Perched on Wangbur Mountain 40km east of Lhasa, Ganden Monastery was founded in 1409 by Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug Sect. As the ancestral monastery of Gelug and the head of Lhasa's Three Great Monasteries, it holds supreme religious status.

Meaning "joyful paradise" in Tibetan, it features grand white-and-red buildings cascading down the slope, with a splendid golden roof. The main hall houses precious Buddha statues, ancient scriptures and Tsongkhapa's relics. It's famed for the annual Lamp Festival on the 25th day of the 10th lunar month.

Blending stunning plateau architecture and profound Buddhist culture, it offers panoramic views of the Lhasa Valley. A sacred pilgrimage site, it is a shining gem of Tibetan civilization.