The main assembly hall is the heart of Tsurphu, a large and actively used space where several hundred resident monks gather for morning and evening prayers. The hall was rebuilt in the 1980s after near-total destruction during the Cultural Revolution; the murals are new, painted in the traditional style, and the statues are modern replacements for originals that were melted down or smashed. The effect is less ancient than it looks: this is a reconstruction rather than a survival.
Visitors are generally welcome to enter the hall and observe prayer sessions from the sides, provided they are quiet and dressed respectfully. The butter lamp offerings at the altar are maintained throughout the day by young monks, and the smell of juniper incense and yak butter fills the hall. The main statue of the Karmapa's throne, deliberately empty, is a notable feature — its vacancy acknowledges the political situation without comment.