Ramoche Temple, Buddhist temple in Lhasa, China
Ramoche Temple is a Buddhist temple in central Lhasa, China, situated just north of Barkhor Street and built in the style of the Tang dynasty. The structure rises three stories, with the ground floor housing a scripture hall, a Buddha chamber, and winding corridors, while its curved golden roof is visible from many parts of the city.
Ramoche Temple was built in the 7th century by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, originally intended to house a Buddha statue brought by Princess Wencheng from China. In 1474, Kunga Dondrup, a disciple of a renowned Tibetan teacher, established the Upper Tantric College here, shaping the temple's role from that point forward.
Inside Ramoche Temple, visitors can watch monks seated in long rows chanting softly while butter lamps fill the room with a warm glow. Tibetan pilgrims from across the region walk a clockwise circuit around the building, a practice known as kora, believed to bring blessings.
Ramoche Temple draws fewer tourists than the Jokhang or the Potala Palace, making it easier to walk around at your own pace and observe the monks without crowds. To visit Tibet, travelers need both a Chinese visa and a special permit issued by Tibetan authorities, so it is worth arranging these well in advance.
The statue of Jowo Mikyo Dorje, depicting the Buddha at age 8, was cut into two pieces during the Cultural Revolution and believed lost for many years, until the 10th Panchen Lama tracked down the fragments and brought them back to Tibet for restoration. The repaired statue can still be seen inside the temple today.
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