Trandruk Temple

One of the first Buddhist temples built in Tibet, Trandruk suffered extensive damage during the Cultural Revolution.  Only a few of its buildings are standing, and very little of its original library and sacred art remains.  Restoration is continuing and now the monastery houses some 66 monks out of approximately 400 in 1959.  Its founding is attributed to King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century, who built it to house a spontaneously formed image of Tara.  The upper story contains the famous tangka of Avalokiteshvara made from 19,928 pearls, one of the most significant relics of Trandruk, which survived the destruction of the Cultural Revolution by being stored in the Jokhang in Lhasa. 

   1981  (Source: *Tibet)