Gyanze and their 77 temples
Trip Start
Feb 17, 2010
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84
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Trip End
Jan 18, 2011
Gyangze, Xizang, China
Sunday, October 17, 2010
At the time of the Chinese occupation (or "cultural revolution" as it is called among the Chinese) in 1952, Gyantse had a population of perhaps 8,000 people, it now has about the same. At 3,977 meters (13,050 ft) above sea level, it is higher than most places on earth.
The main attraction in town is the Palcho Monastery. Similar to the Tashilhunpo Monastery of Shigatse, this monastery serves as the centerpiece of the town and its activities. The most notable feature of the Monastery is the Kumbum. This religious structure contains 77 chapels in its six floors. Each chapel is illustrated with a different image of the Buddha. In total there are over 10,000 murals, many showing a strong Nepali influence. They are the last of its kind to be found in Tibet, and are very unique. I have included several pictures of the chapels as a sample of the variety. During my tour I made it a point to visit each of the 77 temples just like a faithful pilgrim. However, I didn't leave a donation at each one (only a few), nor did I take a picture of each of the 77 – that is just too many!
I feel as this is perhaps one of the more unique portions of my trip, yet I have provided so little detail. As I said in my previous post, I haven’t found time to write a comprehensive story, so the pictures will have to suffice.
With Lasting Memories,
Brian Brady
