The monastery is a place that visitors cannot miss. The monastery lies 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Shigatse. Sakya, meaning "Grey Soil" in Tibetan since the soil around is grey, is the center monastery of Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Its wall was painted with red, white and grey strips, which represent Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani respectively. Since the monastery has a colossal collection of highly valuable art pieces, it is deemed as "Second Dunhuang". The monastery is divided into the Northern Monastery and the Southern Monastery by Drum River. The Northern monastery was the first one which was founded by Khon Konchog Gyalpo in 1073, from which Sakyapa arose and once ruled Tibet. Unfortunately, it is nothing but ruins now due to severe destruction in the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), however the ruins reflect its glory and resplendence. The Southern Monastery was built in 1268 by the fifth Sakya Throne Holder, Drogon Chogyal Phakpa, known as Phakpa. Phakpa was the spiritual guide of Kubilai khan, a Mongolian Chinese emperor who granted Phakpa secular and religious authority over Tibet. From him, Sakyapa ruled over 100 years in Tibet.

The Southern Monastery remains in better condition. A typical Mongolian structure, the fortress-like monastery has a moat around and an outer wall and an inner wall, with fortifications and battlements atop, covering a space of 45,000 square meters. It has only one entrance on the east.

Lakhang Chenmo, the Main Changing Hall, is the central structure in the inner courtyard. The hall, 5,700 square meters, has 40 huge pillars, four of which are 1.2 meters (4 feet) in diameter and are said pillars send to the monastery by Chinese Emperor, tiger, Nereus and wild yak respectively. Murals on the wall in the hall depict the stories about the pillars. Except statues of Buddhas, the hall houses the greatest religious library in Tibet, containing tens of thousands of sutras written in Tibetan, Chinese, Mongolian, and Sanskrit and Kanjur and Tanjur written in gold power. In the chapel west of the hall techniques to made mandalas are taught. Ngudung Lakhang, or the North Chapel, houses 11 stupas, wrapped in silver, of former Sakyapa Throne Holders. Pukang, the Manjushri Chapel contains a Jowo Sakyamuni and a Manjushri and other statues.

Sakya has countless murals, mostly of the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). Among them, murals of mandalas and former Sakya Throne Holders are outstanding. Sakyapa allows marriage and its religious power is descended from paternal uncle to nephew while its political authority from father to son. The treasure trove of Sakya also collects 3,000 pieces of pattra sutras written in Tibetan, Chinese, Mongolian and Sanskrit covering a wide range of knowledge, and other artifacts such as seals, crowns, robes, Buddhist vessels and statues granted by emperors of the Yuan dynasty.

Seventy million Yuan (8.5 million US$) national fund has been allocated to renovate and rebuilt Sakya Monastery last year. The reconstruction has begun although the Northern Monastery is still covered with gravels except for a newly built stupa in which relics of the first Sakya Throne Holder is held.