Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Tsurphu kora, a walk of around 4km (two hours), is quite taxing if you are not accli-
matised to the altitude. It ascends 150m, past springs, shrines and meditation retreats,
providing splendid views of Tsurphu below.
To follow the kora take the track west of Tsurphu that leads up past walls of mani stones
to a walled garden. Bear right here up to a
dürtro
(sky-burial site) and follow the cairns
that snake up the hill to a small pass marked by prayer flags. The kora then winds in and
out of the ridges above the monastery and detours up to the Samtenling retreat, before des-
cending eastward into a gully to the chörten at the northeastern corner of the monastery.
Sleeping
Tsurphu Monastery Guesthouse
GUESTHOUSE
(, Sìmiào Lǚguǎn 136 2898 8393; dm ¥40-50, r ¥150-250)
This recently revamped guesthouse, beside the parking lot, has good quality mattresses
and a pleasant Tibetan-style restaurant, making it a nice place to stay if you want to experi-
ence the monastery at a more relaxed pace. Upper floor rooms are best.
Getting There & Away
About 40km west of Lhasa, the road to Tsurphu crosses the Tolung-chu near the railroad
bridge. From here it's another 25km to the monastery, passing Nenang Monastery en route.
Most travellers visit Tsurphu as a side trip on the way to Nam-tso. The road to Tsurphu
passes Nenang Monastery, home to the young 11th Powa Rinpoche, an important Karma
Kagyud reincarnation. It's worth a quick stop, although you will probably need to have
this listed on your itinerary.
A pilgrim minibus runs between Lhasa's Barkhor Sq and Tsurphu but is currently off
limits to foreigners.
Nam-tso
Elev 4730m
Approximately 240km northwest of Lhasa,
Nam-tso
(Nàmùcuò; admission May-Oct ¥120,
Nov-Apr ¥60)
is the second-largest saltwater lake in China and one of the most beautiful nat-
