Shigatse Tour - Strategies of Photographing Tashilhunpo Monastery

Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of Gelug Sect in Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the monastery with largest scale in Tsang. There are soul pagodas of the first Panchen, second Panchen, third Panchen and fourth Panchen, and the multi-burial soul pagoda from the fourth Panchen to ninth Panchen, as well as the soul pagoda of the tenth Panchen Lama Queji Jianzan. Of course, the largest gilded Maitreya Buddha in the world is also highlight of Tashilhunpo Monastery.

In addition, the rite of Buddha Exhibition in Tashilhunpo Monastery is also different from other Tibetan Buddhist monastery. The Buddha Exhibition in three largest monasteries in Lhasa is only held on the day of Shoton Festival. But the Buddha Exhibition in Tashilhunpo Monastery will last for three days. On the first day, the "past Buddha" - Amitabha Buddha will be on exhibition; on the second day, the "present Buddha" – Sakyamuni will be on exhibition; on the third day, the "future Buddha" – Maitreya Buddha will be on exhibition.

Shigatse Tour – Best Location of Photographing Tashilhunpo Monastery

Platform for Buddha Exhibition

Since from it was built in 1468, the platform for Buddha Exhibition in Tashilhunpo Monastery has over 500 years' history. The platform is 32 meters high, 42.5 meters long and 3.5 meters thick. It can be divided into nine floors, with wooden stairs connecting each floor in it. It is out of the northeast wall of Tashilhunpo Monastery. On the both sides of the platform, there are some shelves of circumambulation, prayer flags and inscriptions on precipices, etc. The days of May 14th, May 15th and May 16th in Tibetan Calendar in each year are the Buddha Exhibition Festival in Tashilhunpo Monastery. There, three giant images of past Buddha, present Buddha and future Buddha will be on exhibition. Hence, it is the best location to photograph the materials of Tibetan Buddhism in Tashilhunpo Monastery.

Circumambulation

The area around the outer wall of Tashilhunpo Monastery is a complete circumambulation. If you have enough time in Shigatse tour, you are suggested to go along the circumambulation for once from the front gate of Tashilhunpo Monastery. On the way, you can photograph pious Tibetans, rows of Tibetan prayer wheels, platform for Buddha Exhibition, inscriptions on precipices, etc. In addition, you also can have a full view of Tashilhunpo Monastery on the hill behind of Tashilhunpo Monastery.

Shigatse Tour – Plan of Photographing Tashilhunpo Monastery

Tashilhunpo Monastery is located at the eastern suburbs of Shigatse. In general, it only needs a half day to photograph Tashilhunpo Monastery. Since Shigatse is located on the way from Lhasa to Mt. Everest and Ngari, you are suggested to spend one night in Shigatse on the way to Mt. Everest or Ngari so that you can Photograph Tashilhunpo Monastery both in the morning and in evening.

There is strict limitation about photographing in Tashilhunpo Monastery. At some parts of Tashilhunpo Monastery, it is prohibited to photograph. At some parts, you need to pay extra fee for photographing. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, you are suggested to figure out which places can photograph with Lama in the monastery in advance.