Gandan Sumtseling Monastery

Treasure of Shangri-La

From afar the Gandan Sumtseling Monastery shines like a jewel in the sky with its gilded roofs and contrasting colours of red and white.  It’s no surprise that it’s also known as the Little Potala Palace because of its resemblance with the famous Tibetan monastery.  It is the largest Tibetan monastery outside of Tibet.  Housing about 700 monks in its compounds, this important monastery is a must-visit for those visiting Shangri-La.  Walking up the steps leading to the monastery was a bit of a challenge with the symptoms of altitude sickness taking over my body, especially as my head felt heavier and heavier.  But once I got to the final step, I was rewarded with a gorgeous view of Shangri-La’s many prayer flags fluttering in the sky, beckoning me to its reflective ponds, green pastures and azure blue skies.

Built in 1679 by the fifth Dalai Lama of the Gelukpa during the rule of the Qing emperor Kangxi, the monastery was severely damaged in the 1950s, but was fully restored by the 80s.  The correct way to walk in a monastery is clockwise and never turn back as that is a sign of bad luck.  The main hall of the monastery has numerous paintings depicting the life of the Buddha and at its centre sits an eight metre Shakyamuni Buddha.  The smell from the yak butter lamps is quite distinct in the main hall.  Other lamaseries can be found in the compound for monks to reside in.  More on Tibetan traditions on my next blog!