Ganden Monastery

The Gelugpa sect of Buddhism is traditionally one of the most important in Tibet. The Gelugpa gave rise to the Dalai Lama, and has been the spiritual beacon of Tibetan Buddhism since the early 1400s. The original Gelugpa monastery is located at Ganden, 40 kilometers northeast of Lhasa, on a high alpine peak at 14,760 feet.

Because of its spiritual and political influence, the Ganden Monastery suffered greatly at the hands of China’s Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution. China strafed Ganden with artillery fire and heavy bombs in 1959, and again in 1966. Nevertheless, Ganden has persevered as an important Buddhist center in Tibet, and reconstruction continues to this day.



We visited Ganden with our new Dutch friends Edith and Maarten. As the sun came up over the spectacular Kyi-chu Valley, we walked the holy kora with groups of praying pilgrims. As the chants of monks drifted up the mountainside from the great assembly hall, we walked passed the holy sky burial platforms, and beneath the ever-present prayer flags. Although Ganden has suffered greatly, we found a Buddhist culture that is still thriving despite China’s efforts to destroy it.

Enjoy the Ganden Monastery Photo Gallery.

Enjoy the Ganden Kora video.