Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The one-yak town of Nyima Jiangre (Nímǎ Jiāngrè in Chinese), halfway between Medro
Gongkar and Drigung Til, is a Tibetan Wild West town, with wild-haired traders strolling
the streets and rocky escarpments forming the town's backdrop.
It's set at the auspicious confluence of three rivers and Chinese engineers have not over-
looked the strategic location; an ugly dam has been stretched across the valley floor, form-
ing a shallow reservoir.
Most travellers blow through in a rush to reach Drigung Til but the intrepid may want to
stop off and explore some little-visited monasteries near the town. Places to explore in-
clude the Nyingmapa-sect Chulung Nunnery, a short drive northeast up the side valley
from Sha Monastery, and the Gelugpa-school Mangra Monastery, around 5km up the main
Mangra-chu valley behind Sha.
Sights
Dzongsar Monastery
BUDDHIST, MONASTERY
About 1km northwest of town is the Drigungpa-school Dzongsar Monastery. A short but
steep climb brings you up to a monastery located on a jagged slope; the name of the place
soon becomes clear - the monastery is a converted
dzong
. It's home to 30 friendly monks,
and if they're not too busy they may invite you into their quarters for a spot of Tibetan tea.
Apart from the usual statues of Guru Rinpoche and Sakyamuni inside the main as-
sembly hall, there is a two-armed standing Chenresig, as well as the founder of the Dri-
gung school, Jikten Sumgon (and his golden footprints). On the left side of the hall, look
out for the picture of the 13th Dalai Lama with his dog resting by his feet.
Below the hall in a protector chapel is an icon of Abchi, the white female protector of
the region.
Sha Monastery
BUDDHIST, MONASTERY
Just 2km southeast of Nyima Jiangre, Sha is dedicated to the Dzogchen suborder. A high-
light of the monastery is the pair of 9th-century
doring
(inscribed pillars) that flank the en-
trance gate. These have inscriptions that detail the estates given to Nyangben Tengzin
Zangpo, a boyhood chum of King Tritsug Detsen, who ruled Tibet and much of Central
Asia. It was Nyangben Tenzin Zangpo who founded the monastery. Only one of the pillars
remains intact.
