Located 50 kilometers northeast of Lhasa City, Ganden Monastery is a famous attraction and was the first Gelugpa monastery in Tibet. If you only have time for one monastery excursion outside Lhasa, Ganden would probably the best choice. With its stupendous views of the surrounding Kyi-chu Valley and fascinating kora, Ganden is an experience unlike the other major Gelupa monasteries in the Lhasa area. Ganden Monastery is one of the famous "Three Great Monasteries" in Tibet together with the Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery.

Emperor Shizong of the Qing Dynasty named the temple as Yongshou Temple. Every leader of Gelugpa Ganden Tripa is living in the temple during that period. In the early 15th century, Tsong Khapa called for the Reformation of Religion, advocating the rooting out the previous disadvantages in religious orders and initiated the Gelugpa, which also known as the Yellow Hat sect. This order went on to become the biggest sect in Tibetan Buddhism, leading to Tsong Khapa establish the Ganden Monastery.

Ganden Monastery is a national key protected institution of cultural relics. It is composed by more than 50 buildings, mainly about the main hall, Sapporo warehouse, Kang village, rice village and temple shag. Coqen Hall located in the northern part of the whole complex is the main hall in Ganden Monastery. Built in 1409, with the width of 43.8 meters and the length of 44.7 meters, consists of 108 large columns, it can accommodate 3300 monk chanting simultaneously.

Besides the 95 Holy Stupas, Ganden Monastery has a large number of precious historical relics: Qianlong Emperor of Qing Dynasty bestowed the Queen's treasure armor, the seat and bed of Tsongkhapa, 24 cards donated by the Ming Emperor Yongle, also the cushion of Gushi Khan. All of these fully show a long history and religious status of Ganden Monastery. On every October 25 of Tibetan calendar is the anniversary of the death of Tsongkhapa, the daytime show hanging large Buddha, at night the whole temple Enlightening to show the respect. The grand ceremony was very solemn that it is the most important traditional festival.

A visit to Drepung Monastery is actually a Tibetan culture tour. To learn more about the history, development and the rich culture, here is second to none. And the unique experience will leave a wonderful memory during your tour in Lhasa.