TTC-T-04 Boating on Brahmaputra by Tibetan Gowa
Wood is scarce in much of rocky, dry Tibet; so Tibetan people traditionally use leather from yaks to make boats. The yak leather is stitched into large pieces, which are then stretched across bowed crossbeams and tied with leather straps. The capacity of a bigger one is about to hold 10 people around, the smaller one can hold 2 or 5 people. It is enough to have just one boatman to control the gowa, and its self is light and can be carried by one man. Nowadays few of these yak skin boats exist any more in Tibet. This trip will begin with the traditional Tibetan Boat of Gowa - the Yak Skin Boat to cruise Brahmaputra River.
| Tour Style: | Small Group Tour
| | Start: | Chengdu |
| Finish: | Chengdu |
| Duration: | 12 days |
| Area visited: | Central Tibet |
Highlights:
- The traditional Chinese teahouse at People's park.
- Potala Palace
- Jokhang temple
- Barkhor Bazar
- Sera monastery
- Drepung monastery
- Nechung monastery
- Gangkar chode
- Dorje Drak
- Ngadrak
- the holy caves of Drak Yangdzong
- Samye monastery
- Yamsang monastery
- Tradruk monastery
- Yongphuk Lhakang
- Giant Panda Sanctuary
Altitude:
Chengdu: 500m
Lhasa: 3650m
Gangkar: 3800m
Dorje Drak: 3800m
Ngadrak: 3750m
Drak Yangdzong cave: 4500m
Tsetang: 3670m
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Detail program:
Day1: 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 Lhasa
Fly to Lhasa, the guide will meet you at the airport, and transfer you to Lhasa city with about 1h30 driving (100 km). On the way, we'll visit to Nie Tang Buddha, a Buddha image engraved in the mountain face. Afternoon an easy walking visit to Luophuk lingkar - the summer palace of Dalai Lama.
Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m
Day3: Lhasa
We visit Potala Palace, Jokhang temple and Barkhor Bazar.
Potala, the winter palace of the Dalai Lama. Stunningly dominating the skyline of Lhassa atop the crest of Marpo Ri hill, the seventh-century Potala is considered Lhasa's most holy destination for a pilgrimage. Winding up the hill, a stone path leads to the 14-story, 1000-room. Each day, thousands of pilgrims give the prayer wheels lining the path a clockwise spin as they make their way up to the entrance.
The Jokhang Monastery is the home of the statutes of the revered Buddha, Shakyamuni. While all Buddhist statutes are magnificently robed in colorful brocade adorned with pearls, turquoise, coral, and silver, solid gold bowls of holy water rest before Shakyamuni as well as offerings of yuen (money) and khatas (scarves) left by pilgrims.
Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m
Day4: Lhasa
Visit Sera, Drepung, Nechung monasteries and Ramoche temple.
Sera, one of the three largest monasteries of Gelugpa, sits at the foot of Hill Tatipu. It is as prestigious as Drepung and Ganden, which had a longer history. Sera in Tibetan means Wild Rose Garden since opulent wild rose woods once grew around it.
Drepung monastery. Drepung once housed 10,000 monks, If we're lucky, we'll quietly ease into a dark columned hall to see and hear the lilting, booming chanting of the sutras, or perhaps sit under a willow tree and watch as the monks engage in theatrical debate.
Nechung Monastery the seat of Nechung, Tibet's State Oracle. Major decisions of the state are made in consultation with the Nechung Oracle.
Altitude: Lhasa: 3650m
Day5: Lhasa to Gangkar
Satrt from Lhasa, detour to Yamdrok Lake that is one of four holy lakes. The other 3 lakes are Lhamo La-tso, Namtso and Manasarovar. It is revered as a talisman and is said to be part of the life-spirit of the Tibetan nation. The largest lake in southern Tibet, it is said that if its waters dry, Tibet will no longer be habitable. This Turquoise like lake to Tsetang across Karo la pass and Kampa la pass at 5050m then to Chushui, wherewe heading east along Brahmaputra Rriver downstream to Gangkar Chode, where we set up our first camp by Brahmaputra River.
Driving hours & distance: 100km on paved road, about 2 hours
Altitude: Gangkar: 3800m
Day6: Gangkar to Dorje Drak
Departure in the morning, locad up gear in the Tibetan Gowa, following Brahmaputra River downstream to Dorje Drak, where Dorje Drak monastery is located in, and it was one of the primary Nyingma monasteries in Tibet. It was destroyed in the 1960's last century, and later partially reestablished.
Altitude: Dorje Drak: 3800m
Day7: Dorje Drak to Ngadrak
Keep taking the gowa along the Brahmaputra river downstream to Ngadrak, where one Karma Kagyu traditional monastery is on the east bank of the Drak-Chu, about 6 km further inland. It comprises one assembly hall adjoined by 5 chapels, and a monastic residential area, where the caretakers of the Drakyul cave nearby.
Altitude: Ngadrak: 3750m
Day8: Ngadrak to the holy caves of Drak Yangdzong
Departure on foot, climbing a white limestone cliff, many carved relief images are visible near the cave entrances, depicting Padmasambhava, Sakyamuni Buddha, Milaripa, animal figures…etc, the cave is about 4500m above the sea level, visit to the caves of "Shinje Drup Zho", "Shinje Rolpei Drub" & "Jago Rangjung Drupuk"; return to the camp by Brahmaputra river.
Altitude: Drak Yangdzong cave: 4500m
Day9: Ngadrak to Samye
This the third day being in the Gowa, which is also the last day of traveling by Gowa. Reach at Surkar, near Samye, arrive at Samye monastery by tractor. Samye monastery, Located in the quiet piedmont area of the Tsetang region, it is the first temple to be built in Tibet and the first complete with the three Buddhist jewels of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Samye monastery is built with the shape of a huge Mandala. Surrounded by a circular wall, it is a representation of cosmos. The different buildings are arranged according to a complex symbolism, around the Utse, the central hall, housing the hall of prayers. This monastery is sacred because of its magnificent architecture, long-term history, and special status within Tibetan Buddhism. Regarded as a shining pearl of Tibetan Buddhist architecture, it is a place many Buddhist believers long to visit.
Altitude: Samye: 3670m
Day10: Tsetang
In the morning, drive to visit Yamsang monastery, which was found in 1200, belongs to Kagyu tradition. The Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism traces its origin back to Buddha Shakyamuni. The lineage of the Kagyu emphasizes the continuity of oral instructions passed on from master to student, from whence the name "Kagyu" derives.
After having picnic at a wonderful spot with great view, drive to visit Tradruk monastery that is one of the earliest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. Then heading to Yongphuk Lhakang, which is the first palace in Tibetan history, is located in the southeast of Tsetang. It is said that it was to be built for the first Tibetan King in 200 B.C. Afterwards, it became the summer palace of King Sontsankanbu and Princess Wenchen. A few centuries later the fifth Dalai Lama converted it into a temple of the Gelukpa tradition monastery.
Altitude: Tsetang: 3670m
Day11: Tsetang to Chengdu
Drive from Tsetang to Lhasa Gangkar airport, by morning flight from Lhasa to Chengdu, after arrive in Chengdu, transfer to Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base, one of the most important centers in the world for the conservation of the Giant Panda.
Altitude: Chengdu: 500m
Day12: 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)
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