Muli Grand Monastery

#mytraveldiary The Muli Grand Monastery (木里大寺), also known as Muli Monastery, is a significant Tibetan Buddhist site located in Muli Tibetan Autonomous County in southwestern Sichuan Province, China. Situated approximately 3000 meters above sea level in the Litang River Valley, the monastery is a prominent example of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. 🏛️ Historical Significance Foundation and Early History: The monastery was established in the early Qing dynasty, around the 17th year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign (approximately 1660), and took about 12 years to complete. It was modeled after significant lamaseries in Tibet and was renowned for housing a massive golden statue of Maitreya over 10 meters high. Cultural Revolution and Restoration: During the Cultural Revolution, the monastery, along with other prominent lamaseries in the region, was destroyed. In 1987, restoration efforts began, and the monastery now houses around 80 young monks.