Tashilhunpo Monastery

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	TibetOct08 2805.jpg	TibetOct08 2806.jpg	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
TibetOct08 2828.jpg	The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism	TibetOct08 2830.jpg	Tashilhunpo Monastery
Tashilhunpo Monastery	Antique Tibetan lock	TibetOct08 2836.jpg	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	TibetOct08 2908.jpg
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	TibetOct08 2940.jpg	TibetOct08 2943.jpg	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