Garze Monastery
དཀར་མཛེས་དགོན། 甘孜寺
The largest of the Thirteen Horpa Monasteries, with golden-roofed halls built into the mountain north of Garze town. It offers views over the town and the Yalong River valley.
Garze Monastery is a Gelug monastery founded in the mid-17th century. It is the largest of the Thirteen Horpa Monasteries in northern Kham. Its halls are layered across the hillside north of the county town, and the golden roof of the main hall shines brightly in the sun. You can walk the prayer path around the monastery, then climb to a high observation platform for views over the town, the Yalong River, and the Zhuoda La snow mountain to the south. Visits are generally free. Some halls do not allow photography, so please circle the stupas clockwise and respect the monks. Garze town sits at about 3,400 meters, so watch for altitude sickness when you first arrive. The hike from town to the monastery takes about 20 minutes uphill.
Opening hours
Open during the day (approx. 08:00–18:00)