Chambaling Monastery

Built in 1414 by a disciple of Tsong Khapa, the founder of Gelugpa school of Buddhism, Chambaling Monastery was the first and the largest Gelugpa Buddhism monastery in eastern Tibet. Constructed on the highest mesa of Chamdo, at the foot of which is the confluence of two rivers that form the Lancang River, it occupies an area of over 20 hectares (49 acres). The most important Buddha statue consecrated in the monastery is the Chamba Buddha, and it is for this reason that the monastery was named Chambaling. Following the same design as the other Gelugpa monasteries, it has a main assembly hall, zhacangs and debating yards etc.. The many hundreds of statues, Thangka s and murals are similar to those in other Gelugpa monasteries. However, this monastery does have something that is unique as during the Tibetan New Year 's Festival , the inmates celebrate with dance rituals. Wearing an assortment ferocious masks and gorgeous garments, many lamas perform this elegant ritual dance. The musical accompaniment is pithy, clear and melodious. The whole scene is wonderfully spectacular and the event is highly regarded throughout the whole of Tibet.   Chambaling Monastery maintained a close relationship with the government from the time that it was established. From the Kang Xi period of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) onwards, the titles of succeeding living Buddhas of this monastery were all conferred by the government. The monastery assisted the Qing Government in putting down a rebellion in Tibet. In recognition of this a brass seal was granted by the Emperor Kang Xi to the abbot and it is still kept in the monastery today. As a further token of his esteem, the Emperor also inscribed a horizontal board with the characters 'Ganden Chambaling Monastery' and presented it to the monastery. This was that time that the monastery enjoyed a period of great prosperity. It had more than 3, 500 monks and over 130 branch monasteries in the nearby regions of Chamdo, Nakchu and Nyingchi.  

Admission Fee:	CNY 35
Opening Hours:	The whole day