Thursday, July 24, 2014

Get to know Dratang Monastery

About 48 km east of Gongkar airport is the turn-off to the 11th-century Dratang Monastery, located 2km off the main road in the Dranang Valley. This small akyapa monastery of only eight monks is of interest mainly to art specialists for its rare murals, which combine India styles. Bring a torch to see the murals. If you are interested in murals, you should not miss it for your China vacation deals.
The assembly hall has central statues of Dorje Chang and the monastery’s founder, Drapa Ngonshe. Look for the interesting oracle costume and mirror in which the oracle would discern his visions. The inner sanctum holds all that remains of the mural, the best of which are on the back hall.
A side protector chapel is accessed by steps outside and to the left of the main entrance. The chapel has a passage at the back that leads to a rooftop chapel and kora.
Also worth visiting if you have a particular interest are the ruins of the Jampaling Kumbum, on the hillside a half-hour walk southeast of Dratang. The 13-storey chorten, built in 1472, was one of the largest in Tibet with an attendant monastery of 200 monks before it was dynamited by the Chinese in 1963. Rebuilding efforts are limited to a two-storey Jampa chapel. Check out the little brass toe on the throne - ll that remains of the original Jampa statue after which the complex was named.
To get to Jampling, walk south out of Dratang Monastery (a main travel destination for your China best tours) and after a couple of minutes turn left, following a path to the base of the ruins visible on the hillside above.
A direct minibus runs to Dratang from Barkhor Sq in Lhasa every day at 8am. Otherwise, take any Tsetang-bound bus to the Dratang junction, from where it’s a short three-wheel motor rickshaw ride or 20-minute walk to the monastery. The pilgrim bus from Samye to Lhasa stops here briefly.
Tags: China travel guide | China tourism

No comments:

Post a Comment