Mindroling Monastery

Mindroling Monastery is 15 kilometers from Zetang County. There are three ways of getting there. First, you may rent a three-wheeled bike in the county, which will cost you about CNY30.00 net once. Second, you can rent a taxi from Zetang; the cost is about CNY80.00 net or CNY100.00 net per car, at most for four people. Or, you may take regular buses that depart for Zharang, Gonggar or Lhasa, and get off at Mindroling Monastery, and then walk there or take a local tractor. Including the time for transportation to and from, it requires a whole day for the tour to Mindroling Monastery. If you wish, you may also stay one night there at the Zharang Hotel, or encamp there by yourselves.

Mindroling Monastery is one of the six academies of the Nyingmapa-sect. It was heavily damaged in 1718 by the Dzungar Mongols from East Turkistan, and was rebuilt by the seventh Dalai Lama. The temple covers an area of more than 100,000 square meters. You may see that on the wall of the main hall, there are many paintings of Buddha with ferocious faces and extra heads and arms. It is a special characteristic of Nypingmapa temples. According to the explanation of Tibetan Buddhism, those malevolent-looking deities are guardians of the temple defense against enemies and evils. From the view point of art, these exaggerated figures are typical works of Tibetan Mi-sect. On the third floor of the main hall, there are two Buddhist Halls; within one of them you will find the paintings of the famous Lama Image of the Nyingmapa-sect.