Yamdrok Tso - Shigatse

With spectacular views of the snow mountains, the road along the Yarlung-Tsangpo river leads us into the second largest city of Tibet - Shigatse with a population of 80,000. It is located at the confluence of the Yarlong Tsangpo (or Brahmaputra) and Nyangchu rivers in west Tibet and was the ancient capital of U-Tsang province. Visit Tashilhumo Monastery, feel the fiesta atmosphere of religious celebration and watch a most exotic Tibetan dance (only in June and September).

Tashilhunpo Monastery was built in 1447 and is a historic and culturally important monastery. The monastery is the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas, the second highest ranking tulku lineage in the Gelukpa tradition (a tulku is a Tibetan Buddhist lama or other religious figure who has consciously decided to be reborn, often many times, in order to continue his or her religious pursuits).

This monastery was originally built by Gedun Drub the First Dalai Lama, financed by donations from local nobles. Later Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen, the Fourth Panchen Lama and the first Panchen Lama to be recognized as such by the rulers of Mongolia, made major expansions to the monastery. Since then all Panchen Lamas have resided at Tashilhunpo, and have managed to expand it gradually.

Afterwards we join the Tibetans circumambulating the temple. The path leads to a village at the foot of the mountain, where you gain insight into the life of the villagers and their curious kids. We will stay overnight in a hotel in Shigatse (2/3-stars).