Visiting Samye Monastery

Samye Monastery, also known as Sangphuk Monastery or Endless Monastery, is located within the territory of Samye Town, Zhanang County, Shannan Region of the Tibet Autonomous Region, at the foot of Mt. Habu on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. The monastery was established in the 8th century during the Tibetan Empire and is the first monastery in Tibet where monks were ordained. The architectural layout of the monastery is based on the Buddhist cosmology, with the central temple incorporating Tibetan, Han Chinese, and Indian styles, hence Samye Monastery is also referred to as the 'Three Styles Monastery'. There are currently over 50 monks residing in Samye Monastery.