Trandruk Monastery

In Tibetan, Trandruk refers to a roc and a dragon. As the legend goes, the site where the Trandruk Monastery lies once was a big lake and an evil dragon with five heads lived in the lake. The evil dragon often made trouble for people living around the lake. In order to defeat the dragon and bring the locals back to normal life, Songtsen Gampo turned into a roc and fought with the dragon. Eventually, the dragon was killed. Hence, the Trandruk Monastery was built to commemorate Songtsen Gampo's great deeds.

 

Trandruk Monastery Pictures

Lighting Yak Butter Lamp

Constructed as the first Buddhist chapel in Tibet, the Trandruk Monastery is situated at the southern slope of the Mt. Gangpo Ri about two kilometers (one mile) from the Tsedang Town. Initially, it was built during the reign of Emperor Songtsen Gampo (617-650), who founded the Tibet Regime in ancient China. Later on, it belonged to the Yellow Hat Sect and had been reconstructed in the early 18th century. So far, it has a history of about 1,300 years.

The Pearl Thangka in the Trandruk Monastery is the most renowned and precious. About two meters (seven feet) long and one meter (three feet) wide, this unique scroll painting is made by more than 29,000 pearls, 2,000 coral beads, 180 turquoises and other precious stones including two rubies, one diamond and one sapphire. It depicts a portrait of Kwan-Yin in relaxing carriage with propitious clouds, flowers, birds and petals decorated around. Additionally, visitors should not miss the Sakyamuni Thangka embroidered by Princess Wencheng, the wife of Songtsen Gampo and some delicate and pretty masks.

Buddha Statue in Changzhu Temple

Buddha Masks

The Trandruk Monastery comprises two main buildings: the Naiding Lakang (a chapel) and the Main Assembly Hall (also called Tshomchen). Consisting of two floors, the Naiding Lakang is said to be the oldest chapel in the monastery. On the first floor is enshrined the statue of Songtsen Gampo, and Padmasambhava and other Buddhas are worshiped on the second floor. The Tshomchen is composed of the courtyard, the Great Hall and the cloister around it. On the walls of the cloister were painted murals and the images of Lobsang Gyatso who was the fifth Dalai Lama and other famous hierarchs. There are 12 Buddhist chapels in the Great Hall. The Cuoqing Lakang is the main chapel. In the chapel is enshrined the statue of Sakyamuni and other two Buddhas with ten Bronze Bodhisattvas flanked on the left and right. On the second floor of the Great Hall are the dwelling of Dalai Lama and some other chapels.

Legend has it that Padmasambhava and other Buddhist hierarchs once practiced Buddhism near the Trandruk Monastery, which made the monastery renowned. Many pilgrims are attracted to come here to worship.
 Take a bue from Lhasa Xijiao Bus Station to Tsedang Town and then hire a local car to the monastery.