TTC-K-03: The monasteries of Kham

Highlights:

• --The traditional Chinese teahouse at People's park.
• --Wolong Giant Panda sanctuary.
• --Ancient Blockhouses
• --Gatar Shangbalin
• --Nyingtso monastery
• --Gogen Chorten stupa
• --Ser Gogen Chorten Gonpa
• --Dzamtang Tsangpa Gonpa
• --Choktse Tibetan official village

• --Kanze monastery
• --Den Gonpa
• --Achen monastery
• --Pelyul monastery
• --Dzongsar monastery
• --Pelpung monastery
• --Tangyel Lhakhang
• --Derge printing house
• --Gonchen monastery
• --Xinlu Lake (Yilhun Lhatso)
• --Bongen Gonpa
• --Dargye monastery

Chengdu: 500m
Wolong: 1700m
Mt. Balang pass: 4550m
Wolong: 1700m
Tawu: 3500m
Serta: 3900m
Dzamtang: 3300m
Barkham: 2750m
Chengdu: 500m

Altitude of the Optional visits:

Kanze: 3580m
Pelyul: 2900m
Dzongsar valley: 3300m
Pelpung monastery: 3500m
Derge: 2700m
Manigango: 3800m
Mt Tro La Pass: 5050m

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Detail program:

Daya1: Arrive in Chengdu
After arrives in Chengdu airport, pickup and transfer to your hotel, assist to check in. Relax in the rest hours of this day by having one visit to the traditional Chinese teahouse at People's park.

Altitude: Chengdu: 500m

Day2: Chengdu to Wolong
In the morning, we will departure to West from Chengdu, Wolong, a National Reserve located in a wonderful setting of forest surrounded by rugged Snowcapped Mountains, live Giant Pandas, Red Pandas, Golden Pheasants, White-Eared-Pheasants and Chinese Monals as well as the stunning Firethroats. Black Dears, Golden monkeys and Musk Deers, and rhododendrons and azaleas can also be found here. When arrive in Wolong we are going to visit to Wolong Giant Panda sanctuary.

Driving hours & distance: 155km on paved road, about 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: Wolong: 1700m

Day3: Wolong to Danba
Departure in the morning, the cured road leads follows Wolong valley onto Mt. Balang pass, descending from this pass, the view of Mt. Four girls is stunning, the road goes west to Danba. About 10 km before Danba, we will take one detour to Dzonglu village by driving onto a mountain, where we will witness the traditional building of Tibetan of "Pill box"; which is hidden deep in the high mountains and dense forests, thousands of blockhouses are endowed with a sense of mystery. The Dadu River takes shape here and flows south through Danba. Dzonglu village is one of those villages, where visitors can find themselves immersed in various blockhouses. There are 113 ancient blockhouses with a history of more than 1,000 years. In Danba, most blockhouses were built together with resident houses. They are made of clay and stones, with an elegant and strong appearance. In the past, blockhouses were used as defense forts and beacon towers. Residents would even pray to some of the edifices to exorcise evil spirits and bring good weather for crops. Inside each blockhouse, a delicate and intricate emblem such as ox horns or a fire wheel hangs on the wall. Some people say these are clan marks. Some argue that it is a secret signal. But the real meaning is still a mystery.

Driving hours & distance: 220km on paved road, about 4 - 5hours
Altitude: Mt. Balang pass: 4550m; Wolong: 1700m

Day4: Danba to Tawu
The road leads up to Tibetan plateau by following Donggu river upstream throughout the deep and narrow valley. The first stop on this day is Bamei, where we will stop to visit to the monastery of Gatar Shangbalin, which the 7th holiness Dalai Lama used to reside himself according to a religious doctrine. Then heading northwest to Tawu that is one of most attractive parts of Kham, the neatly constructed white flat-roofed houses with their horizontal red timbers exuding an air of quiet prosperity. Tawu Tibetan House can be called the perfection of architecture in Tibetan area. The houses are mainly made of earth and wood. The external side looks graceful, simple and unsophisticated, and is surrounded by green trees. The internal side is decorated with carved beams and painted rafters. To be in the luxurious houses is just like staying at the palace. They are of typical Kham feature, wonderful and impressive. In Tawu, we will also visit to the Nyingmapa sect monastery of Nyingtso that used to housed 400 monks

