Drak Yerpa
བྲག་ཡེར་པ། 扎叶巴寺
An ancient cluster of meditation caves on a cliff northeast of Lhasa, where Songtsen Gampo and Padmasambhava both retreated.
Drak Yerpa lies in a valley in Dazi District, about 30 kilometers northeast of Lhasa. It is one of Tibet's earliest sacred sites of meditation, and the saying 'Lhasa has one sacred site: Drak Yerpa' has been repeated for a long time. The monastery consists of dozens of meditation caves in steep cliffs. Visitors can enter in turn Songtsen Gampo's meditation cave, Padmasambhava's Dawa Pu cave, and the place where Atisha meditated. Butter lamps burn constantly inside the caves. The route involves many steps, and the altitude is about 4,500 meters, so the climb is demanding. A half-day round trip by chartered car is recommended. Admission is about 20 yuan. There are few visitors and the atmosphere is serene.
Opening hours
About 09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Sera Monastery
- Drapchi Monastery
- Pabonka Hermitage
- Tromsikhang Market
- Guangming Sweet Tea House
- Ramoche Temple
- Makye Ame
- Ani Tsankhung Nunnery