Nestled between the mountains on the outskirts of Lhasa, Drepung Monastery is one of the three great university monasteries and the largest monastery in Tibet.
Built in 1416, the Drepung Monastery is the largest in Lhasa and used to be the place where the Dalai Lamas received his training. Formerly the home to around 8,000 monks, there are about 800 monks there now.
The monastery is quiet, peaceful, and well-conserved, boasting the traditional Tibetan style and colors. The pervasive smell of butter oil from the lamps adds even more atmosphere to this tranquil place. Most of the buildings within the monastery grounds are occupied and cannot be accessed, but the temples are interesting.
Sitting on a mountain slope, Drepung Monastery is even higher than Potala Palace and offers good views of Lhasa city. This also means that a certain amount of walking and climbing is required when visiting the monastery.
Opening hours: 9:00am - 2:00pm
Entrance fee: 50 RMB
Average time for this activity: 2-3 hours
Drepung Monastery is a little outside of Lhasa. Visitors need to take a bus or taxi to get there.