Inside the Songzanlin Temple 松赞林寺

The Songzanlin Temple or Ganden Sumtseling Monastery is probably Shangrila’s biggest attraction. The large monastery is Yunnan’s largest and China’s second largest. It is built on the foot of some hills and bears striking resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. I would have wanted to visit the Potala Palace but it was quite troublesome and too expensive to go there. Rules to enter that place change very often it makes it difficult to make plans to visit that place. Then again, maybe that was the point. Hopefully, I have built enough credit on my passport to prove than I am no threat. Anyway, while I can’t go to the Potala Palace, this one will have to do for now. The Songazanlin Temple was built in the 1600s and is an important site for Tibetan Buddhism. It is comfortably located on the outskirts of town in what can be described as idyllic.

Nestled at the foothills, the Songzanlin Temple gently rises above the area. The design of the monastery is said to be a combination of Tibetan and Chinese architecture. I can see what they mean. Some of the buildings bear strong Chinese influences, not surprising since Qing emperor Kangxi sponsored the development of this monastery. Entering this place is like being transported back in time. The number of visitors here wasn’t a lot which makes it all the more pleasant. There weren’t any touts offering tour guide services, nor do I want any. The Songazanlin Temple seems to be a feast for photographers who can’t get into Tibet.

[xmlgm {http://www.worldwanderings.net/kml/SongzanlinTemple.kmz} zoom=19]