Ramoche Temple, Buddhist temple in Lhasa, China
Ramoche Temple is a three-story Buddhist temple in the northwestern part of Lhasa, China, built around a central courtyard and containing several assembly halls and chapels on each floor. The entrance opens through a columned porch into this courtyard, from which covered corridors lead to the inner rooms and shrines.
The temple was founded in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo, who unified the Tibetan plateau and promoted Buddhism as the religion of his kingdom. It suffered heavy damage during the Cultural Revolution in the 20th century and was later rebuilt, though some sections took decades to restore.
The Ramoche Temple is an active place of worship where pilgrims walk clockwise around the inner shrine as part of their daily devotion. The halls smell of butter lamps and incense, and the walls are covered with painted images that worshippers pause in front of throughout the day.
The temple is located in the northwestern part of central Lhasa, within walking distance of the Barkhor area, making it easy to combine with other nearby sites. The interior has multiple floors and branching corridors, so it is worth moving slowly and following the flow of other visitors to avoid getting turned around.
The main statue housed here is considered one of the most sacred in Tibet and is believed to show the face of Buddha as he looked during his own lifetime. It was originally brought from Nepal by one of the king's wives, but was later exchanged with a Chinese statue, which today stands in the Jokhang Temple across the city.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
