Sakya Monasteries || The seat and center of Sakyapas
Sakya Tradition is one of the four main Buddhist Schools in Tibet. It was from here that that the whole of Tibet was ruled during the period of Sakyapa hegemony (1268-1365)
It was one of the largest monasteries of Tibet.
The thick- walled monolithic southern monastery (also called Lhakhang Chenmo) is the main attraction. At present there are five rooms open to public, four of which house images and reliquary stupas containing the mortal remains of Sakya's past throne holders, including some of original Great Five Patriachs of Sakya (1092-1280).The fifth temple contains the manuscripts.
The temples of the North are the ones along the North bank of Trum Chu river and these were built earlier then South temples. The oldest one was built by Konchok Gyelpo in 1073. Other buildings and parts were added over the years. Four-Storey Palace (Zhithok Phodrang and Sanghak Dechenling are particularly interesting.