Driving hours & distance: 160km on paved & dirt road, about 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: Tawu: 3500m

Day5: Tawu to Serta
To the north, the road gradually leads to the valley of the Ser-chu that Serta County occupies. The major landmark of Serta is the large white stupa, known as Gogen Chorten, and a small monastery of Ser Gogen Chorten Gonpa lies next to the stupa.

Driving hours & distance: 230km on paved & dirt road, about 6 - 7 hours
Altitude: Serta: 3900m

Day6: Serta to Dzamtang
Dzamtang, occupies the valley of do-chu, and its southern parts were densely forested. Since those hills are much oless steep than the gorges downstream, they have been heavily logged. Departure from Serta via Serwa, heading north through the Do-chu gorge, passing through Drukje Township, reaching Dzamtang, where to visit to the Dzamtang Tsangpa Gonpa that are housed 1500 monks.

Driving hours & distance: 180km on paved road, about 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: Dzamtang: 3300m

Day7: Dzamtang to Barkham
Departure from Dzamtang, the road follows the combined water of Do-chu and Ser-chu heading East for Barkham that most women, whom live in here, dress multi-colored embroidered headscarf and elaborates belts and aprons. At Barkham, we are going to visit to the Gelukpa monastery, which overlook the township, with about more than 30 monks.

Driving hours & distance: 210km on paved road, about 5 - 6 hours
Altitude: Barkham: 2750m

Day8: Barkham to Chengdu
The Choktse Tibetan village is about 10 km from the town of Barkam, it was first built in 1918, and was ruined by a fire in 1936, and rebuilt two years after the fire, it is the finest preserved Tibetan official village in all over Tibet. The 19m high manor is a quadrangle with buildings on four sides. In the west is Tibetan Chief's building, it is his family's building to the east, to the south - the guests' building, and it is the building for religious activities to the north. Every floor features a winding corridor, decorated with traditional Gyarong traceries. After visit to this village we will drive along Ming River to Chengdu. After arrive at Chengdu, have your free time to relax.

Driving hours & distance: 350km on paved road, about 6 - 7 hours
Altitude: Chengdu: 500m

Day9: Chengdu to the airport for departure
After having breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to airport for your departure (transfer timings will depend on the flight schedule)

For those, whom may have more time and more interests of the Tibetan religion, detour to the region of Kanze, Pelyul and Derge. The following below is the suggested detail program:

For those who may have more time and more interest in the Tibetan religion, it is helpful, in order to understand more, to take a detour to the region of Kanze, Pelyul and Derge, visiting the hidden monasteries of Gelukpa, Sakya pa, Kagya pa tradition.

--Starting from D5, By road to Kanze from Tawu.

Day5: Tawu to Kanze
Kanze County is the capital town of Kanze Tibetan prefecture; it is also spelled as "Garze". From Tawu, the road along Zha-chu, upstream to Luhuo, by driving over Luoguo Pass (4100m), descends from this pass to Kanze, where we will take a visit to Kanze monastery that was originally constructed by the Qosot Monglos Cira 1642 on a hilltop. It once had a population of 1500monks; currently it has an estimated population of 700 monks and 3 tulkus. And Den Gonpa -- since the 17th century it has been 8maintained by the Gelukpa, an important protector temple which survived the events of 1960s and containing a revered image of Mahakala in the form Panjaranatha. At about 2pm, we may have chance to witness the debating of monks of Kanze monastery.

