides - east, west, and north - it is particularly unique in that its three sects of Buddhism--Shaja, Ningma, and Guolu - live harmoniously under  one roof. Of note is a hall of arhats made during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD); the arhats are so vivid that they look very much alive. Next to the monastery is the nine-story 10,000 Buddha Pagoda. It is 32m high. There are 108 doors, 77 Buddhist chambers, and countless shrines, primarily the 10,000 statues of Buddha. The most doors are decorated with relief sculptures of flying dragons, running lions, and walking elephants. The pagoda is a masterpiece of a Nepalese, Tibetan, and Chinese joint effort.

Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest)
Mount Qomolangma means "goddess the third" in the Tibetan language. In the West, this mountain is called Everest, the world's highest peak at an altitude of more than 39,000 ft. Everest is a wonderful sight to behold, of course, but it is best to admire it from afar and leave the climbing to experienced mountaineers.

Yungbulakang Castle
Yungbulakang was the palace for the first Tubo King Niechi. It is also called "the Mosher and Song Holy Hall". It stands atop a hill on the east bank of the Yalong River in the southeastern part of Naidong County. The castle can be divided into two parts - front and back. The front part is a three-story building, while the back part stands taller, much like a castle. Enshrined here are the statues of Thiesung Sangjie Buddha, King Niechi, King Songtsen Gampo, and other Tobu Kings who reigned after them. There is a legend about a mysterious object on the roof of the castle; therefore, Buddhists regard this place as holy land.

Sangsu Monastery
The Sangsu Monastery is situated at the foot of Mount Haibusi on the northern bank of the Yaluzangbu River in Jialang County. One of the first monasteries, it was built in 761 and is a typical Buddhist building. The fifth Tobu King Chisong Duosan sent envoys to Kashmir and India to invite famous lamas to teach Buddhism in Tibet. The monastery combines Tibetan, Chinese, and Indian architectural styles: the first floor is of Tibetan style, the second floor is Chinese, and the third floor is Indian. In each of the four corners of the main hall, a tower was built. Each tower is of a different color: red, white, green, or black.

The Changzhu Monastery (The Pearl Monastery)
The Changzhu Monastery is located on the eastern bank of the Yalong River in the district of Shannan. It is famous primarily for the legend of how it got its name. It is said that once upon a time, the site of the monastery was an extremely deep lake. In the lake, there was a five-headed dragon. After Songtsen Gampo gained control of Tibet, he decided to drain the lake and build a castle in its place. To that end, he invited two masters to lure a big bird to attack the dragon. First, the masters imitated the sound of the bird and lured the dragon out. Then, they imitated the sound of the dragon to get the bird to come. At that point, the dragon and the bird started a fight. At last, the bird chopped off two of the dragon's heads with its wings. Seven days later, the lake disappeared. To mark this success, some pearls were buried as the cornerstone for the monastery, which is how the monastery got its name.

Gyantse
Gyantse (3,950m) in the Nyang Chu valley 254km south-west of Lhasa, is one of the least Chinese influenced towns in Tibet and is worth a visit for this reason alone. The town's principal attractions are the Gyantse Kumbum, a magnificent tiered structure that has only one ruined and remote contemporary (at Jonang, 60kms northeast of Lhastse) in the Buddhist world, Pelkor Chode Monastery and the Gyantse Dzong, It is easy to spend a couple of days in Gyantse. If there was a settlement in Gyantse prior to the 14th Century, there are no conclusive records of its existence. But between the 14th and 15th centuries the town emerged as the center of a fielfdom with powerful connections with the Sakyapa order. By 1440 Gyantse's most impressive architectural achievements the Kumbum and the Dzong had been completed. Pelkor Chode Monastery also dates from this period. The monastery compound in the far north of town, which houses both Pelkor Chode Monastery and the Gyantse Kumbu, once contained 15 Monasteries. Little remains of them today. They were a particularly interesting collection, however, in that they brought together three different orders of Tibetan Buddhism in the one compound - a rare instance of multi-denominational tolerance. Nine of the monasteries were Gelugpa, three Sakyapa and three belonged to the Bupa, an obscure order whose head monastery was Zhalu near Shigatse. Gyantse¡'s historical importance declined from the end of the 15th Century, though it continued to be a major center for the trade of wood and wool between India and Tibet. Its position at the cross-roads of trade routes leading south to Bhutan, west to Shigatse and northeast to Lhasa turned Gyantse into the third largest town in Tibet. The Pelkor Chode Monastery:  Founded in 1418, Pelkor Chode was once a multi-denominational complex of monasteries. Today much of the sprawling courtyard, enclosed by walls that cling to the hills backing on to the monastery, is bare and the remaining structures are attended by Geluga monks. The best way to get an idea of the original extent of Pelkor Chode is to view it from the Gyantse Dzong. Pelkor Chode Monastery is a dark, gloomy place and if you want a good look at the various murals and Thangkas it is a good idea to bring a torch The entrance is flanked by statues of the Four Guardian Kings instead of the usual painting. Keep an eye out for the jewel-vomiting mongoose. Just by the entrance on the left is a particularly spooky protector chapel. The main chapel is to the rear of the assembly hall. There is an inner route around the chapel which is lined with murals. Inside, the central image is of Skyamuni, who is flanked by the Buddha of the past and future. Other bodhisattvas line the walls. The Gyantse Kumbum:  Commissioned by the early Gyantse princes in 1440, the chorten rises over four symmetrical floors and is surmounted by a gold dome. The dome rises like a crown over four sets of eyes that gaze serenely out in the cardinal directional of the compass. There are excellent views of the Kumbum from the hills behind themonastery.

