Gyangtse: Palcho Monastery/Pelkor Chode Monastery
Gyantse lies between Lhasa and Shigatse (about 143 miles south of Lhasa). It is still a traditional, relaxed Tibetan town but who knows for how much longer. Gyantse was once a principle wool trade route to India and is encircled by an impressive wall that once contained 19 monasteries. A wonderful setting with the Nyang Chu River below and mountain ridges behind it. This monastery houses monks from the Gelugpa, Sakyapa and Kahampa orders and is the only one known to house monks from different orders in harmony. That fact is what makes Gyantse special.
The original Gyantse Dzong dates from the 14th century and little is known about its history. The ground floor of the Main Assembly Hall was a chanting hall with 48 columns decorated with old silk "thankas" along with a 26-foot high bronze Buddha image. There were over 112 chapels scattered around this complex with only 23 open to the public.
We walked up the cobblestone steps to one of the high chapels with views over the entire Gyantse town.
Palcho Monastery, also called Pelkor Chode Monastery ...View image...is located at the foot of the Dzong Fort in the northwest, constructed around 1440 by a Gyantse prince. The multi-storied Kumbum Stupa was crowned with a golden dome and umbrella, surrounded with more chapels filled with unique statues and murals. Each chapel had a dominant religious feature and murals, some of which looked to have been retouched.
The other main building in this compound is Palcho (Pelkor Chode) Monastery, used for worship by monks from all the surrounding monasteries. This assembly hall had two thrones, one for the Dalai Lama and one for the main Sakya lama.
As always, the main focal point to me is the pilgrims making their devotions...praying and prostrating themselves with such intensity and religious fervor...
Very ancient fresco...
After this Gyantse experience and one night in the Jianzhang Hotel, it would be back to Lhasa for one night before heading to the east and the Tsedang area.
