Founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge Tashi Palden, Drepung translates as 'Rice heap' and is one of the three Gulukpa university monasteries in Tibet.
Standing at the base of Mount Gephal, Drepung is divided into four colleges, each housing monks from different localities.
In the early 20th Century, up to 10,000 monks studied here, whereas now only approximately 1,700 learn Buddha's teachings within Drepung's halls.
