[1] Founded during the reign of Emperor Khri Detsugtsen (704–755 CE) of the Tibetan Empire,[2] it stands as one of Tibet's oldest surviving religious structures and was designated a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit in 2001.
[4] The earliest phase includes the Namu Lhakhang, built during the early-mid Tibetan Empire, followed by the 8th-century Shakyamuni Chapel with its iconic circumambulation corridor and intricately carved pillars featuring motifs like lions and dragons.
[5] Subsequent expansions in the 11th and 16th–17th centuries added the Gaden Chokor Lhakhang—associated with the scholar Atiśa—and assembly halls flanked by prayer corridors.
The monastery's compact 982 m2 complex houses rare artifacts, including 100,000+ pages of Tibetan manuscripts from the imperial era, 16th-century transcribed texts, and a unique collection of Kashmiri- and Nepali-influenced statuary.
Its blend of architectural evolution and historical continuity offers unparalleled insights into Tibet's early Buddhist art and imperial-era governance.