Before the Great Fifth Dalai Lama built the potala palace, Drepung Monastery was always the seat of Dalai Lama, which was once largest and most influential monastery in Tibet, with over 10,000 monks. Drepung Monastery is situated on the borders of Lhasa as well as being famous for its yearly Shoton Festival in August.
What to see in Tibet Drepung Monastery then?There contains multiple Buddha statues and other decorations in the first floor. The most famous image at Drepung is a 15m tall statue of the 8-year old Maitreya Buddha. And The second floor contains Buddhist scriptures.
Tibet Drepung Monastery is wide open all year round but August is a great time to visit because of the Shoton Festival that usually takes place then, which is with its dramatic unfurling of a giant thangka painting on the hillside.
How to get there? You can take a taxi and buses are also in that direction. It is only half an hour by car outside central Lhasa. Morning buses depart from west of the Jokhang. Returning to Lhasa, take bus no. 302 from Nechung Monastery, or bus no. 301 from the bottom of the hill.
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