Palkhor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa
Palkhor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa
4.5
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
Built in 1414, this monastery consists of 17 Dratsang (colleges) that belong to the three sects of Sagya, Kadam and Gelug. Palkhor also has the spectacular Bodhi stupa, or Kumbum in Tibetan, which was built in 1412.
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4.5
110 reviews
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angtravel18
Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa465 contributions
May 2013 • Friends
Don't miss this complex. The buildings are fabulous, the Kumbum stupa a marvel, and the views from its upper structures are fantastic. And if you are into people-watching there are many devout pilgrims in traditional dress doing their kora. Very worthwhile.
But just as interesting - to me at least - was the walk through the old part of town afterwards. As you exit the main gate, veer left, past all the vendors, and take the next right, walking in the direction of the hill where the fort is. It's a long more or less straight road, lines on both sides with traditional 2-storey white-washed stone houses. Many of the walls have the dung patties out to dry, cows are ruminating in the alleys, hay out to dry, dogs sunning themselves, and there were one or two craft shops (weaving). I chatted to a local lady who put her head out of an upper window to stare, with the result that we were invited up into her home for a glass of tea. Four generations live there, and their home was an eye-opener.
One of the best days in Tibet.
But just as interesting - to me at least - was the walk through the old part of town afterwards. As you exit the main gate, veer left, past all the vendors, and take the next right, walking in the direction of the hill where the fort is. It's a long more or less straight road, lines on both sides with traditional 2-storey white-washed stone houses. Many of the walls have the dung patties out to dry, cows are ruminating in the alleys, hay out to dry, dogs sunning themselves, and there were one or two craft shops (weaving). I chatted to a local lady who put her head out of an upper window to stare, with the result that we were invited up into her home for a glass of tea. Four generations live there, and their home was an eye-opener.
One of the best days in Tibet.
Written 19 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Goosekins
Austin, TX25 contributions
May 2012 • Couples
Things about Tibet:
If you've traveled in Bhutan or Nepal, the roads of Tibet will be a welcome change. Count on paved and striped highways with guardrails. That said, quality comes with a catch…speed limits of 40-70 kph when traveling between Lhasa, Gyantse, and Shigatse. This snail’s pace came into effect after a tour bus crashed n 2007 with 30+ Chinese tourist fatalities. Armed checkpoints stamp and time the vehicles, so consider 2 options:
1) Go the speed limit- It’s an OK drive, lots of rivers and mountains to see. Time stands still in Tibet anyway
2) Drive fast, with stops at points of interest – Your guide should know plenty of interesting stops along the way. We toured an incense factory, grain mill, and scenic overlooks/picture stops.
Whatever you do, avoid letting the diver speed like a bat out of hell then pull off the road 1 mile from the checkpoint to wait 45 minutes. We had this happen once, and it’s painful, believe me.
If you've traveled in Bhutan or Nepal, the roads of Tibet will be a welcome change. Count on paved and striped highways with guardrails. That said, quality comes with a catch…speed limits of 40-70 kph when traveling between Lhasa, Gyantse, and Shigatse. This snail’s pace came into effect after a tour bus crashed n 2007 with 30+ Chinese tourist fatalities. Armed checkpoints stamp and time the vehicles, so consider 2 options:
1) Go the speed limit- It’s an OK drive, lots of rivers and mountains to see. Time stands still in Tibet anyway
2) Drive fast, with stops at points of interest – Your guide should know plenty of interesting stops along the way. We toured an incense factory, grain mill, and scenic overlooks/picture stops.
Whatever you do, avoid letting the diver speed like a bat out of hell then pull off the road 1 mile from the checkpoint to wait 45 minutes. We had this happen once, and it’s painful, believe me.
Written 5 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tarawhite
Las Vegas38 contributions
The Palkhor Monastery with its Kumbum Stupa was one of the most amazing sights on our trip. We climbed to the top of the stupa, visiting the 108 chapels, among pilgrims who had come to make offerings and prayers.
Written 28 February 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Benjamin T
Edmonton, Canada157 contributions
June 2017 • Couples
I would reccomend stopping here and checking it out if you get the chance. Chances are that your tour guide will bring you here either on your way or on your wayback from Everest Base Camp as you will most likely be utilizing a tour guide for a trip through Tibet regardless. It is really cool and the Stupa is large but not nearly as well adorned as some of the burial stupas within the Potala! Check it out if you are passing through or near by!
Written 28 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philip O
New York23 contributions
Sept 2016 • Friends
Pleasant monastery and location of an oversized chorten with 100,000 Buddha images. Spectacular views add to its charm.
Written 13 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Indy215
Melbourne, Australia620 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
The usual tourist route to the Everest Base Camp from Lhasa is to go via Gyantse and then onto Shigatse, as this "old road" compared to the newer Friendship Highway is much more scenic. One of the pluses in going to Gyantse is to visit the Palkhor Monastery complex, which also includes the magnificent Kumbum Stupa. Like most monasteries in Tibet, this was partly destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Three Buddhist sects are represented at this walled complex - namely the Sakyapa, Kadampa and the Gelugpa. To get the most out of this visit, it is best to get a Tibetan guide to explain the history, etc. If you wish to take photos, there is a fee,
The impressive large golden-domed Kumbum Stupa built in 1414 is 32 metres high. It has 9 floors with 76 chapels and shrines. The stairs between the top floors are quite steep, so care needs to be taken. You can climb to the top which does provide some great photo opportunities of Gyantse, the nearby abandoned Dzong (fort) perched on a nearby hill top, and the monastery complex.
