Monk Mask Dance of Katok

Katok Festival

Katok Festival

The mystery: Katok Monastery Festival (FK03)

Katok Monastery, one of the six ‘Mother’ Nyingma Monasteries. It was founded by Katok Dampa Deshek, younger brother of Phagmodrupa, in 1159. The monastery had a reputation for fine scholarships and produced some of the greatest scholars in Tibetan history. Its mystery festival is held on 10th of June in Tibetan Calendar almost each year; the date could fall at any date between June 7 to July 31 in the Gregorian calendar. Thangkar unfolding day might be changed by Renpoche at the last minute.

Festival Date:
In June of Tibetan Calendar
June 10th is the day for unfolding Thangkar
Please contact us for the exact dates on the Gregorian Calendar.

D1 & D2: Arrive in Chengdu then to Kangding:
After arrives in Chengdu airport, pickup and transfer to your hotel, assist to check in. Relax in the rest hours of this day by having one visit to the traditional Chinese teahouse at People’s park. On the next day we will drive to Kangding, the gateway town of entering the Tibetan plateau.

D3 & D4: Kangding to Kanze via Tawu:
Along the Northern Sichuan-Tibet highway, we pass through Lhagang monastery to reach Tawu that located in the small basin of Du-chu River, then through Luhuo town onto the pass of Luo-guo-liang-dzi to Kanze, where to visit Kanze monastery and Den Gonpa.

D5: Kanze to Pelyul:
About 10km drive from Kanze we will reach the turn off to Pelyul, from which we head into the valley, then onto the pass of one rocky mountain, about 230km drive on the less inhabitants area, enjoy the stunning nature view, Pelyul located in the wooded area, in deep mountains on both banks of the Jinshajiang River at the Sichuan-Tibet border, there live some Tibetans of patriarchal clan.

D6 & D7: Pelyul to Katok – Katok Monk Mask Dance Festival:

Monk Dance

We will drive along the east bank of Jinsar River, heading south for Horpo village, then into the forest covered valley, drive ascent to the top of the hill, where Katok monastery located, we will witness the mystery festival of Katok, during the two days we stay there.

D8: Katok to Derge:
Departure for Deger in the morning, after arrive in Derge at noon, there are three major sites we are going to visit that are Derge printing house, Derge Gonchen monastery & Tangyel Lhakhang.

D9 & D10: Derge to Serta via Manigango, Kanze:
Heading east to reach Mt. Trola, which is the highest spot of this trip, the pass we are going to get through is 5050m high, descending from this pass, the view is superb, on the way, we will stop by to wander at Yilhun Lhatso that is one of the most beautiful lakes in all Tibetan Cultural Areas, its shores bedecked with carved Mani Stone. The mountain and rocks surrounding the lake are said to assume the divine form of the Cakrasamvara Mandala to those who have pure vision to perceive them. Then proceed drive to Kanze, then from Kanze the road turns to be narrow, and cured in the mountains, when approaching Serta, the view sudden become wide and the great grassland is beyond the small town on the plateau, in this small town we will visit to Serta gonpa.

D11: Serta to Barkham:
Barkham County is the northern limit of the Gyarong region and the language here (considered a branch of the archaic Qangic group of Tibeto-Burman) is almost unintelligible to the Amdo populations further north, and the Khampa peoples to the west. The dress is also distinctive. Most of the women wear multicolored embroidered headscarf and elaborate belts and aprons. Fewer men wear the traditional felt tunic, which is quite distinct from the Tibetan chuba or bulky sheepskin coat. There are almost 40 monasteries in the county, representing the Nyingma, Gelukpa, Sakya, Jomang and Bonpo traditions, Before we enter the town of Barkham, we will stop by to visit one of those monastery of Trokhyab, once one of the most powerful of the 18 ancient kingdoms of Gyarong, but nowadays having the appearance of a small country village.

D12: Barkham to Chengdu:
Starting from Barkham about 9km, we will reach at Dzokji village, which is composed by a fieldstone 5F Tibetan house and a stone fortification built almost one hundred years ago.It’s thought to be one of he oriental architecture wonders, a witness of the traditional Tibetan Official System. After visit to this beautiful Tibetan village we continuing drive along Suomo river upstream to the tunnel where we turn to east, along Ming river all the way to Chengdu basin.

D13: Chengdu to the airport for departure:
After having breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to airport for your departure (transfer timing will depend on the flight schedule).