Gyantse is a small agricultural town famous for its woolen carpets & the Phalkor Chorten. Amongst the Lamasery & the fort, this unique structure built in 1414 AD consists of five stories representing the five steps to enlightenment, topped by thirteen rings, which symbolize the stages of advancement towards Buddhahood. There are 108 halls inside, each with frescoes & Buddha shrines, the frescoes showing a strong Indian influence. Before 1959 traders coming from Kalimpong & Gangtok used to enter Tibet through Yandong and then to Gyantse, en route to Lhasa.
Gyantse is a small agricultural town famous for its woolen carpets & the Phalkor Chorten. Amongst the Lamasery & the fort, this unique structure built in 1414 AD consists of five stories representing the five steps to enlightenment, topped by thirteen rings, which symbolize the stages of advancement towards Buddhahood. There are 108 halls inside, each with frescoes & Buddha shrines, the frescoes showing a strong Indian influence. Before 1959 traders coming from Kalimpong & Gangtok used to enter Tibet through Yandong and then to Gyantse, en route to Lhasa.
Yamdrok Lake:
One of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the largest habitat of waterfowls in south Tibet. On one of the peninsulas of th spear-shaped lake lies the holy Mt. Donang Sangwari (5340m), and the snow peaks of Nojin Gangzang (7191m) and Jangzang Lhomo rise in the distance. Great view, amazing tortoise lake.
Pelkor Chode & Kumbum Stupa:
This impressive 15th century architecture in Gyantse inspires awareness of what makes a religion so strong among its people on the barren Tibet Plateau. Top attraction in Tibet, must see!
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Gyantse was once Tibet’s third largest town, since it was positioned at the crossroads of the wool and timber trade routes from Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan for centuries.
But after the Chinese takeover its status is considerably diminished. It has however, preserved much of its original atmosphere and is one of the least Chinese-influenced towns in Tibet. There is no record of Gyantse prior to the 14th century, but it quickly emerged as a center of a fiefdom with powerful connections to the Sakyapa order. In 1904 Colonel Younghusband and his British troops had a major battle with the Tibetan army in Gyantse. The British troops stayed for one month in Gyantse before advancing to Lhasa. By 1440 Gyantse’s most impressive architectural achievements had been completed – the Kumbum, the dzong and Pelkor Chode monastery.
