Gyantse & Tsetang

Gyantse
Shigatse to Gyantse is 94km of gravel but good road. Gyantse’s symbol is the Kumbum Stupa, which is 32 m high and contains 77 rooms and 100,000 images of the Buddha. Of the 112 chapels here, 23 are open to the public. A prince of Gyantse had it built in the style of a 108-sided mandala by craftsmen from the Kathmandu Valley. It is the finest example of 15th-century Newar art extant in the world. Pelkor Chode Monastery and Gyantse Fort (built atop a massive rock) are other major sights here.

Tsetang
Tsetang is known as the cradle of Tibetan civilization. The ancient town offers a number of side trips that illustrate Tibet’s early history. The Valley of the Kings (ancient capital of the Yarlung kings who established the Tibetan nation), the Yumbu Lagang Palace (built for the first Yarlung king), and the Tandruk Monastery (one of the three royal Buddhist temples) are some of the major sights.