Shigatse & Gyangtse Archives - Explore Tibet

Shigatse
Shigatse is the capital of Tsang province (western Tibet), is 380km west of Lhasa via Gyantse through the southern friendship highway and 280km west of Lhasa via the northern friendship highway along the river. It is the second-largest city in Tibet and is home to the Tashilhunpo Monastery, traditionally the seat of the Panchen Lama.

The traffic of Shigatse is very convenient, it takes about 3 hours to travel between Lhasa and Shigatse by train. It is possible to get back to Lhasa on the same day by train. Shigatse Peace Airport is the Tibet’s fifth commercial airport. The airport will be capable of supporting 230,000 passengers annually by 2020. China National Highway 318 and China National Highway 219 are the main roads in and out of Shigatse.

Because of its proximity to India, Shigatse was one of the first towns in Tibet to be visited by Westerners. Shigatse has a population of about 40,000 and after Lhasa is the second largest town in Tibet. The tourist sights in Shigatse are composed of great natural sites and grand monasteries.

Gyantse
Gyantse was historically considered the third largest and most prominent town in the Tibet region (after Lhasa, and Shigatse). Lying on a historic trade route between India and Tibet, Gyantse has long been a crucial link for traders and pilgrims journeying across the Himalaya.

Gyantse’s greatest sight is Gyantse Kumbum, the largest chörten remaining in Tibet and one of its architectural wonders. Besides, there’s plenty more to see also with good hotels and restaurants, and it is very nice to explore nearby monasteries or wander the town’s charming back streets.

Shigatse & Gyangtse

Gyantse Dzong

Chinese Name: 江孜宗 English Name: Gyantse Dzong Tibetan Name: རྒྱལ་རྩེ་རྫོང། Location: perched high above the town of Gyantse on a...

Yamdrok Lake

Yamdrok Lake Yamdrok Lake (Yamdrok Yutso in Tibetan dialect) is situated near central city of Tibet called Lhasa which covers 363...

Summer Palace of Panchen Lamas

Chinese Name:班禅新宫 English Name: Summer Palace of Panchen Lamas Location: The Summer Palace of Panchen Lamas is situated far below the Tashilhunpo...

Kyirong Pakba Monastery

Pakba Monastery is located in the “holy city” Kyirong town, known as a commercial hub for Tibet- Nepal, and Tibet-India in ancient...

Mt.Everest & Everest base Camp (EBC)

Everest (8850m) the highest mountain in the world also called as Jomolhangma in Tibetan, which literally means Female Incarnated Giant...

Lake Paiku

Lake Paiku or Peiku Tso in Tibetan is located in Nyalam County of Shigatse, Tibet. It is the biggest lake in...

Ralung monastery

Ralung monastery is originally the seat for the Drukpa Kagyu order in Tibetan Buddhism that locates near the south of...

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse Tashi Lhunpo monastery is located in Shigatse town which is the second largest city...

Rongbuk Monastery

The highest monastery in the world called Rongpu, Rongphu, Rongbuk or originally Dzarongpu that locates on an altitude of 4980...

Shalu Monastery

Around 68km from Gyangtse taking off from the main road for 5km takes you to the Shalu monastery established in...

Nojin Kangsang Glacier

Mt.Noijin Kangsang (7,206m / 23,641ft) is the closest major Himalayan peak to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. The name of...

Sakya monastery

Sakya or Pel Sakya monastery is located 25 kilometer away from the Sakya Bridge on the friendship highway to...

Samding Monastery

Samding Monastery Moreover, the head of the monastery is Droji Phagmo, is a female incarnated...

Gyangtse Kumbum Stupa and Palcho Monastery

Chinese name: 十万佛塔& 白居寺 English Name: Pelkor Chode Monastery or Palcho Monastery Tibetan Name: རྒྱང་རྩེ་དཔལ་སྐོར་ཆོས་སྡེ།། Location: At the northeast of Gyantse County,...