The Yarlung Valley south of Tsetang |
Yumbulagang, 13 km south of Tsetang |
Yumbulagang, considered to be the oldest building in Tibet |
Yarlung Valley, the "Cradle of Tibetan Civilization" |
Most of the current structure was reconstructed in 1982 after damage from the Cultural Revolution |
Yumbulagang - summer palace of King Songsten Gampo and Princess Wencheng, 7th Century |
The road from Tsetang |
Yumbulagang, worth the drive from Lhasa |
You can walk to the top, take a 2 humped camel, a small horse, or.... |
....a highly decorated Yak! |
I voted for the yak |
Although the yak was mentioned in my itinerary, the guide insisted it was not included |
...another set of annoying phone calls back to the office and yes, the yak was included |
Me on a yak |
The tourist village below Yumbulagang |
Riding the yak to the Yumbulagang |
Yumbulagang village |
Hoopoe, a very distinctive and colorful bird (Upupa epops) |
It's a bit like what I'd imaging it's like to ride a cow |
I can't say the yak was too enthousiastic about the whole thing |
Tourist Tibet |
The climb to Yumbulagang |
View of Yumbulagang Village from the yak trail |
Yumbulagang Village |
Yak and yak-man |
Legend puts the founding of Yumbulagang to the first king of Tibet, Nyatri Tsenpo in the 2nd Century BC |
Yumbulagang now houses a shrine |
The rocky peaks behind Yumbulagang covered with prayer flags |
Climbing behind Yumbulagang |
Fellow tourists at Yumbulagang |
Prayer-flag covered mountain behind Yumbulagang |
Each piece of colored cloth is printed with a Tibetan prayer |
View of Yumbulagang from the behind |
Yumbulagang |
Yumbulagang's tower 11m tall |
Prayer flags at Yumbulagang |
Prayer flags are only used in Tibetan Buddhism |
Prayer flags come in 5 colors |
Kids climbing the mountain at Yumbulagang |
Prayer flags blowing in the strong wind |
View from the second peak |
The wind blowing prayers to heaven and blessing the countryside |
Yumbulagang and prayer flags |
Yumbulagang |
It's worth the effort to climb the mountain behind Yumbulagang |
Yumbulagang and the Yarlung Valley |
Yumbulagang and the Yarlung Valley |
Looking south across the Yarlung Valley |
Prayer flags with colors representing the elements |
Tower of Yumbulagang with prayer flags |
The road climbing to Yumbulagang |
Colorful Tibetan prayer flags |
Small outlying building, Yumbulagang |
The tower of Yumbulagang |
Prayer wheels, Yumbulagang |
South side of Yumbulagang |
Yarlung Valley |
Chörten (chedi, stupa) |
Yumbulagang is rather small close up |
Prayer wheels and oven, Yumbulagang |
Yumbulagang from the forecourt |
Old woman being helped down the steep steps |
Interior chapel dedicated to the kings of Tibet with Buddha statue (Jowo Norbu Sampel Gulyendho) |
2nd level terrace, Yumbulagung |
Yarlung Zorthang, the first cultivated field in Tibet marked by a stone monument |
Yumbulagang |
Yumbulagang |
Yumbulagang |
Yumbulagang |
I'll walk down, thanks |
Stones piled along the trail |
Yak with Yumbulagang |
Sign at Yumbulagang |
Tibetan visitor to Yumbulagang |
China Post, Yumbulagang |
Driver paying the parking fee |
Men passing time playing a game |
A small monastery, Riwo Cholung Gompa, high on a hill above the Yarlung Valley (N29.179/E91.791) |
Small temple with a Chinese-style roof, Yarlung Valley |