The Tibetan people believe that the souls of the dead will not be incarnated unless the deceased has reached Samya before. Samye Monastery is probably the most favored destination outside Lhasa. The charm of the monastery not only comes from its super long history--Samye is actually Tibet's first monastery and it is over 1200 years old, but largely lies in the structure of the monastery, the religious significance and the enjoyment of the trip itself.

The Monastery is designed to represent the Buddhist belief of the shape of the universe. The imposing central building, a three storey Chinese, Indian, and Tibetan style building represents the Buddhist center of Mt. Sumeru. The temple buildings and chapels around represent the continents and oceans. The Monastery is a circle fringed by a circular wall dotted with 1008 chortens.

The establishment of Samye Monastery marked the victory of Tibetan Buddism over the original Bon belief. The monastery has been damaged and restored throughout history, and witnessed numerous disputes between Buddhist schools, repeated wars, and various religious developments.

The trip to the Monastery itself is enjoyable, since this spot is located in beautiful Samye valley and along the Yalungtzangpo-the mother river of Tibet. The trip to Samye involves a ferry crossing with breathtaking views of Yalungzangpo, and a land cruise in a beautiful valley. On top of this, the area around the monastery is a peaceful and typically Tibetan spot.

How to get there: The bus between Lhasa and Tsetang is one of the few regular public transportation options available in Tibet. About 30KM before the bus finally brings you to Tsetang from Lhasa, there is a ferry lies on the bank of the Ya river, the ferry boat takes you to the other side of the river. (RMB5) From there the Samye Monastery is 9KM away on the northeast. You can walk there or take the truck or tractor prepared by the local people (RMB3), a rough trip by either ways.

Opening time: 9:00-16:00
Visiting time: 2-3 hours
Admission: Locals free of charge, RMB30 for visitors

Permission: Foreign visitors are not allowed to travel outside Lhasa as individual travelers, they have to be part of tour groups organized and accompanied by local tour agencies. The trip to Samye is the same situation, although sometimes the PSB in Shigatse will issue a few individual travel permits but this is not guaranteed.

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