Terence's @rchive

Last stop before reaching Shigatse, The Palkhor Monastery 江孜白居寺 (also known as Palcho Monastery) in Gyantse Town 江孜镇, around 1 hour away to Shigatse.

Prayer Wheels in the monastery

Top of the hill is Gyantse Fort

Closer view of Gyantse Fort

The compound area inside the monastery

The fort walls are part of the Gyantse Fort built on the hills surrounding the entire monastery. Looks like mini Great Wall.

The main hall of Palkhor Monastery

Inside the monastery

This is where the lamas do their chanting or prayers. After that they leave their robes behind inside the hall. Caps/Hats and sun glasses must taken off inside here.

Buddha Statue. Both side are pics of Panchen Lamas

More statues but I dunno who they are

The 10th and 11th Panchen Lamas

Loads of Scriptures

Me under the scriptures

According to our guide, I can get more intelligent when I go under the scriptures and walk through the narrow path. I did, so I’m smarter now.

Pouring Rice Wine and Funny Lama

The smell of rice wine here is very strong. If I remember correctly, we pour the wine to offer to the protectors. The lama wasn’t wearing a mask initially but as we all lined up to take pictures while pouring the wine, he put on the mask and posed together. He even invited Marissa to hold the stick and hit the drum. Friendliest lama I met so far.

Masks. I think they are protectors. Not too sure.

Wall painting of Sky Burial

Gyantse Kumbum. The Largest Stupa in Tibet

Can actually climb up the stupa, but considering the thin air here, we drop the idea of going up. Its around 4000m above sea level here.

Gyantse Kumbum

Giant Prayer Wheel

We found this giant prayer wheel inside a small chapel. I need to run to spin the wheel, and its better to spin it 3 times. It look easy for me in the picture but after 3 rounds, I was very out of breathe.
View Larger Map

Palkhor Monastery on Google Map. Can cleary see the Kumbum and the surrounding fort walls.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 5:22 pm and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.