Tibet's first Buddhist site Samye monastery gompa village town settlement wheat mustard fields Tibetan Plateau Tibet China

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Samye Gompa is the first Buddhist monastery built in Tibet. It was most probably first constructed between 775 and 779 CE under the patronage of King Trisong Detsen of Tibet who sought to revitalize Buddhism, which had declined since its introduction by King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. The monastery is located in Dranang, Shannan Prefecture. It was supposedly modeled on the design of Odantapuri monastery in what is now Bihar, India.

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Size: 3943px × 2559px
Location: Samye Gompa Tibetan Plateau Tibet Autonomous Region People's Republic of China
Photo credit: © Adrian Weston / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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