Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery is a major Gelugpa Buddhist monastery on the Gambo Utse ridge just west of Lhasa in Tibet, founded in 1416 and long counted among the region’s largest monastic institutions.

The complex contains extensive assembly halls, chapels and monk living quarters arranged across terraces and courtyards. Several large halls hold historic statues and ritual objects; the site’s scale and layout reflect its former role as a major educational and religious center for the Gelug school.

Drepung was established in the early 15th century and grew into one of the principal seats of Gelug Buddhism. Its role and population changed dramatically in the mid 20th century during political upheavals in Tibet; parts of the complex were damaged and later subject to restoration and changing administrative arrangements.

The monastery sits on the slopes above the Lhasa plain, a short drive west of central Lhasa and visible from parts of the city. The surrounding landscape is urban fringe and hillside; visits are commonly combined with other Lhasa sites such as Sera and the Potala area.

• Altitude and access: Sits at high altitude near Lhasa - allow time to acclimatize and expect steep steps and uneven paths across the complex.
• Scale and layout: Largest of the historic Gelug monasteries - once supported thousands of monks and still contains large assembly halls and chapels.