Tsubu Monastery

Tsubu Monastery, also called Tolung Tsurpu or Tsurphu Monastery, is located at Gurum town in Tolong Dechen County, 70 km (45 miles) from Lhasa, Tibet. This is the main temple of the Garma Kagyu pa sect, and the place where the living Buddha's reincarnation rite originated and then spread out to other sects in Tibet.

Tsubu Monastery's Hall

 The monastery is 4,267 meters (14,000 feet) above sea level, built in the middle of a valley, facing south and with high mountains surrounding the monastery complex, whose walls are up to 4 meters (157 inches) thick. 
 

Visitor inside Tsubu Monastery

Some lucky pilgrims and tourists might get a chance to be touched on their heads by the living Buddha of Garmapa. This ritual is held once a month, and it is said that those lucky people will be free of disaster for the rest of their lives.
 Tsubu Monastery has a great number of rare cultural relics. Worth mentioning are Kongzhu Buddha, the Monument of Jiangpu Temple, and Tsubu Buddha.

Kongzhu Buddha is a silver image the eighth Garmapa built in memory of his teacher. It is said that the Buddha image rose unaided into the air where it remained suspended for seven days, hence its name. Monument of Jiangpu Temple, which is located in the audience hall of Tsubu Monastery and engraved with ancient Tibetan words, has great significance to the Tibetan religious culture of the Tufan period. Tsubu Grand Buddha, at a height of 6 meters (20 feet), is said to have been made by the second Garmapa.

Buddha Sculpture

Monks at the temple

 The monks' residences were on the east side of the temple. Within this magnificent building, you can see monks sitting everywhere studying and reciting sutras, and you are bound to be filled with deep esteem for these people whose chanting falls upon your ears.
 At 6:30 and 9:00 a.m. every morning, a bus would depart from Liuli Bridge, which is about 750 meters (820 yards) far from Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. The ticket price is CNY60 per person for 1 round trip. Time needed for a single trip is about 1.5 hours. The bus returns from the Monastery at 13:30 to Lhasa. 

You will return to Lhasa by the same bus after your visit. The bus will wait for you at the same place that you were dropped off. Usually they return to the city at 13:00 p.m., but do ask for the exact time when you first arrive to ensure that you are able to catch it on time.
 There is no good restaurant near Tsubu Monastery, only chophouses are available. Therefore it is suggested that you bring some snacks or a packed lunch.
 CNY50 per person
 9:00 a.m. – 14:00 p.m. every day
 2 hours