Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode)
Inside Palcho Monastery, the distinctive Kumbum (Pelkor Chode) is an octagonal, nine-storey tower and the monastery's signature building. Its interior is painted with a vast number of Buddha images,…
Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode), Shigatse · Luca Galuzzi (Lucag) · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Admission
- From ¥60 (children under 1.2 m / under 6 years old free; ages 60-64 free on non-holidays and half price on holidays; ages 65 and over free; military personnel/disabled persons free, etc.)
- Opening hours
- 9：00—19：00
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Getting there
- Located on Baiju Road, Gyantse County, Shigatse; reachable on foot from Gyantse county town, at the foot of Gyantse Dzong Fortress
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 555. Open in Google Maps
About Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode)
Inside Palcho Monastery, the distinctive Kumbum (Pelkor Chode) is an octagonal, nine-storey tower and the monastery's signature building. Its interior is painted with a vast number of Buddha images, so it is also called the 'Tower of Hundred Thousand Buddhas'. The tower is 32 m tall, has 108 doorways and 77 chapels, and its design is distinctive beyond description.
Palcho Monastery was first built in 1427. It originally belonged to the Sakya school (the Flower Sect), but other schools later moved in, so the Sakya, Gelug and Kadam (White Sect) schools came to coexist here. The monastery has 16 colleges (dratsang), and each school holds several of them according to its influence. The main hall houses an 8-metre-tall gilded bronze statue of Jampa Buddha (Maitreya).
Tips from the guidebook
- Tips for Visiting the Kumbum
- 1. The doorways of the stupa are very low, so mind your head when going in and out.
- 2. You must pay a fee to bring a camera into the Kumbum. But for the chance to photograph a hundred thousand Buddha statues, it is absolutely worth it. Since you are here, do not miss this photo opportunity.
- 3. When you visit Palcho Monastery, the Kumbum and its murals are must-sees. The 'Auspicious Many-Doored Stupa' style can be seen only here in China.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode) cost?
Admission to Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode) is From ¥60 (children under 1.2 m / under 6 years old free; ages 60-64 free on non-holidays and half price on holidays; ages 65 and over free; military personnel/disabled persons free, etc.), as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode)?
Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode) is open 9：00—19：00.
How do I get to Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode)?
Located on Baiju Road, Gyantse County, Shigatse; reachable on foot from Gyantse county town, at the foot of Gyantse Dzong Fortress
How long should I spend at Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode)?
Plan on 1–2 hours for Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode).
Where is Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode)?
Palcho Monastery (Pelkor Chode) is in Shigatse, Tibet Autonomous Region, in the Southwest of China. West outskirts of Gyantse county town
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