Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Just visible across the river from the road between Lhasa and Shigatse is the Bönpo Yung-
drungling Monastery. The monastery, founded in 1834, was once the second most influen-
tial Bön monastic institution in Tibet and home to 700 monks. At first glance, Yung-
drungling looks much like a Buddhist monastery, but if you look closely you'll note the
swastikas and prayer wheels swirling anticlockwise. You may find your guide and driver
are reluctant to enter the monastery grounds.
There are currently around 60 monks here, most of whom are from the Nagchu region
of northern Tibet. If one of them can find the key, you can visit the large
dukhang
, with its
impressive thrones of the monastery's two resident lamas. There are 1300 small iron
statues of Tonpa Shenrab (the equivalent of Sakyamuni) along the walls. You may also be
able to visit a couple of chapels behind the main hall, including the Namgyel Lhakhang
and
Kudung Lhakhang
, the latter featuring the tomb of the monastery founder and Bön
protector Gyachen Traksen. Remember to make the rounds in an anticlockwise direction.
The monastery is 80km east of Shigatse, on the road to Lhasa and the north bank of the
Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra River), just east of where the Nangung-chu meets it. Cross
the Bailey bridge and follow the dirt road north along the Nangung-chu to a road bridge.
The monastery is 7km from the main road.
