Gadong

     Founded in the 11th century by the Indian scholar-saint Khache-Sakyashri. Its name is commonly believed to come from the mountain Ga which is above the monastery and dong, which mean "in front". Palden Gyatso indicates that Gadong means "Tree of Happiness." Soon after the monastery was founded, Bon began to be re-established in Tibet, and most monasteries failed to observe Buddhist monasticism. Gadong was one place where the monks continued monastic discipline, and eventually monks from Gadong traveled throughout Tibet teaching and reviving the old monastic rules. Hence, it is known as the "Tree of Happiness". 

     The monastery once had 200 monks. Palden Gyatso (The Autobiography of a Tibetan Monk") was born nearby in Panam, and Gadon was his first monastic home. He return to Gadon in March 1959 with Gyen Rigzin Tenpa after the shelling of Drepung by the Chinese.