Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Tuje Lhakhang to the right has statues of Chenresig, Jampelyang and Chana Dorje,
who form the Tibetan trinity known as the Rigsum Gonpo. The stove to the right is said to
have belonged to Princess Wencheng (Wencheng Konjo), the Chinese consort of Songtsen
Gampo.
Upstairs and to the rear is a central chapel containing a famous thangka of Chenresig
(known as Padmapani) made up of 29,000 pearls, as well as an ancient appliqué thangka
depicting Sakyamuni. A protector chapel to the side has an unusual statue of the Hindu
god Brahma.
Trandruk is around 7km south of the Tsetang Hotel.
Yumbulagang
HISTORIC BUILDING
( , Yōngbùlākāng 7am-7pm)
A fine, tapering finger of a structure that sprouts from a craggy ridge overlooking the
patchwork fields of the Yarlung Valley, Yumbulagang is considered the oldest building in
Tibet. At least that is the claim for the original structure - most of what can be seen today
dates from 1982. It is still a remarkably impressive sight, with a lovely setting.
The founding of Yumbulagang stretches back into legend and myth. The standard line is
that it was built for King Nyentri Tsenpo, a historic figure who has long since blurred into
mythology. Legend has him descending from the heavens and being received as a king by
the people of the Yarlung Valley. More than 400 Buddhist holy texts (known collectively
as the 'Awesome Secret') are said to have fallen from the heavens at Yumbulagang in the
5th century. Murals at Yumbulagang depict the magical arrival of the texts.
There has been no conclusive dating of the original Yumbulagang, although some ac-
counts indicate that the foundations may have been laid over 2000 years ago. It is more
likely that it dates from the 7th century, when Tibet first came under the rule of Songtsen
Gampo.
The plan of Yumbulagang indicates that it was originally a fortress and much larger than
the present structure. Today it serves as a chapel and is inhabited by around eight monks
who double as guards - in 1999 some 30 statues were stolen from the main chapel. Its
most impressive feature is its
tower
, and the prominence of Yumbulagang on the Yarlung
skyline belies the fact that this tower is only 11m tall.
