Gandan is the oldest of the three principle Gelukpa monasteries in Lhasa, and in its heyday the temple housed almost 4,000 monks. However, most of the complex was destroyed during the Tibetan Rebellion in 1959 and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976); most of the existing buildings are reconstructions.

Gandan Monastery was founded in 1409 during the Ming Dynasty, located in Zixan County about 40 kilometers from Lhasa, perched at the top of Mount Wanrigu at an altitude of 3,800 meters. Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa (or "Yellow Hats", a branch of Tibetan Buddhism), had pushed ahead with reformation in the 15th century and the Gandan Monastery was the first temple founded by him. As one of Tibet’s cultural centres, the monastery is composed of over 50 buildings including the main temple hall, Yanbajian Hall, and Buddhist prayer room, in which a large number of precious cultural relics are exhibited.