Drepung Monastery-Famous Tibet Lhasa Tours with Local Tour Operator

Drepung Monastery, called Drepung Gompa in Tibetan, was founded at the foot of Mount Gambo Utse “Gephel” in 1416. It is on the outskirts of west Lhasa city and it was Tibet's largest and most influential monastery housing 10,000 monks in history. Drepung Monastery is one of the largest "great three" Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet with the other two called Ganden and Sera Monastery behind. But today, Drepung Monastery houses about 700 monks and attracts thousands of pilgrims and visitors from around the world. Drepung is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries and is located on the Gambo Utse

The meaning of “Drepung” refers to a monastery of collecting rice because the white painted walls of the monastery appear like a mound of rice if viewed from a far. After the funding in 1416, Drepung monastery welcomed the first living Buddha in 1546. The most well known feature of the monastery is its large white pagodas and typical monastery architecture.

The famous annual Tibetan Shoton Festival celebration with its dramatic unfurling of a giant Thangka painting is held on the hillside which is just opposite to Drepung Monastery. So Drepung Monastery is a big highlight attraction in Lhasa and it becomes more and more popular in Tibet tour.