Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kashima Lhakhang next door is lined with various lamas, ministers, three kings and their
wives. The cosy rooftop quarters of the Dalai Lama have a statue of the meditational deity
Demchok (Chakrasamvara), along with fine views back towards Lhasa.
Further above the Pabonka Podrang are the remains of 108 chörtens and the yellow Gy-
asa Podrang (temple of Princess Wencheng). The two ground-floor rooms are dedicated
to different manifestations of Tsongkhapa and the medicine buddhas, and an upper-floor
chapel has a small statue of Wencheng herself in the far right, near an image of Thonmi
Sambhota, who reputedly invented the Tibetan alphabet here. Songtsen Gampo's Nepali
wife Bhrikuti is also present, as are images on the other side of the room of Green and
White Drölma, of whom the two wives are thought to be emanations. Also present (but
hard to see) is Gar Tongtsen, the Tibetan minister who travelled to the Tang Chinese court
to escort Princess Wencheng back to Tibet.
Walks Around Pabonka
A few intrepid (and fit) travellers use Pabonka as a base for walks further afield. The half-
day kora around Pabonka, Tashi Chöling hermitage and Chupsang Nunnery makes a nice
addition to a visit to Sera Monastery. Noontime can be hot here, so bring water.
An easy 20-minute walk from Pabonka leads up to Tashi Chöling hermitage ( MAP
GOOGLE MAP ) . There's not a lot left to see at the hermitage, but it offers good views. Pil-
grims drink holy spring water from the upper chapel before making a kora of the hermit-
age. To get here from the back of the Pabonka kora, follow the path diagonally up the hill-
side, following the electricity poles.
From Tashi Chöling, the trail drops into a ravine and follows this down for 30 minutes
to Chupsang Nunnery ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) . There are some 136 nuns residing at
Chupsang and it's a very friendly place. A ¥5 minivan ride takes you back to the main road
to Lhasa.
An alternative route from Tashi Chöling is to hike for 30 minutes northeast up the ravine
to the cliffside hermitage of 4200m Dadren Ritrö ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ) . You can see the
hermitage from the trail. From here, trekkers can follow trails across two ridges for an
hour to Sera Ütse and on to the Dode Valley for Lhasa's best day hike.
Getting There & Away
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