Narthang Monastery

Narthang Monastery sits about 15 kilometres west of Shigatse on the road toward the Nepal border, a small but historically significant complex set against open grassland. Founded in 1153, it became one of Tibet's most prestigious religious printing houses, producing canonical texts distributed to monasteries throughout the Tibetan Buddhist world. Today the monastery is modestly sized with a handful of resident monks, but the main assembly hall and several chapels have been restored since the 1980s.

The printing tradition is partly revived — the monastery produces traditional woodblock prints, and you can sometimes watch monks at work in the printing room. The chapels contain restored murals in the Narthang style, which influenced religious painting across the region. It's a quieter and more contemplative site than Tashilhunpo, receiving far fewer visitors.

Getting here independently requires a hired vehicle or bicycle; the road is flat and well-surfaced. Most drivers on the Friendship Highway will stop here on request. Allow about an hour for a proper visit.

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A story
Narthang was one of the most important printing centres in Tibet, producing canonical texts for monasteries across the plateau from the 13th century onwards. The Narthang edition of the Kangyur — the collected words of the Buddha — was considered so authoritative that it became the basis for most subsequent Tibetan Buddhist printings. The printing blocks were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution; the monastery has been partially rebuilt.

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