Lhasa is situated at a height of 3,650 meters and is one of the most mystique cities in the world. The city attracts thousands of tourists from around the globe, but Ramoche Temple is the major tourist attraction in Lhasa.
Ramoche temple was built in 641 AD by Princess Wencheng, covers over 4,000 square meters of land, and has three floors. The temple remains open for visitors throughout the year and is easy to reach.
The architectural style of the temple is wonderful and depicts a combination of both Tibetan and Han architectural styles. Once, the temple burned into ruins, but fortunately, it was repaired and is now in its best state.
If you are planning to visit the temple and are curious to find more details about the temple, continue to read the article!
Ramoche Temple, Lhasa: An overview
When you enter the temple, you will see people bowing down and praying, and there are two circular paths you can walk around. On the left side, there is a small chapel with masks and puppets on old pillars, and you will also find a statue of a deity named Dorje Yudronma covered in beads on a horse.
The main chapel is filled with statues of fierce protector deities in a special pose called "YABYUM." The temple is dedicated to advanced spiritual practices known as Tantra.
History Of Ramoche Temple:
One of the earliest temples in Lhasa is the Ramoche Temple. In the seventh century, the Chinese princess of Songtsen Gampo, the 33rd king, constructed the temple for the first time.
Originally, it was meant to hold a statue of Buddha brought to Tibet by Princess Wencheng. Around the 8th century, they replaced this Buddha with a different one called Akshobhya. This Akshobhya statue was given to Tibet as a wedding gift when King Songtsen Gampo married Princess Bhrikuti from Nepal.
The Jokhang temple was originally constructed in the Chinese style, but after suffering constant damage from fires, it was reconstructed in the Tibetan style. By the middle of the 15th century, Ramoche Temple had become like a special college for learning about advanced spiritual practices in Lhasa.
Location:
Ramoche Temple Road, No.14, Chengguan District Lhasa City
Opening hours:
Opening hours of the temple are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Entry Fee:
CNY 30: Check the current attraction price on the day of your visit.
Best Time to Visit Ramoche Temple, Lhasa?
Though tourists can visit the Ramoche Temple all year, March to October is the best time to explore Lhasa. The temperature used to be mild at that then.
How To Reach Ramoche Temple, Lhasa?
Lhasa is easy to reach because you can take a plane to Lhasa Kongga International Airport and catch the airport bus or drive to the temple, about 60 kilometers away. Ramoche Temple is north of Lhasa, just 500 meters from Barkhor Street. Visitors have good transportation options, including long-distance, self-driving, and regular buses.
What Can Visit At Ramoche Temple, Lhasa?
Located northwest of Lhasa, the Ramoche temple occupies 4000 square meters or one acre. It was initially constructed by Han Chinese builders in the middle of the 7th century, and the original building complex shows a strong Tang architectural influence.
You can visit the following at Ramoche temple, Lasha:
Atrium
The three-story main building comprises an atrium, a scripture hall, and a Buddha palace with narrow passageways on the first floor. There are houses with partition doors on both sides of the atrium.
The right room is used for instruments, and the left room is a side hall where a statue of the Kampot horse made of pomegranate branches is in the temple. A chapel with a statue of the eight-year-old Buddha is located on the second floor. The Dalai Lama's bedroom is on the third story.
Scripture Hall
In the back of the atrium is a special place called the scripture hall. It has 7 deep rooms, 3 rooms wide, and 30 big columns. Four of these columns in the middle are tall, like 6.2 meters, and they help make a sunroof on the second floor.
The other 26 columns are shorter, about 2.8 meters, and they have pretty decorations on top, like lotus flowers, clouds, and jewelry.
Cleanroom and Buddha Palace
Four big clay sculptures of heavenly kings are on each side of the cleanroom door. The last part is the Buddha palace, a 23.5-square-meter area with special columns. These columns are wrapped in rope and mud for protection.
They have unique early decorations. You can find golden Buddha statues, disciples, and other deities inside. Around the Buddha palace, there is a narrow corridor. On the second floor are monk quarters, an assembly hall, and a worship hall.
The third floor has rooms for the Dalai Lama. At the back, there is a 54.5 square-meter golden top temple, blending Han and Tibetan styles.
Tips For The Travelers
Below are a few of the useful tips for the travelers. Keep these tips in mind to have an amazing experience while visiting the temple:
- Do not take photographs in the temple.
- Before traveling to the temple, eat high-caloric food and bring water.
- Sitting on the statues on stupas or Buddhist statues is not allowed
- Removing the shoes and hats is necessary when entering the shrine room
- Don't touch the heads of monks
- Show respect to the spiritual teacher or monk
Conclusion:
Ramoche Temple is in Lhasa, the most popular religious place in the town after Jokhang Temple. Thousands of tourists visit the temple around the year. The temple is easier to visit on foot in the old town. The architecture makes it a place worth visiting.
