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LonelyChinaTravel China Information Center |
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LonelyChinaTravel China Information Center |
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Gyantse is a sma
ll town south west of Lhasa. It is one of the few places where the Chinese have not changed much. Gyantse is known because of its Fortress, the Dzong, a very special building ,the Kimbum, and a monastery, the Pelkor Chode. The reason why people build a town there is because of the trade in wool. The location was good because Gyantse was on the road to India. Nowadays it is close to the Friendship Highway. This is a road that literally makes its name true. It is a road that runs at a height of approximate 3500 m above sea level. But for the rest it does not look like a highway as we know it. It is a sandy road that now and than turns out to be jammed because of erosion. The Dzong Fort is build on a hill. You can visit it but than you must walk.
A little further down the road is a wall build around a monastery and a strange building called the Kumbum.
The monastery is called Pelkor Chode. It was founded in 1418. Formally there were a number of monasteries inside the walls but today there is just one left. It is visited by Gelugpa monks. The Kumbum is a building with a strange form. Inside it is even more strage because on the first 4 floors there are rooms that are only on 1 floor but also rooms that extend over 2 floors. Inside you can find a large number of statues. In the gallery of pictures attached to this page you can see a number of the thousand statues.
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Shoton Festival in Tibet Time: August (From the end of the 6th month to the beginning of the 8th month according to the Tibetan calendar). Venue: Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region Origin: In the Tibetan language the word “shoton†means “yogurt banquet.†The Shoton Festival has its beginning prior to the 17th century. By Buddhist discipline, monks are confined in their monasteries for several dozen days until summer is over. The day the “confinement†is over the local people treat the monks to banquets, at which yogurt is served liberally. What`s On: Sunning the Buddha (giant tangkha-portraits of the Buddha are brought out of the monasteries and unfolded in the sun for public display), Tibetan opera performances, and trade fairs. |
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The Tirthapura H
ot Springs are the the third most important pligramage sight in Western Tibet. The springs are associated with a Buddha incarnation and pilgrims love to come here to immerse themselves in the water to wash away a lifetime of sins. There is a monastery here known as the Guru Rinpoche Monastery with a fine collection of Buddhist statues. The kora (a hiking trail that circles a site and that Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims believe will erase sins and bring good luck) here is quite nice and not very long. The walk overlooks the river to the south and the hot springs themselves are located next to the river at the east end of the walk.
How to get there: The only way to get to the Tirthapura Hot Springs is with a tour group, by rented Land Cruiser, or by hitchhiking the 9km south from the town of Mensi, which is 65km west of Darchen along the road coming south from Ali. In Mensi, there is no accomodation to speak of, so we recommend that you base yourself in Darchen or elsewhere.
Mt Kailash has been deemed a holy mountain by different peoples for over 3000 years. In Tibetan, the mountain’s name is Kang Rinpoche, meaning “precious snow jewel”. To Hindus, the mountain is worshipped as the home of Shiva, the Destroyer and Transformer. The Bonpo religion in Tibet is also said to have originated here when the founder of the religion came down from heaven at this spot. Each year, countless pilgrims from India, Nepal and Bhutan as well as those from around Tibetan areas come here to pay homage to the mountain, making this one of the most important religious mountains in Tibet.
On the south face of the mountain, there is a vertical cleft and a horizontal rock shelf that forms a Buddhist swastika symbol, which is holy to both the Buddhist and Banbo religions. The Benbo relgion is a native Tibetan religion based heavily on belief in magic and demons.
The four rivers flowing from the mountain each are said to grant supernatural powers when inbibed. The Indus runs towards the north (inbibing will confer the courage of a lion). The Ganges flows toward the south and grants the beauty of a peacock. The Brahmaputra flows towards the east and grants the speed of a horse. Lastly, the Sutlej runs to the west and confers the strength of an elephant. We, of course, don’t recommend you believe these legends as the reality could be a case of the “runs” (diaorrhea).
