Ani Tsangku nunnery

 

Ani Tsangku Nunnery stands as the sole nunnery in Lhasa and is the most renowned one in the old town of Lhasa. Despite housing only around 100 nuns, it is highly active not only in religious pursuits but also in other undertakings. The nuns manage a medical care facility and operate a nunnery teahouse as a business.

The term “Tsangku” literally translates to a meditational cave or hole. It was here that the 33rd Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo engaged in meditation and prayed to quell the natural disasters posed by the floods of the Lhasa River.

In the 15th century, Kujor Topden, a disciple of Je Tsongkhapa, founded a nunnery atop the meditational cave. Then, in the 20th century, the venerable Lama Pabongka and Jampa Choedrak, the ninetieth throne holder of Ganden Monastery, expanded the nunnery to its current structure.

Presently, the nunnery houses statues of Chengreysig, Je Tsongkhapa, and Bodhisattvas, similar to other Buddhist monasteries in Tibet.

If you have the opportunity to visit in the morning, you will be greeted by their vigorous prayer chanting and recitation. This can introduce you to a novel Buddhist atmosphere and offer an unforgettable spiritual encounter.

When time allows, having a cup of tea in the nunnery teahouse is a delightful experience. You will notice many locals relishing their tea and engaging in conversations with the nuns who work in the teahouse.