There are 3 flights a week between Chongqing and Kangding on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; the flight departures at 06:55 with arrival of Daocheng at 08:05am, it takes about 1h10m for the whole air-journey
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Chongqing to Yading flight
There are 4 flights a week between Chongqing and Daocheng on Monday, Wensday, Friday and Sunday; the flight departures at 06:50 with arrival of Daocheng at 08:00am, it takes about 1h10m for the whole air-journey
Yading airport:
Flights in and out Kham
In 2009, Kangding airport opened. 4 years after, another airport in Daocheng opens. There are now 2 airports located in the south and east of Kham, and have flights to the cities of Chengdu, Chongqing, Xian, Luzhou, Hangzhou, Lhasa, Kunming. It not only save a huge amount of time for those, whom want to visit the east Tibet of Kham; but also keep the access to the “isolated” Kham a whole lot easier than ever,
Welcome to visit Kham with flights
Tashilhunpo Monastery
Tashilhunpo Monastery is located in Shigatse, the 2nd largest city of Tibet. Its full name in Tibetan means “all fortune and happiness gathered here” or “heap of glory”. It was built in 1447 AD by the 1st Dalai Lama, and was once inhabited by over 4,000 monks.
Brief
The monastery is the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas, who is repected as the 2ndsecond highest ranking Tulku lineage in the Gelug Pa of Tibetan Buddhism.
Tashilhunpo Monastery was seized by the invasion army of Gorkha Kingdom in 1791 AD, soon they were driven back to Kathmandu by a joint army-force of Tibetan and Chinese, and Gorkha Kingdom bow to accept that to keep peace in the future, paying tribute every five years, and return what they had plundered from Tashilhunpo monastery.
Today, 600 monks still live and study there. The Grand Hall contains the tomb, which was built with more than 85 kilograms gold and many jewels, of the 4th Panchen Lama. There is also a 27 meter high statue of the Maitreya Buddha there.
4 Great & 6 Great Monasteries
It is called One of the 4 Great Gelug Pa Monastery togehter with Ganden monastery, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery; all of the above 4 monasteries together with Labrang monastery currently in Gansu province and Kumbum Monastery currently in Qinghai province are called “The 6 Great Gelug Pa Monastery”
Tashilhunpo Monastery Data
Address & Contact
Add : No. 1, Ji-Jie-Lang-ka Road
Contact : +86 892 882-5220/882-2933
Opening hour
09:00 am – 17:00 pm
The halls are not open from 12:00 pm-14:00 pm
Altitude
3,890 meters
Entrance fee
RMB 100 per person
How to get to there
Tashilhunpo Monastery is located in the west of Shigatse City, it can be reached by foot or by taxi, and it could be fun to take local Rickshaw to get there, which could cost RMB 30 to get to monastery
The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism
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Kangding to Lhasa flight from this June
From June 20th 2015, A Flight between Kangding and Lhasa will be opened; This flight departure from Chengdu at 09:45am, stop by Kangding, then departure again at 11:20am to Lhasa; its return flight leaves Lhasa from 14:00pm, stop by Kangding, and departure again to Chengdu at 16:30pm;
Zutrulpuk Monastery
Zutrulpuk monastery (4,800 meters) is located on the right bank (west) of the Zhong Chu River. It was built around sacred formations that were estimated to have been formed by Milarepa.
Brief
This ascetic had a duel with the sorcerer Naro Bon Chun at this place. In his final fall, Naro Bon Chun caused a large vertical cleft on Mount Kailas’ southern face.
Around the monastery is a large collection of Mani stones and pile of stones and socks carved with Mantra. Zutrulpuk encloses Milarepa’s cave which is capped by a large slab of rock.The top of the slab is said to hold prints of his feet and hands where he pressed down on the roack to make it on the right position.
This is the last spot for spending a night before the end of Kailash Cora, and from this site on, an easier trek brings you back to Darchen.
Zutrulpuk Monastery Data
Address
on the right bank (west) of the Zhong Chu River, 4-5 hours hike from Tarpoche
Opening hour
Full day
Altitude
4,800 meters
Entrance fee
Free of charge
How to get to there
There is no road to Zutrulpuk Monastery, but trail for walk, so this is only option for getting to this site, which can be approached from two directions
The clockwise way
This is the major direction and used by most of the visitors, starting from Tarpoche of Darchen village, it takes about 2 days and one high pass – Drolma La (5,700 meters), approximately 12 – 14 hours walk is needed to reaching this site
The shortcut
This is the way that local people use very often for transporting supply to this monastery, it usually takes about 4 -5 hours walk to the valley junction where you can hitchhike local vehicle or tractor to Darchen or by foot, this is another 1-2 hours walk
The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism
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Drirapuk Monastery
Drirapuk Monastery is located at the “big-turn” on the back of Mount Kailash, in which the White Dragon River, the East Dragon River and Dromala River all joint together. This valley junction leads to three ways, one is to Tarpoche where the trek start, another one leads to the Drolma La pass (5,700 meters above sea level), the third valley leads northwest to Indus River Source.