Many Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims circumbulate the mountain as one of the holiest acts of their religion. This strenuous and difficult hike (known as a kora) takes around three days and requires you to take your own supplies, including food, bedding, stove, fuel, and clothing. The kora starts in Darchen, a good place to get supplies. The walk has stops at two monasteries, the Drirapuk and the Zutrulpuk, along the path. Be careful of temperature differences on the mountain. It can get cold on the mountain slopes, even on a summer’s day. Be prepared with sufficient warm clothing.
How to get there: If you don’t have hired transport from Lhasa, the best way to get there is hitchhike all the way to Dacheng. From Shiquanhe you can try and take a truck for the 330 KM trip. If the trucks don’t go to Dacheng, then you can get off at the Bage check point, 7KM south of Dacheng, and walk to Dacheng. Dacheng is the last stop to stock up on supplies and hire a few porters and yaks before trekking to the holy mountain.
Accommodation: The only options are the Gangdishi Hotel( RMB25 a night) and the Holy Mountain Guesthouse( RMB25-100).
Lake Manasarovar’s name in Tibetan, Maphamyum, means “undefeatable” in Tibetan. According to legend, the lake earned the name in the 11th century AD when there was a holy battle here between the Gegulpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism and rival cults. There are a collection of eight monasteries around the lake. Chiu Monastery, about 8km from the main highway, sits on a small hill. Climb to the roof for the best views of the lake.
How to get there: The Lake and Chiu Monastery are reachable from Darchen (thirty kilometers to the south). Alternately, hitchhiking along the main Ali-Purang Highway can get you to a point 6km from the lake. Walk southwest from the highway to the lake.
Accomodation: At the foot of the hill, there are some small Tibetan guesthouses which offer beds for around RMB20.
There are two sites in western Tibet where you can still see the ruins of the famous and mysterious Guge Kingdom, known for its patronage of Tibetan Buddhism throughout Tibet’s history. The sites are the Tholing Monastery in Zhada County town (also known as Zanda) and the Tsaparang Guge Kingdom Ruins, 20km west of Zanda.
The mystery at the core of the Guge Kingdom is the history of their downfall. Originally a peaceloving and Buddhist state, their kingdom fell into ruin in the 17th century. The problem is that historians don’t quite know how. Historians theorize that the Guge Kingdom was invaded by a neighboring state (thought to be modern Kashmir), however, there are caches of weapons at Tsaparang Ruins. Nor are their signs of war. It is as if the people just disappeared over a matter of months.
But what they left behind is priceless. Their love for Buddhism and art prompted them to decorate their kingdom with Buddhist and Tantric wall murals that are still in extremely good condition. Other Buddhist treasures include Buddhist scriptures written in gold and silver as well as numerous stupa (small towers used in Tibet as burial tombs or for storage of holy Buddhist scriptures). The Guge ruins also include caves filled with Buddhist statues and murals.
Walking along the small path at the foot of the hill, you should pass various monastic ruins. To examine the inner wonders, you’ll have to ask the caretakers to open the doors. There are many wonderfully rich murals within the monasteries, some even still bear gold detail today. The most common themes are Buddhist and Tantric gods and symbols, but you will also find many murals that present the daily life and the people of the Guge state.
How to get there: To get to the Tholing Monastery in Zanda (or Zhada), proceed to Mensi (Moincer), near the Tirthpuri Hot Springs, then on to Songshan, there turning west to 
Zanda. The road is very, very treacherous, and any trips should be be discussed fully with your Lhasa tour agency or driver.
To get to Tsaparang, follow the Sutlej valley 20km to the west by automobile.
Cost:There is a RMB100 permit fee to be paid in Lhasa to visit Tholing,and a RMB300 permit fee to visit the ruins at Tsaparang, paid in three parts, one part each in Lhasa, Ali or Darchen, and Tholing