Driving hours & distance: 180km on paved road, about 5 - 6 hours
Altitude: Kanze: 3580m,

Day6: Kanze to Pelyul
The overall distance is about 230km on paved and dirt road; the watershed pass cuts through the glacial Kawalingring range, which divides the Yangtze and Yarlung basins. Crossing the watershed pass (4320m), before heading towards to Pelyul, there are spectacular upland lakes and variegated grasslands of gentian and edelweiss…etc,

Driving hours & distance: 230km on paved & dirt road, about 6 - 7 hours
Altitude: Pelyul: 2900m,

Day7: Pelyul to Dzongsar valley
Today we will along the east bank of Jinsha River again to a valley junction, which is narrow and after about 40 kilometers, the valley is suddenly wide, Dzongsar, a rich and beautiful monastery is located on the top of the small mountain in the end of the valley where are vast Barley field. It's just like a Shangri-la, Tibetan lives here peacefully and quietly. Dzongsar Monastery was founded in 1275. It had before been a Nyingmapa and a Karma Karygu sect temple, and originally was the site of a Bonpo shrine. Dzongsar monastery, this now Sakyapa monastery was the residence of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo (1821-1894) and Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro (1896-1959). During the lives of these two extraordinary spiritual leaders, Dzongsar Monastery became a center for the rime or non-sectarian approach to the study and practice of Buddhism, and great lamas of all the four Tibetan traditions went there to study. The Monastery has been rebuilt in recent years subsequent to its destruction under Communist rule. The present Dzongsar Khyentse incarnation, Thubten Chokyi Gyamtso, supervises the Institute where 250 monks are being educated.

Driving hours & distance: 120km on paved & dirt road, about 4 - 5 hours
Altitude: Dzongsar valley: 3300m

Day8: Dzongsar valley to Pelpung monastery, then to Derge
Pelpung monastery, which was found in1717 by TaiSitu VIII, was the largest Kagyu monastery within the kingdom of Derge, and it rapidly became the most important center in the Eastern Tibet for the study of Kayu tradition. After visit to Pelpung monastery, we will drive to Derge, which was the capital of Derge kingdom.

Driving hours & distance: 200km on dirt road, about 6 - 7 hours Altitude: Pelpung monastery: 3500m; Derge: 2700m

Day9: Derge Today we are going to visit Tangyel Lhakhang which is dedicated to the memory of Tangtong Gyelpo, Tibet's multi-talented bridge-builder, dramatist, engineer and treasure-finder, who consecrated the site of the Gonchen monastery in 1448. There is also a Mani Wheel in a closed building. Then after we will take a visit to Derge printing house which is a magnificent 3 floors building with original frescoes that were blackened by smoke during the destruction of the 1960s. The printing house contains exquisite images of Shakyamuni Buddha, the lineage-holds of the Sakyapa tradition. In Second floor is the collection xylograph blocks, including the Derge editions of the kangyur; Tangyur; Nyingma Gyudbum and other works, which are constantly in demand throughout the town, villages and monasteries of Tibet. And Derge Gonchen monastery -- the ruined monastery was reconstructed between 1987-1988, the Assembly hall with its high columns is illi8uminated by windows on the upper level it leads to a central throne, which is the seat of Sakya Trizin, the head of the Sakyapa school.

Altitude: Derge: 2700m

Day10: Derge to Kanze via Xinlu Lake & Manigango
Yilhun Lhatso is one of the most beautiful lakes in all Tibetan Cultural Areas, its shores bedecked with carved Mani Stone. The mountain and rocks surrounding the lake are said to assume the divine form of the Cakrasamvara Mandala to those who have pure vision to perceive them. After lunch in Manigango, we will head to Rongpatsa, a village where Bongen Gonpa located in. It is the seat of late Kalu Rinpoche of the Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu traditions. The ruins of the orginal temple is still occupy the hillside far to the northeast of the village. Continuely driving to east for about several kilometers, Dargye monastery that is on the north side of the road. It's large and right next to the highway, so it's quite unmistakable. It represents the Gelukpa school and was founded in 1642, established by the victorious Mongol forces of Gushi Qan in the 17th century.

Driving hours & distance: 220km on paved road, about 6 - 7 hours
Altitude: Manigango: 3800m, Mt Tro La Pass: 5050m; Kanze: 3580m

--From D11, the tour backs to the route of going to Serta