The impressive large golden-domed Kumbum Stupa built in 1414 is 32 metres high. It has 9 floors with 76 chapels and shrines. The stairs between the top floors are quite steep, so care needs to be taken. You can climb to the top which does provide some great photo opportunities of Gyantse, the nearby abandoned Dzong (fort) perched on a nearby hill top, and the monastery complex.
Written 5 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SusanT
Canberra, Australia170 contributions
Sept 2017 • Friends
Another wonderful Monastery! The most interesting architecture here is the Kumbum Stupa. We visited here on our way to the Everest base camp and time was well spent. The views from different levels of the Stupa were beautiful. We could also see Gyantse Dzong on the higher floors of the Stupa. The town Gyantse and the Monastery were attacked by British army in 1904. There is also a memorial monument in Gyantse to remember those Tibetans who lost life in the battle.
Written 5 May 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Margot P
Korora, Australia1,109 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
Monastery much the same as others, the importance is the Stupa where Panchen Lama is buried. It is an excellent example of the amount of effort made to build and decorate a Stupa.
For us a Big highlight, it was the ONLY monastery in Tibet where we could take photos inside the building, and take photos of everything (except the monks). As keen photographers, it enabled us to bring home lasting memory of what is inside monasteries, and what the buddas, the library books, butter statues etc etc are. We had to pay at each room to photograph (about US$2). Through respect for the Tibetans, we have not shared the photos.
For us a Big highlight, it was the ONLY monastery in Tibet where we could take photos inside the building, and take photos of everything (except the monks). As keen photographers, it enabled us to bring home lasting memory of what is inside monasteries, and what the buddas, the library books, butter statues etc etc are. We had to pay at each room to photograph (about US$2). Through respect for the Tibetans, we have not shared the photos.
Written 6 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LuizDutraNeto
Rio de Janeiro, RJ8,567 contributions
June 2015 • Friends
Since you came that far, it is impossible not to visit "Palkhor Monastery and Kumbum Stupa"! The town of Gyantse, in the mountains of Tibet, is nearly at 4.000m above sea level, what means a lot to those not used to high altitudes. Take it easy, move around slowly, and visit the monastery and the pagoda type stupa, which were founded in 1418. The original complex contained more than 15 temples, many of them destroyed along the centuries and by the terrible Chinese Cultural Revolution. Today, only 80 Gelugpa monks attend the monastery and stupa. Its highlights are the "Four Guardian Kings" statues at the entrance, the sacred "Shakyamuni Buddha" at the main chapel, flanked by the Buddhas of the past and the future, and "Jiangba", the buddhist deity of a thousand hands and a thousand eyes. After the monastery, and if you are still fit enough, climb the nine floor unique "Kumbum Stupa" and be amazed by its 100.000 Buddha statues, countless shrines and relief sculptures. Enjoy!
Written 27 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PamelaSS888
Canberra, Australia1,211 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
Gyantse worth a visit in Tibet
When you plan your trip to Tibet, make sure you include a visit to Gyantse which is on the southern road from Lhasa, once an ancient trade route between Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim and other areas. The highlight of a visit to Gyantse is the magnificent tiered Kumbum which has 77 chapels on 6 floors. It was built around 1400 and remains good condition with restoration continuing. Here you can see ancient Buddhist artefacts and also the strong Nepali influence. You can also see the restored fort high up on a hill, and Gyantse gives you a view of the more traditional life in Tibet with local people still use horse drawn carts. Historically the monastery was an important Sakya centre in Tibet and you can still visit many parts of the monastery and walk around the Kumbum. Gyantse is ideal for an overnight stop or half a day to or from Lhasa. Many tours take the newer northern road from Lhasa to Shigatse, so unless you include Gyantse on your tour program, you will not be able to make a visit to this ancient town so make sure it is included in your trip plan.
When you plan your trip to Tibet, make sure you include a visit to Gyantse which is on the southern road from Lhasa, once an ancient trade route between Nepal, Tibet, Sikkim and other areas. The highlight of a visit to Gyantse is the magnificent tiered Kumbum which has 77 chapels on 6 floors. It was built around 1400 and remains good condition with restoration continuing. Here you can see ancient Buddhist artefacts and also the strong Nepali influence. You can also see the restored fort high up on a hill, and Gyantse gives you a view of the more traditional life in Tibet with local people still use horse drawn carts. Historically the monastery was an important Sakya centre in Tibet and you can still visit many parts of the monastery and walk around the Kumbum. Gyantse is ideal for an overnight stop or half a day to or from Lhasa. Many tours take the newer northern road from Lhasa to Shigatse, so unless you include Gyantse on your tour program, you will not be able to make a visit to this ancient town so make sure it is included in your trip plan.
Written 12 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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