Ganden Ngachoe Festival Tour, Butter Lamp Date: Dec 7, 2023

5 days

Duration

Lhasa, Tibet

Location

6/10

Physicality

Lhasa and Beyond

Destination

It is a great time to join Ganden Ngachoe Festival tour in Lhasa for Dec 7, 2023, if you adjust your holiday to the date. The festival is the death anniversary of the Master Tsongkapa on October 25th, 1419 (Tibetan Lunar), Butter lamp festival is other name derived from the local slang. This day is being marked everywhere in Tibet to commemorate the death anniversary of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelugpa (Yellow-hat sect). At the large, a ritual ceremony will be held in Ganden monastery with Thangka unveiling and ritual dances. Tibetans light thousands of butter lamps on the roof exactly in the evening and it lighten all around even in the dark.

How we celebrate Gaden Ngachoe Festival Tour

Monks gather and pray in the main halls of monasteries and temples. There is also a kind of tradition to have Pathuk (handmade pieces of thick noodle) for dinner in the evening. Refer our article on Tibetan cuisine if you want know what food is consuming in Tibet. Tibet festival tours are very popular thus, you can also check Tibetan calendar for other events on your holiday.

In the evening time, Jokhang Temple will be the most happening avenue, where crowds of people do kora together. It is hardly pass through and congest among so many people. Butter lamps are the most spectacular lighting there for the tragic of Tsongkhapa’s death.

Ganden Ngachoe Festival Tour Date: Dec 7, 2023

More about Butter lamp festival tour

ARRIVE

Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region

DEPARTURE

Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region

TOUR COST

HIGHTLIGHTS

Historical sights in Lhasa city
Drepung and Sera Monasteries
Norbulingka
Festival in Ganden Monastery
A butter lamp activity in the evening in front of Joking Temple

INCLUDED

Tibet travel permits	Transportation
Accommodations	Entrance fee
Professional guide	2 bottles of water(1littered)/day
Pick-up & drop-off	Oxygen Cylinders

NOT INCLUDED

Meal

Travel insurance

Train/flight fare

Personal expenses

Guide gratuity

If you already have planned lists to travel to Tibet, just discuss with our Tibet trip advisor and you will be assisted at customizing the best private Tibet tour. Check our tours in Tibet. You may also interested to study the must-see destinations in Tibet alongside Ganden to Samye Trek and top challenging tours.

Additional information

Dates	December

Day 1: Arrival at Lhasa (3,650m)

Upon arrival you will be met by our staff and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day at own leisure to acclimatize yourselves to the high altitude at 3650m.

Day 2: visit Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple

Today is your first day of sightseeing on the high plateau, so we have purposely arranged only to visit Jokhang temple and Potala Palace. Jokhang temple is the most scared shrine in Tibet which was built in 7th century and located at the heart of old town in Lhasa, the circuit around it called Barkhor street, which is a good place to purchase souvenirs. Potala Palace is the worldwide known cardinal landmark of Tibet. The massive structure itself contains a small world within it. Mostly it is renowned as residence of the Dalai Lama lineages (Avalokiteshvara). Both of them are the focal points of pilgrims from entire Tibetan world, multitudinous pilgrims are circumambulating and prostrating in their strong faith. Overnight at Lhasa.

Note: In the evening there is the special ceremony for Ganden Ngachoe (Butter-lamp) festival at Jokhang Temple Square. Lots of pilgrims will come here to pray.

Day 3: Drepung and Sera Monasteries, Norbulingka

Today you will be arranged to visit Drepung and Sera Monasteries and Norbulingka summer palace. Both Drepung and Sera monasteries are Gelugpa (yellow hat) sect monastic colleges. Drepung monastery was the seat of the Government prior to Potala, it was once the world’s largest monastery in the history with 10,000 monks hailed from different monasteries all over Tibet. Sera monastery is famous for its Buddhism philosophical debate practice, the clapping sound and aggressive expression of the monks are well worth to see. Norbulingka is the summer palace of Dalai Lama, you can visit the residences of different lineages of the Dalai Lama. The park is crowded with picnickers and traditional activities during the Shoton (Yogurt festival) in August. Overnight at Lhasa.

Day 4: Day Tour to Ganden Monastery for Ganden Ngachoe Festival

This morning you will drive about 45 kilometers eastwards to Ganden Monastery, which is the first rank among the six largest Gelugpa monasteries across Tibet. We will enjoy the ritual ceremony, Ganden Ngachoe (butter lamp) festival of the death anniversary of master Tsongkapa. Afterwards, we will walk up to the top of Wangpori Hill where you will have a panoramic and fanstic view of Kichu valley. We will also hiking around the monastery and take a bird’s-eye view of the valley. Drive back to Lhasa in the evening. Overnight at Lhasa.

Day 5: Transfer to Lhasa airport / train station

You will drive to Gongkar airport or train station to connect your next destination. Hope you enjoyed Ganden Ngachoe or Butter lamp Festival tour.

Ganden Ngachoe Festival tour, Butter lamp festival tour

Tour Reviews

5.00 based on 1 review

Hari

May 4, 2019

Hi,
I would like to visit 5 days Tibet tour in the month of June 2019 (around 3-4th week). Please let me know if any tours will start this period from Beijing.
Best regards, Hari