Gyangze Travel Guide

 mavl Says:  when in gyangze, it is very possible to get so overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty of both the kumbum and the dzong that one might overlook the rabse nunnery.it is quaint when compared to the aforementioned landmarks but just as interesting. it's a small complex of... 

 nattybabe Says:  The Gyantse Dzong (old fort) towers above the village and offers a fine view over the valley although now much in the way of sights inside. The walls of the current structure were reputedly built in 1268 as a reaction to the rise of Sakya power. The palatial castle was built... 

 nattybabe Says:  The Kumbum ("10000 images") stupa is Tibet's largest and probably most magnificant stupa. Filled with numerous chapels, statues, frescoes and paintings it is well worth a visit. Located next to the monastery it is open from 9.30am but the monks seem to open and close the... 

 nattybabe Says:  To the north, if you walk along the road that takes you around the fort, you'll come to the Pelkhor Chode Monastery. The Tsuklakhang was built in 1418-25 by a prince with affiliations to both the Sakyapa and Zhalupa schools. Beside this temple the Kumbum stupa was completed... 

 mavl Says:  i woke up very early to watch the the first rays of the morning sun hitting the majestic walls of the gyangze dzong. it was surreal!if you're up to it, do the same. it's a beautiful sight!there's a plaza just south of the mount from where you can just sit and watch it all... 

 mavl Says:  if you ask me, the best way to climb the kumbum is to take the outside way up and then the inside way down - or the other way around. the point is, to see everything inside as well as all the great views outside. what i did was take the external route up, circling the outer... 

 mavl Says:  if you like the charming man (the local, not me) in this photo, then stop by the fields surrounding gyangze proper. there, you'll get up close to the locals as they go about their work. this is a really good way of understanding what life in a tibetan farming village is all... 

 mavl Says:  when in gyangze, you might want to check out pala manor, the former residence of a famous upper class tibetan family. it may be considered a mansion as it is rather expansive compared to typical tibetan houses of the time (and tibetan houses of the present, actually)there... 

 tompt Says:  The restaurant of the Jian Zang hotel is OK, but the food is not outstanding. Just the normal dishes they serve in tourist restaurants in Tibet. The Ai Fang pancake is not on the menu, but you have to get one for dessert. It is a thin pancake filled with apple. It is named... 

 mavl Says:  if you want a nice young tibetan guide who speaks english to take you to and around gyangze from lhasa, you can get in touch with nga wang. he was my guide during my solo tour around lhasa/gyangze/xigaze/nam-tso last august, 2006. he's very helpful and will take good... 

 Confucius Says:  The Tibetan game of "Sho" is a game similar to backgammon in which players throw dice to determine moves marked by a path of shells. It's very popular on the side streets of Gyangze. ("Sho" is the Tibetan word for the standard "dice" used in this game.)You'll see a round yak... 

 mavl Says:   bring a watch with an altimeter (i had a suunto xlander).if you're going to tibet, you'll be encountering elevations you're likely never to encounter again - personal altitude records is what i mean. might as well record it, right?also, better to be aware of the elevations...