Tsozong Gongba Monastery

Tsozong Gongba is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery on Tashi Island in Nyingchi, built at about 3540 meters elevation in the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains. Four buildings surround a central courtyard, and the site sits on an island within Pagsum Lake, creating a remote setting for monastic life.

The monastery was founded in 1400 by the Nyingma monk Sungye Lingpa and has maintained the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism since then. Generations of practitioners have kept this school alive, making it one of the oldest continuous Buddhist lineages in the region.

The main structures display traditional Tibetan architecture, and carved mantra inscriptions on the surrounding rocks show how monks have marked the sacred space. Pilgrims regularly walk the circumambulation path to perform their spiritual practices and connect with the place.

Visitors need proper acclimatization for the high altitude before attempting to reach the monastery, as thin air can cause discomfort. Travel to the island follows established mountain routes, so plan your trek with enough time and bring appropriate gear for mountain conditions.

The monastery's name means 'castle in the lake' because it sits on an island within Pagsum Lake, completely surrounded by water. A circumambulation path connects several sacred sites around the grounds and is regularly walked by pilgrims seeking spiritual benefit.

Elevation above the sea: 3,540 m

GPS coordinates: 30.00917,93.91611

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:45