Brief
Drirapuk in Tibetan means “cave of female yak horn”. It is named due to its walls bear indentations of a dri’s horn. It encloses a retreat cave associated with the great “Yogin Gotsangpa” whom stayed in this monastery from 1213 to 1217. “Yogin Gotsangpa” was a disciple of one of Milarepa’s disciples and is known at the author of the 1st history and guide book of Mount Kailash.
Drirapuk Monastery is an important post for pilgrims or visitors to rest before they walk onto the Droma la pass (5,700 meters). It is about 22-23 kilometers from Darchen and there are few simple tent-guesthouses.
Drirapuk Monastery Data
Address
Close to the bridge ascending to Dromala pass, Mt Kailash
Opening hour
Full day
Altitude
4,950 meters
Entrance fee
Free of Charge
How to get to there
Ali airport is the closest airport to Mt Kailash. The distance is 360 km which requires at least 6-7 hours’ drive; Then arrive at Darchen, which is the trek start, a walk of 6-7 hours is needed for reach Drirapuk monastery from Darchen.
There was no road for vehicle to reach this remote monastery. However, due to countless pilgrims, visitors walking along the valley, a small trail gradually becomes a larger trail that allows tractor to get through which is mostly used for transporting goods and supplies to this monastery; Since the trail from Tarpoche to Drirapuk is the start of Kailash cora, so it is strongly recommend not to take tractor to reach this monastery unless you have physical injure.
From Drirapuk Monastery we’ll cross the small bridge to the trail leading to Shiwachal, a bizarre field with many scattered clothing. The pilgrims have left some personal items, including, a piece of cloth. Then, you’ll continue up to the highest point of Kailas Kora, 5,700 meters high Drolma La. Being the focus of Kailas Kora, pilgrims leave tokens like coins or longda, or attach a prayer flag.
Kunsha Airport
Add: Gar Xian, Ngari
IATA Code: NGQ
Altitude: 4,270 meters
Contact: +86 897 2891888
Ngari Bus Station
Address: Opposite the Ngari Post Office,
Contact: +86 897 2826591
Altitude: 4,300 meters
Working hours: 07:00 am – 17:30 pm
The Four Major Sects of Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism Icons
Choku Gompa
Choku Gompa is about 2 kilometers from Tarpoche. Its elevation is about 4820 meters above sea level. It is a kagyu Pa monastery, located on the cliff that faces the western bank of Lha Chu River.
Brief
It was founded in the 13th century as a shrine, and houses a white stone statue of Buddha Opame and a sacred silver embossed conch shell, which was said to belong to Milarepa. The founder of Choku Gompa was Gotshangpa Gompo Pel, whom was a Drukpa Kagyu disciple of Tsangpa Gyare, the orignal Guru and celebrated discoverer of the great Tsari pilgrimage, and a cave near the back of this monastery belongs to him.
Inside the Gompa, the center of the back wall is one unique , orignal Thangkar image of Nangwa Thaye, known as Choku Renpoche.
Below this monastery is the Langchen Bepuk which means Hidden Elephant Cave where Padmasambhava stayed and meditated when he came to Mt Kailash. From Chouku Gompa, the view on the south face of Kailash is stunning, and photos are strictly forbidden to the shrines, because in 1991 a group of art thieves from Nepal and working for western art dealers broke into this gompa and stole 16 ancient statues. Two of them were arrested and admitted that they stole to order, and they use “tourist’s” photo to find out the inside detail. This shall help to understand why the strictly forbidden on photo inside.
Choku Gompa Data
Address
In The valley stretch from Mt Kailash
2 kilometers from Tarpoche
Opening hour
Full day
Altitude
4,800 meters
Entrance fee
Free of charge
How to get to there
Choku Gompa is located at Tarpoche which is the “start” of Kailash Cora trek. In general you will need to get to Darchen first, and then by foot to reach this monastery.
The nearest airport is Ali airport, and then by vehicle to get to Darchen
Starting from Darchen, there are two ways to reach this monastery, one is to climb down from Buddha’s Platform directly to the trail; another one is to cross over the bridge to reach this site from the main trail that circle Mount Kailash
Ngari Kunsha Airport
Add: Gar Xian, Ngari
IATA Code: NGQ
Altitude: 4,270 meters
Contact: +86 897 2891888
Ngari Bus Station
Address: Opposite the Ngari Post Office,
Contact: +86 897 2826591
Altitude: 4,300 meters
Working hours: 07:00 am – 17:30 pm
