Samye monastery is located 130km southeast of Lhasa and 39km west of the Tsethang town, on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. It is consider to be the first Buddhist temple in Tibet and famous for its beautiful Mandala shaped design, many of the buildings of the monastery reflects cosmological symbols in the Mandala.
Aeria view of Samye Monastery.
Samye monastery was founded in the reign of King Trisong Detsen between 765-780. Samye monastery represent the Tibet’s first efforts to allow the Buddhism to set down roots in the country. The Bon religion prevailed in Tibet prior to Buddhism were not at all pleased with this efforts. The victory of Buddhism over the Bon dominated establishment was replaced by the Guru Rinpoche’s succeed over the demons resided in Tibet at the Hepori just to the 400m east of Samye. It was the way that Buddhism could have paved the way for introduction of Buddhism to Tibet.
Main Temple in Samye Monastery in Tsethang, Tibet.
The Utse Hall
The center building three story Utse Hall is the most important temple in Samye monastery. This magnificent building combined 3 different architecture styles. The 1st floor were originally Tibetan style, the 2nd was Chinese style and the 3rd floor is Indian style. Just to the left of the entrance gate has the historical record which proclaims Buddhism as the state religion of Tibet by the order of King Trisong Detsen. The first floor of the building is the assembly hall and which contains different statues of Buddha and Bodhisattvas. The main statues on the 2nd floor is the Guru Rinpoche, King Trisong Detsen, And Buddha Shakyamuni. The 3rd floor houses a Mandala base as well as four statues of Namse (protectors for four directions). This is the main pilgrimage site in Samye monastery, therefore, this building is busy with local pilgrims from all over the Tibetan regions.
The gate to inside Utse Hall in Samye Monastery.
Chortens / Stupas
There are four Chortens in the corners of the complex with four dominate colors. Red, White, Black and Green which said to prevent the natural and man-made disasters. Green is the symbolizes eternity, white symbolizes compassion, black symbolizes strength and red symbolizes wisdom.
The red stupa in Samye Monastery.
Hepori
Hepori is the hill which is located about 400m east of Samye monastery where Guru Rinpoche or Padmasambhava subdued the demons of Tibet and making the site safe for the construction of Samye monastery for the King Trisong Detsen. The building of the monastery represented and proclaimed Buddhism the state religion of Tibet. There is a small paths lead to the top of the hill from the Samye’s east gate and the top of the hill offers a great panoramic view of the Samye monastery with 4 stupas in four corners of the monastery.
The view on the top of Hepori, in Samye Monastery.
Kolam / Circumambulation Route
After you finish visiting monasteries, then you exit the main gate and make a kora around the monastery which local pilgrims. The full kora takes about 30-40 minutes with nice and quiet route between the monastery wall and local village homes. There are small stupas built on the monastery wall along the circumambulation route.
The small stupas on the wall of Korlam / Circumambulation
If you are staying in Samye Monastery or visiting the monastery in the late afternoon, there is a monks debating session at 4 pm (the time may change) in the debating yard.
Accommodation in Samye is very limited, there is only one option called the Samye Monastery Hotel which is a budget hotel but relatively clean and shower is available most of the time.
Restaurants in Samye have several options, most of them are located on the main street of the village nearby the Samye Monastery hotel and one restaurants inside the Samye Monastery yard. Both vegetarian and non – vegetarian food is available.
Admission Fee: Utse hall 40Y per person
Opening Hour: All year around
