Tsurphu Monastery

Tsurphu Monastery

Tsurphu Monastery is a gompa which serves as the traditional seat of the Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. It is located in Gurum in Doilungdêqên District, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Lhasa.

The monastery is about 4,300 metres (14,100 ft) above sea level. It was built in the middle of the valley facing south with high mountains surrounding the complex.

Tsurphu is a 300-square-meter (3,200 sq ft) complex with walls up to 4 meters (13 ft) thick. The gompa, the traditional seat of the Karmapa lamas, is about 28 kilometres (17 mi) up the Dowo Lung Valley on the north side of the river.

Address: Gurum in Doilungdêqên District, Tibet Autonomous Region, China

Entrance ticket: RMB40/ person

Contact: 0891-6674780

Opening hours: 9:00-14:00

Arrival: Every morning around 7:00-8:00am, 200 meters to the south of the western garden of Jokhang Temple, there is a bus bound for Tsurphu Monastery.

Recommended visiting time: 2 hours