Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of debating in the attached courtyard.
a lovely ancient feel. The statue of Arya Lokeshvara is similar to one seen in the Potala
Palace. A small door allows pilgrims to inch around the base of the protector Tamdrin.
lation of texts, as depicted on the wall murals. There's an inner kora here. The main statue
on the upper floor is of Sakyamuni, flanked by his Indian and Chinese translators.
bate was held. On the right as you go in, look out for the mural depicting the original
design of Samye with zigzagging walls. There is an unusual semicircular inner kora here
that is decorated with images of Jampa. Just south of here is a chörten that pilgrims cir-
east houses a host of bodhisattvas around a statue of Marmedze on a lotus plinth, with a
3D wooden mandala to the side. Look for the sacred stone to the left. Take a torch to see
the Central Asian-style murals.
Pehar until he moved to Nechung Monastery outside Lhasa. It's currently under renova-
tion. Pilgrims stick passport photos of themselves onto the locked entrance of the ground-
floor chapel, which is flanked by two ancient-looking leather bags. The upstairs portico
has some old cane helmets. The inner chapel reeks of alcohol, hooks hang from the ceiling
and demons' hands reach out from their cases, as if trying to grab you.
It is also possible to enter the four reconstructed concrete chörtens (white, red, green
and black), though there is little of interest inside.
If you exit the southern gate and walk for 10 minutes you get to the
Khamsum
Sankhung Ling
, a smaller version of the Ütse which once functioned as Samye's debating
centre. It's currently closed but there are plans to reopen it soon.
