TTC-T-07: Saga Darwa Festival at Mt. Kailash
Saga Dawa is the most important annual festival of Tibet. The 15th day of April of Tibetan calendar is day that Buddha Sakyamuni was given birth; also the day he attained Nirvana. During this period, Tibetan from all over Tibet pour into this area of Mt. Kailash two or even three weeks before this date. During this time, the giant flagpole at Tarpoche is ritually taken down and the prayer flags along its length replaced. During the flagpole ceremony, as the pole's tip is raised and pointed east towards Gyangdrak monastery, monks of that monastery performing a special ritual. Music from long trumpets, conch shells, and other instruments welcomes the rising flagpole.
Festival Date: April 15th of Tibetan Calendar.
Please contact us for the exactly dates on Gregorian calendar.
| Tour Style: | Small Group Tour |
| Start: | Chengdu |
| Finish: | Chengdu |
| Duration: | 25 days |
| Area visited: | Central Tibet |
Highlights:
- The traditional Chinese teahouse
- Nie Tang Buddha
- Potala Palace
- Jokhang temple
- Barkhor Bazar.
- Sera monastery
- Drepung monastery
- Nechung monastery
- Tashilhunpo Monastery
- Sakya monastery
- Mt. Kailash
- Guge Kingdom
- Tashilhunpo monastery
- Pelkhor monastery
- Yamdrok Lake
- Giant Panda Sanctuary
Altitude:
Chengdu: 500m
Lhasa: 3650m
Shigartse: 3900m
Sakya: 4300m
Darchen: 4900m
Sangsang: 4600m
Saga: 4500m
Paryang: 4600m
Lake Manasarovar: 4600m
Trekking altitude: The highest spot is 5700m, campsite: 4800m
Ali: 4300m
Gerze: 4450m
Tsochen: 4700m
Please contact us for pricing information
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.
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 Shigartse then to Sakya
Drive to Shigatse, where to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, which is the seat of Panchen Lama - the second highest-ranking religious leader of the Buddhist religious order. Then proceed to Sakya, visit to Sakya monastery of Sakya pa that is one of the 5 great sects of Tibetan religion.
Driving hours & distance: 390km on paved road, about 7 - 8 hours
Altitude: Shigartse: 3900m, Sakya: 4300m
Day6 to Day9:
Arrive at Darchen via Sangsang, Namring, Saga, Paryang, and Lake Manasarovar.
About 5 days drive via Sangsang, Namring, Saga, Paryang, and Lake Manasarovar finally reachs at Darchen, which is the entrance of Mt. Kailash. This spectacular souther route from Lhasa to Kailash gurantees superb views along the road, and encounters with antelopes and other wildlife.
Day10: Darchen
Witness the festival of Saga Darwa festival.
Day11: Trekking to Drira Phuk monastery
Departure from Darchen, by vehicle to Darpoche, the entrance of Lha-chu valley, where we can see the south face of Kailash. Load up all gear to our pack animal at Tarpoche, then start trekking, about 4 hours hike following La-chu valley take north bank of the stream to the camp that opposte to Drira Phuk monastery.
Day12: Trekking to Zutrul Phuk monastery
This is the second day of trek, also is the hardest day. The highest spot of this trek of Drolma La pass is about 5700 above the sea level. Start from the camp, the trail is steep, strenuous, the altitude goes up rapaidly, plan about 3 or 4 hours to cover this ascending hiking of 6km around is necessary. When reach top of Drolma la pass, descending southeastward from this pass. This trail is rocky and steep, around 4 km to reach at Lham-chu valley, where we continually southward for about 8km, Zutrul phuk is located by the trail on the slop of the mountain.
Day13: Trekking - regain Darchen
Along Zhong-chu heading southwest, for about 3 hours around, reach a trail junction, where our vehicle wait, return to Darchen.
Day14&Day15: Mt. Kailash - Guge kingdom
The Guge Kingdom was founded in about the 10th century by a descendant of King Lang Darma, and was survived for about 700 years before disappearing mysteriously in the 17th century. The ruins lie on a hilltop near a river and cover 180,000 square meters. The Guge Kingdom is famous for its murals, sculptures and stone inscriptions, which are attached to the surviving structures. Around the ruins are weapons of the Guge people and mummies, which are probably Guge soliders, the only traces of the once glorious kingdom.
Day16 to Day21: Guge kingdom to Shigartse via Ali, Gerze, Tsochen, Sangsang.
The return route is via the northern route between Lhasa and Ali, (Southern route is through Sangsang, Namring, Saga, Paryang, and Lake Manasarovar). The northern route is thought to be the easiest one, and cross Changtang plateau, en route the inhabited area along the road is dotted with lakes. When arriveing at Shigartse visit to Tashilhunpo Monastery, which is the seat of Panchen Lama - the second highest-ranking religious leader of the Buddhist religious order.
Day22: Shigartse - Gyantse
Drive to Gyantse, which was historically Tibet's third largest city (after Lhasa and Shigartse). En route we will take one detour of Shalu monastery, which was built in 1,000 A.D. Its unique construction has mixed the style of Tibetan and Chinese building. The frescoes in Shalu Monastery are abundant and beautiful, they are invaluable art treasures of Tibet. After arrive at Gyantse, we are going to visit the Kubum stupa and the Pelkor Chode Monastery, and Kumbum, which is a large gold-domed stupa and its many chapels house an impressive array of Tibetan Buddhist murals.
Driving hours & distance: 90km on paved road, about 2 - 3 hours
Altitude: Gyantse: 3950m
Day23: Gyantse to Lhasa
Satrt from Gyantse, via 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 Lhasa.
Driving hours & distance: 360km on paved road, about 7 - 8 hours
Altitude: Lhasa: 3670m
Day24: Lhasa 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
Day25: 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).
|
