You enter through the main gate and climb lanes between whitewashed monk quarters towards the chapels. The Maitreya chapel on the western side holds the Jampa statue, cast in 1914 under the 9th Panchen Lama, seated and about 26 m high, covered in gold and copper. Visitors look up from the floor through several storeys of balconies.
Nearby are the tomb stupas of the Panchen Lamas, including a joint tomb for the 5th to 9th, and the chapel of the 10th Panchen Lama, who died in 1989. The main assembly hall is lined with thangkas and rows of cushions where monks gather for prayers. Butter lamps, murmured chanting and the smell of juniper fill the rooms.
Allow two or three hours, moving slowly; the lanes rise steadily. Photography rules vary by chapel, and fees apply in some. Afterwards, walk part of the kora or browse the market opposite the gate for prayer flags and incense.
Good for
- First-timers
- Photographers
- Families
- Pilgrims
Questions travellers ask
Who founded Tashilhunpo Monastery?
Tashilhunpo was founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, a disciple of Tsongkhapa who was later recognised as the first Dalai Lama. It became the seat of the Panchen Lamas from the 17th century and is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school.
How big is the Maitreya statue at Tashilhunpo?
The seated Maitreya (Jampa) statue in Tashilhunpo is about 26 m high and was cast in 1914 under the 9th Panchen Lama, using large quantities of gold and copper. It is one of the largest gilded seated Buddha statues in the world.
How long does a Tashilhunpo visit take?
Allow 2–3 hours for the main chapels, assembly hall and Maitreya chapel, plus about an hour if you walk the outer kora. Mornings are best, when monks are at prayer and crowds are thinner.
