Brief information on Samye Monastery  

“Samye” is a transliteration of Tibetan meaning “unimaginable”. It was said that in order to promote Buddhism, Trisong Detsen asked Indian monk Padmasambhava for suggestions on construction of the monastery. Padmasambhava, exerting his magical powers, showed the king an image of a monastery in his palm. This was truly “unimaginable” and, after it was built, it got the name “Samye Monastery”.

The main temple, Samye Utse, symbolizes Mount Meru, the center of the universe, surrounded by the four temples of the continents, the eight temples of each subcontinent, and the sun (south temple, now ruined) and moon (north temple). The best view is gained from Hepo-Ri to the east of Samye, where Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) is said to have subdued the local demons, making the site safe for construction. The secular support of King Trisong Detsen, who proclaimed Buddhism the state religion in 779, was perhaps more crucial

*You can download the bilingual note to show it to a taxi driver or someone else to find your way to Samye Monastery if you plan to visit Samye Monastery and have language problems.

   

Chinese Pinyin: Sang Ye Si
Opening Times: 08:30-17:30
Ticket Prices: Admission :RMB 40
How to Get to: From Lhasa, buses for Samye Crossing, or dukou in Chinese; depart beginning at 07:30 for the 3 1/2-hour trip RMB 25, just south of the New Mandala restaurant. After a nippy crossing of the Brahmaputra in an open, flat-bottomed boat (1 hr.; RMB 10), tractors (40 min.; RMB 3) connect with the monastery. Buses leave the monastery for Lhasa (6 hr.; RMB 40) via Tsetang at 08:00. A rented car and driver can take a carload of four round-trip for RMB 1000