Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mingyur Ling to the palace that Songtsen Gampo's father, Namri Songtsen, built after
moving his capital here from the Chongye Valley in the 7th century. A new yellow-walled
museum
is under construction nearby.
To get to the valley turn off the main highway at kilometre marker 4572, 8km before
Medro Gongkar.
Medro Gongkar
0891 / Pop 2000 / Elev 3600m
On the wide banks of the Kyi-chu, 75km northeast of Lhasa, Medro Gongkar (Mòzhú
Gōngkǎ) is just a pit stop en route to Drigung. If you have time it's worth stopping at
Kat-
sel Monastery
, 3km from town on the road to Drigung. Legend has it that this Kagyupa-
order monastery was founded by the 7th-century King Songtsen Gampo, who was led here
by the Buddha disguised as a doe with antlers. The temple is also significant as one of the
original demoness-subduing temples - it pinned the monster's right shoulder. The monas-
tery was under heavy renovation in 2014.
The rabidly unfriendly local PSB office refuses to allow foreigners to stay overnight in
Medro Gongkar, despite the fact that there are several decent hotels. Overnight at Ganden
or Drigung Til instead.
Nyima Jiangre (Drigung Qu)
0891 / Pop 1900 / Elev 3850m
