Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Foreigners are allowed to stay in this scruffy guesthouse in the main monastery courtyard
but the cleanliness and quality of the mattresses varies greatly by room. You can get
simple meals at the monastery kitchen and there's a small shop. You can't beat the loca-
tion.
Getting There & Away
The trip from Lhasa to Drigung Til takes around three hours but you could easily spend a
full day, with stops. It's worth spending at least one night in Tidrum or Drigung Til, more
if you want to do any hiking.
The daily public bus from Lhasa's Eastern Bus Station to Drigung Til is currently off
limits to foreigners.
Tidrum Nunnery
Elev 4325m
Sights & Activities
Just 3km northwest of Drigung Til, an 8km road leads up the side valley to
Tidrum Nun-
nery
(Dézhòng Sì; admission ¥25)
. Tidrum, with its medicinal hot springs, has a great loca-
tion in a narrow gorge at the confluence of two streams. The entire valley is festooned with
prayer flags. The small nunnery has strong connections to Yeshe Tsogyal, the wife of King
Trisong Detsen and consort of Guru Rinpoche. The Kandro-la, the resident spiritual leader
of the nunnery, is considered a reincarnation of Yeshe Tsogyal.
The nunnery's main
assembly hall
is worth a visit. A cabinet holds a selection of self-
arising rock images found in the hot springs.
The
hot springs
(free with admission to the nunnery) are popular with convalescing
Tibetans, who soak in the mineral-rich waters to cure everything from rheumatism to para-
lysis. There are separate men's and women's pools and everyone bathes buck naked des-
pite little privacy. Bring a towel and flip-flops. Photography is forbidden, even if no one is
in the pool.
At the time of research Tidrum was undergoing major renovations and resembled a
refugee camp - not really conducive to an enjoyable soak. Far more relaxing is a visit to
