Tibet is home to the world’s highest Buddhist monasteries. Sometimes, people are unsure which one is truly the highest, and some sources mistakenly name the most popular tourist spot (Rongbuk Monastery) instead of the actual highest monastery. In this article, discover the true highest monasteries.
Interesting facts: At these very high altitudes, the air contains only about 50% of the oxygen found at sea level, yet monks have lived and meditated here for centuries, developing physiological adaptations : Tibetans have evolved larger lung capacity and more efficient oxygen processing over generations
The highest: Dirapuk Monastery 5,210 m
Drirapuk Monastery is the highest in Tibet, located north of Mount Kailash along the Kailash Kora trek, at an elevation of 5,210 meters above sea level. Inside, you’ll find murals, scriptures, relics, and Buddha statues. Many pilgrims stop here during their journey, and the monastery provides simple food and a place to stay.
To visit the highest monastery in the world is possible through the Kailash Kora, which you may join with an accredited Tibet the Kailash Kora tour travel company.
Second highest: Gyangdrak Monastery : 5,075m
Gyangdrak Monastery stands at 5,075 meters, making it the second-highest in the world. It was the first monastery built on Mount Kailash, dating back to the 13th century and expanding over the next hundred years. As the oldest monastery on both the outer and inner Kailash Koras, it features Tibetan and Nepali architecture and holds sacred statues, relics, and murals. More than 50 small chortens surround the monastery.
Third highest: Selung Temple : 5,020m
Selung Temple sits at 5,020 meters, making it the third-highest monastery in the world and the first on the Kailash Inner Kora route. Built in the late 14th century as a meditation retreat, much of the temple is now in ruins. Pilgrims still use it as a meditation site along the Inner Kora. Despite its current state, the temple’s location offers one of the most spectacular views of Mount Kailash’s north face.
Fourth Highest Rongbuk Monastery : 5019m
Rongbuk Monastery stands at 5,019 meters, situated near the Rongbuk Glacier and the Mount Everest Base Camp in Tibet. Completed in 1902, it is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the highest monastery at 4,980 meters. In reality, it is the fourth-
highest, with its main hall located at 5,019 meters.
The monastery’s founder, Dzatrul Rinpoche, was a hermit who lived in nearby caves before establishing the monastery, and some of these meditation caves are still used today.
Fifth highest: Chuku Monastery : 4,875m
Chuku Monastery, located at 4,875 meters, is the fifth-highest in Tibet. It sits on the west bank of the Lha Chu River, about 2 kilometers from Tarboche. Built in the 13th century by the Drigung Kagyu Lineage, it holds relics like a conch shell, a teapot, and a statue. The monastery is also known for its stone statue of Buddha Opame and silver-embossed conch shells and teapots.
Conclusion
These five remarkable monasteries stand as testaments to the extraordinary dedication of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners who chose to pursue their spiritual paths in some of Earth’s most challenging environments. From Dirapuk Monastery at 5,210 meters to Chuku Monastery at 4,875 meters, each represents centuries of unwavering faith and human adaptation to extreme altitudes.
For detailed information about permits, trekking routes, cultural guidelines, and planning your journey to these remarkable high altitude spiritual centers, you may contact Songtsan Tibet Travel.
F.A.Q
Is it possible to visit those monasteries ?
Visiting these sacred sites requires preparation: acclimatization to prevent altitude sickness, appropriate gear for the weather conditions, and a reminder that these are working monasteries first and foremost, and tourist destinations second.