Ganden-Samye Trekking
Ganden monastery: Located roughly 45km east of Lhasa, Ganden is a Geluk monastery founded in 1409 by Tsongkhapa on the Gokpori ridge of Mount Wangkur. Additions in later centuries increased its capacity to support more than 5,000 monks. Ganden was dynamited to rubble during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960’s. Later in the 1990’s, buildings covering an area of 11,000 square meters had been renovated with 41 kilos of gold utilized to reguild the roofs, and 1,660 square meters of murals restored over the last four years.
Named after the paradise of Maitreya, Ganden was the first and foremost Gelukpa monastery, constructed by Tsongkapa himself. The site, where he himself meditated was known to have had ancient associations with King Songtsen Gampo and his queens in that Mount Wangkur was named after a coronation ceremony performed on the birth day of the king. The sacred Jowo Rinpoche image of Lhasa is said to have indicated the significance of the site to Tsongkhapa. The Assembly Hall (Tsokchen) was built in 1917 and the two colleges of the Ganden known as Jangtse (North point) and Shartse ( East Point) were respectively founded by two of his closest disciples, respectively Namka Pelzangpo and Neten Rongyelwa. A tantric college (Gyultra) was also established by another of his students named Je Sherab Senge.
Following the death of Tsongkapa in 1419, the succession passed first to Gyeltsabje and later to Khedrupje. In this way, the Ganden Tripa (Throne-holder of Ganden) came to preside over the Gelukpa School, each generally holding office for seven years (although originally longer periods of office were observed).
Samye monastery: This monastery is deservedly the most popular destination for travelers in the Central Tibet region. Surrounded by barren mountains and dramatic sand dunes and approached via a beautiful river crossing, the monastery has a magic about it that causes many travelers to stay longer than they had intended. Samye monastery was Tibet’s very first monastery and has a history that spans more than 1200 years. It was founded in the reign of King Trisong Detsen, who was born close by, though the exact date is subject to some debate-probably between 756 and 780. Shortly after founding the monastery, Tibet’s first seven monks (the seven examined men) were ordained here by the monastery’s Indian abbot, Shantarakshita (Kende Shewa) and Indian and Chinese scholars were invited to assist in the translation of Buddhist texts into Tibetan. Samye’s most common icons are of the Khenlop Chosum-the trinity of Guru Rinpoche, King Trisong Detsen and Shantararakshita, the first abbot of Samye.
Samye has been damaged and restored many times throughout its long history. The most recent assault on its antiquity was by the Chinese during the Cultural Revolution. Extensive renovation work has been going on since the mid-1980s and there are now 190 monks at the monastery.
Summary: The best time for the trek is from mid-May to mid –October. Summer can be wet but the mountains are at their greenest and wildflowers color the alpine meadows. Barring heavy snow, it’s also possible for those with a lot of trekking experience and the right gear to do this trek in the colder months. This demanding trek crosses two passes over 5000m, connects two of Tibet’s most important monasteries and begins less than 50km from Lhasa. It has emerged as the most popular trek in Central Tibet. Please click here to inquire about this trip.
Itinerary
Days 1-4: Lhasa After a short flight over the Himalayan Mountains, we arrive in Lhasa, enjoy a welcome reception, and rest. While acclimatizing in Lhasa, we’ll explore the city by walking around the Barkhor Square and mingling with Tibetan pilgrims. We will visit Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Sera Monastery to learn about Tibetan architecture, history, and culture. You’ll meet Tibetan artisans and scholars to learn more about Tibetan folk arts such as painting, wood curving, and handcrafts.
Days 5-6: We begin our journey with a trip to Ganden monastery before heading back to Trushe village, where we will meet with our Yak and Yak herders to gear up for our trek. We will make camp here at Trushe in the view of our approach to Shuga La, our highest pass and peak of the trek, in the distance. Traversing the west side of the ridge from the saddle, you briefly get views of Hepo village up inside the valley and Kyichu valley to the west. In the coming days we’ll ascend to Hepo Village, Yama Do and crest Shuga La before descending into the Tsodup Chu valley and Chitul Gang.
Days 7-8: From Chitul Gang we will descend down to Palang Tsodu lake, a small glacial tarn at the base of Chitul-La ( 5210m). From there we continue down at a leisurely pace through the valley and cross numerous seasonal herder’s camps. Blossomed scrub willow and rosebushes are abundant making the whole valley incredibly beautiful. The next three hours on the trail is the most delightful of the entire trek. According to local woodcutters, more than 15 types of trees and shrubs are found here, some growing as high as 6m. Fragrant junipers grow on exposed south-facing slopes, while rhododendrons prefer the shadier slopes. The rhododendrons start to bloom early May and by the end of the month the forest is ablaze with pink and white blossoms. The wide and easy trail ahead leads us to Changthang, the first village since Hepo. From Nyengo village we travel to our lodgings at the Samye monastery guesthouse.
Days 9-10: We explore Tibet’s oldest monastery in the morning and then drive to Tsedang in the afternoon. We rest there after having a good meal and hot shower in the hotel. Next we travel on to Tsedang city in the Yarlung Valley. Yarlung is considered the cradle of Tibetan civilization. It was from Yarlung that the early Tibetan Kings unified Tibet in the 7th century and their massive burial mounds still dominate the area around Chongye.
Days 11-12: We visit three culturally important ancient sites; Trandruk Monastery, Yumbolhakang and the Chongye Burial Mounds. Trandruk monastery is one of the earliest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, having been founded at the same time as the Jokhang and Ramoche in Lhasa, and dating back to the 7th century reign of King Songtsen Gampo. