Article Hike over Shigatse

For most tourists begins the tour around Shigatse at the entrance to Tashilhunpo monastery. At the same time it is also the beginning of this tour. The first destination – chorten on the ridge high above the monastery is also nice visible from here.

 

If you want to get to the outlook point over the town, do not enter through the gate to the monastery, but walk along the sacred kora route leading along the monastery wall. On the way you will enjoy hundreds of prayer wheels.
 

The first proper view on this walk is a bit behind the monumental wall thanka. You have the entire monastery at your fingertips from here, plus the entire valley of Nyang river. You will leave kora at this place and start to ascend up to the ridge. From there you will not meet a living soul.
 

From the same place is also a great view of Shigatse (3 850 m asl), including its beautiful landmark – Shigatse Dzong. The mountains on the other side of the river can serve as a great outlook point at sunrise.
 

Fortress in Shigatse is its beautiful landmark. But it had an unsettled fate. It was completely demolished during the „Cultural“ revolution in 1961. Fortunately, it was reconstructed after year 2000 according to contemporary photographs. In fact, it is a small copy of Potala in Lhasa.

 

The ascent itself is a bit intuitive, because there is no direct trail to the ridge from this side. But climbing is not very difficult; you will only sometimes need a hand to help. With increasing altitude is a nice view not only of Shigatse, but also of the wide valley of Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra).
 

After 45 minutes ascent from the trail of the sacred circle kora you finally stand at the beautiful chorten that is full of prayer flags.
 

The atmosphere on the ridge in about 4 150 meters asl is indescribable. Except for you and thousands of flags there is nobody and the views of all sides are wonderful.
 

Directly far below you lies Tashilhunpo monastery, where this walk began. Nicely visible is also the kora around its walls.

In the north direction is the view only into the desolate valley surrounded by four thousand high meters mountains.
 

Descent path is already much more pleasant. From the pass on the ridge leads already comfortable path to the fort. It is a good choice for those who do not want to ascend the rocky slopes from the monastery.
 

Path to the fort descends through not distinct depression between the surrounding rocks.
 

From the pass descends the path already comfortably through a small valley and before you are other beautiful views of the fort.
 

The descent is very fast, in about half an hour you're at the fort.
 

Walk down from the fort to a busy main boulevard, where this walk ends. It is only a slightly more than one kilometer back to the monastery along the street. Views of the fortress, from a slightly different angle, accompany you all the time.