Amdo Labrang Culture Tour
Labrang Monastery,also known as Labrang Tashikyil,
or simply Labrang
Gonpa,was founded in 1710 by the First Jamyang-zhaypa,(1648-1722),in the
Amdo province (A-mdo) of northeastern Tibet.It lies 250 kilometers
southwest of Lanzhu,and is presently included in southwestern Kansu
(Gansu) Province of China,near the border of Chinghai (Qinghai)Province.
It is counted among the six major monasteries of the Gelugpa Tradition.
The
First Jamyang-zhaypa,also known as a disciple of the Fifth Dalai
Lama,Ngawang-lozang-gyatso (1617-1682),was from Amdo and had studied
sutra at Gomang College of Drepung Monastery (Bras-spungs dGon-pa) and
tantra at Gyumay Lower Tantric College.He authored the Kunkyen textbooks
later used at Gomang,Drepung Deyang College, and Labrang.
When
he was Abbot of Gomang, Jamyang-zhaypa was requested by Ganden Erdene
Junang, the Mongol King of Kokonor, to return to Amdo where many Mongols
lived among the Tibetans. Jamyang-zhaypa accepted, and on the eve of
his departure, the Gadong State Oracle prophesied that he would found a
monastery in Amdo called Tashikyil. In establishing this
monastery,Jamyang-zhaypa adopted the Drepung rules of discipline and
chanting style for the main temple, and the Gomang style of debate.
Jamyang-zhaypa
himself gave the name Genden-shaydrub Tashi-kunnay-kyilway-ling to his
new monastery.The Second Panchen Lama,Losang-yeshey (Pan-chen Blo-bzang
ye-shes) (1663-1737),gave it a second name, Ganden
Damcho-shaydrub-dargyey-ling. "Labrang" means the residence of a great
Lama.The monastery in general became known as Labrang, or Labrang
Tashikyil, after the residence of Jamyang-zhaypa.The line of his
reincarnations,the Jamyang-zhaypa Rinpoches,have been the traditional
heads of the Labrang Monastery.
There has always been a strong
connection between Labrang Tashikyil and the Mongols. Many lineages from
Labrang, such as that of Kalachakra (Du -khor),spread to the Mongolian
monasteries.The Buryat,Kalmyk,and Tuvinian regions of Russia used
exclusively the Kunkyen textbooks of Jamyang-zhaypa.Many monasteries in
Inner and Outer Mongolia used them as well.In Lhasa,the Mongols mostly
studied at Gomang and Gyumay,as did Jamyang-zhaypa.
Highlights:
Duration: 04Daysdays
Destination: Lanzhou,Labrang Monastery,
Maximum Altitude: 2500mm
Best Season: Jan-Oct
Photo Spot: Labrang Monastery
Day 01 ARRIVE LANZHOU STATION
Arrival in Lanzhou and transfer to Xiahe. You will be picked up from Lanzhou airport or train station and transferred to Xiahe. This takes about 5 hours, including a stop in Linxia for bite to eat. Around Lanzhou, we can see many houses made of earth and the mountains are dry and brown. After three hours driving, we come into the beautiful green mountains of Xiahe.
Day02 EXCURSION
Today you will visit the Labrang Monastery. This is the largest Tibetan monastery outside of Tibet province. It houses more than 2000 monks from the Yellow Hat tradition and there are 6 schools of Buddhist teachings. In the morning you will join in with the monastery tour. A monk from the monastery guides this tour in English. In the afternoon, our guide will take you to see the nunnery, with its many sky nuns, and the tantric Red Kap monastery. If you wish, you can climb up one of the hills surrounding the monastery for a bird's eye view of the whole complex.
Day03 DRIVE TO SONGKOK GRASSLAND
This day you will go to the spectacular Sangke grasslands. On these vast grasslands you will see herds of yaks and sheep, and you will enjoy some short hiking trips. You will also be able to visit a nomad tent, where you will surely be invited for some tsampa, which is the Tibetan staple food consisting of ground barley mixed with butter and boiling water. Also you can taste the delicious Tibetan yak milk tea. You can easily spent the whole day roaming around the grasslands, enjoying the scenery and the beautifully dressed Tibetan nomads.
Day 4 DRIVE TO LANZHOU
Today you will go back to Lanzhou via the Bingling caves. Here you can see 694 Buddhist images carved into the cliffs of a 60 meter high gorge. The most beautiful image is a 27 meter high statue of the Future Buddha Maitreya. To reach Bingling, you first go by car to the pier, then travel about one hour by speedboat across the Liujiaxia reservoir. Here the scenery is stunning with soaring cliffs on both sides. After visiting Bingling, you again have to travel for about one hour back by speedboat before you continue by car to Lanzhou airport or train station.
* Land Transfer by TOYOTA Landcruiser & Van,
* Tibet travel permit.
* Tibetan English speaking guide during the tour
* Twin sharing accommodation as per tour program
* Staff insurance
* Monasteries entrance fees and Grassland fee/Pax and Vehicles,Kailash Kora fee.
* Lunch & dinner (besides camping section),
* Travel insurance,
* Tips for guide and driver,
* Airfare or Train ticket.
* Airfare