Drepung Monastery

"Drepung" in Tibetan means“the hill of rice”, for the white Monastery and the Norbulingka Park.“Drepung” in Tibetan means “the hill of rice”. For the white Monastery looks like a big hill of rice. It is situated halfway up Mt Ganpoi Uze in the western suburbs of Lhasa. It was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje, a Disciple of Trongkhaba, founder of the Yellow Hat sect. The monastery, occupying an area of 250000 square meters with 7700 lamas before, is the largest monastery in Asia. Before the Potala Palace was built, the Drepung Monastery served as the seat of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th dalai Lamas. After the construction of Potala Palace, the 5th Dalai Lama moved to Potala.