Tashilhunpo Monastery, the biggest monastery in Shigatse, is not just a religious institution but also the Panchen Lama’s seat and the hub of Tsang area politics, religion, and culture. Known as the Four Greatest Monasteries of Tibetan Gelugpa Sects, Tashilhunpo Monastery is situated in Lhasa together with three other significant monasteries, Sera Monastery, Ganden Monastery, and Drepung Monastery. They form the Six Greatest Monasteries paired with Gansu’s Labrang Monastery and Qinghai’s Kumbum Monastery, symbolizing Tibet’s rich religious and cultural heritage.
The wall encircling Tashilhunpo Monastery stretches for 3000 meters. The monastery was built with its back to the mountains and face toward the sun. There are over 3600 rooms and 58 sutra chapels. The Thangka Exhibition Platform, interwoven red and white walls, and golden glazed tiles adorn several newly constructed buildings within Tashilhunpo Monastery.
The monastery’s glory is the enormous golden statue of Maitreya. This 26-meter-tall Buddha statue was created by 110 artists and is a magnificent example of their breadth of expertise. It glistens with precious stones, built with 230 tons of brass and 560 kilos of gold, and embellished with 300 pearls and 32 diamonds.