Shigatse
Shigatse (3,900m) is the second largest town in Tibet and the traditional capital of Tsang (Around 250km to the south-west of Lhasa). Shigatse is one of the few places in Tsang with reliable and frequent transport connections with the capital. Shigatse has long been an important trading town and administrative center. The Tsang kings exercised their power from the once imposing heights of the Shigatse Dzong and the present ruins only hint at its former glory and the fort later became the residence of the governor of Tsang. Since the Mongol sponsorship of the Gelugpa order. Shigatse has been the seat of the Panchen Lama, who is traditionally based in Tashihunpo Monastery, Shigatse¡'s foremost attraction.

Tsetang
Tsetang (3,550m), 189km south-east of Lhasa, is the second largest town in the U region and the third largest in Tibet. It is the capital of Shannan Prefecture and an important administrative center. For travelers Tsetang is of interest mainly as a jumping board for exploration of the Yarlung Valley area. The Samye Monastery was the first monastery ever built in Tibet. It was founded by the Tibetan King Trisiong Desen and belongs to the Nyingmapa and Skayapa sects. The construction consists of three styles, namely the Chinese Han, the Tibetan and the Indian. It is said that the monastery was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt three hundred years as the residence of the 6th Dalai Lama. Finally it was completed by Rating Rimpoche. Gangpo Ri (4130m) is a mountain of special significance for Tibetans a it is the legendary birthplace of the Tibetan people. The Gangpo Ri Monkey Cave where the monkey meditated can be visited near the summit of the mountain. The walk there and back will take close to a full day. Yarlung Valley is considered the cradle of Tibetan civilization and it was from Yarlung that the early Tibetan kings unified Tibet in the 7th Century. The massive burial mounds of these kings can be seen in Chongye. Yumbulagang, another major attraction of the area, is perched on a crag like a medieval European castle and is considered the oldest building in Tibet. This fine, tapering finger of a structure that sprouts from a craggy ridge overlooking the patch work fields of the Yarlung valley is reputed to be the oldest building in Tibet. At least that is the claim for the original structure. Most of what can be seen today dates from 1982. It is still a remarkably impressive sight, and should not be missed. The founding of Yumbulagang stretches back to a time of legend :myths converge on the structure bewildering profusion. The standard line is that it was built to accommodate King Nyentri Tsenpo, a likely historical figure who has since been swallowed up by the mythology of Tibet. The Trandruk Monastery, around 7km south of the Tsetang Hotel, is one of the earliest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, having been founded at the same time as the Jokhang and Ramoche in Lhasa. Dating back to the 7th Century reign of Songtsen Gampo, it is one of the Demoness Subduing temples of Tibet. King Songtsen Gampo¡'s Chinese wife, Princess Wencheng, divined the presence of a subterranean demoness in Tibet. only by pinning this demoness down, it was felt, could the Buddhist faith take root in the high plateau. The location of Trandruk which is one of 12 such subduing temples that ring the Jokhang in concentric circles like a mandala¡ corresponds to the demoness's left shoulder.

The Tombs of the Tobu Kings
There is a group of tombs on the top of Mount Muri in Qungjie County, the former capital of the Tobu Kingdom. These are the tombs of the kings and queens of the Tobu Kingdom. The tombs are protected by the mountains in back and guarded by stone lions erected on the mountain slope. There are steles among the tombs to honor the dead, suggesting that by that time the Tibetans had developed a sophisticated system for burying their dead. One stele in particular is carved with floating clouds and the four corners of the stele are turned up toward the sky.

The Guguo Kingdom Relics
The rulers of the Guguo Kingdom were descendants of the Tubo Kings. After the downfall of the Tubo Kingdom, their descendants set up the Guguo Kingdom in the Ali region. Now the famous Guguo Kingdom ruins of castles and palaces stand on an earth hill in Jada County. The entire area of Guguo Kingdom ruins is approximately 180,000 sq. m. There are three rows of Buddhist pagodas as high as 10m. There are over 300 houses built on the hillside. Under this group of buildings is a network of presumably secret tunnels. Circling the group of buildings is the city wall, made of clay. Many Buddha carvings are still apparent. All the buildings are made of earth and timber. The roofs are colorfully decorated with such creatures as lions, horses, elephants, dragons, and peacocks. The caves are shaped in oblong or squares. There are over ten caves around the palaces; they serve as storage for a large quantity of arms, ammunition, tools, cooking utensils, and Tibetan books.