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Gyantse

    This small agricultural town is at 13, 050 ft above sea level and is famous for its wool carpets and palkhor choide chorten. The Palkhor Monastery built in 1427, is notable for its superb Kumbum (10,000 images)stupa, which has nice tiers and, according to the Buddhist tradition, 108 chapels. The lower tiers contain excellent murals.

Another main feature of the town is the Dzong or fort that sits on a hill over looking the main street. Its a steep climb to the top but well worth the effort for the view, & there are a few half-hearted exhibitions that explain the dzong s history & function. A new exhibition hall at the main gate is given over in part of an anti-British Imperialists museum which is worth a look.

In 1904 Sir Francis Young-Husband led a British expeditionary force from India into Tibet & they set up camp in Gyantse Dzong, staying for several months before moving into Lhasa. If you are interested in Britain's colonial interests in Tibet then Gyantse is the place to go(Charles Allens 'Duel in the snows' gives a good account of the Young-Husband expedition).

Accommodation is centered around the main street with most travelers head for Jianzang Hotel which has good rates, is clean & has a fairly decent restaurant.

Buses run from Lhasa & Shigatse to Gyantse however most people arrive in organised tours from the capital.

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