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