Tsurphu Monastery
མཚུར་ཕུ་དགོན་པ།
The main monastery of the Karma Kagyu school and the seat of successive Karmapas, tucked away in a deep valley in Doilungdêqên.
Tsurphu Monastery lies in the Tsurphu Valley of Gurong Township, Doilungdêqên District, at an altitude of about 4,300 meters. It was founded in 1189 by the first Karmapa, Düsum Khyenpa. It is the main monastery of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and the birthplace of the tulku (reincarnation) system. The monastery is built into the mountainside. Its halls contain huge statues and fine murals, and a path behind the monastery leads around the mountain with views over the valley. Admission is about 45 yuan. It is about 70 kilometers from Lhasa and must be reached by chartered car. The roads are passable, but watch for altitude sickness.
Opening hours
About 09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Drepung Monastery
- Nechung Monastery
- Lhalu Wetland
- Tibet Yak Museum
- Norbulingka
- Tibet Museum
- Chakpori Hill Viewpoint
- Pabonka Hermitage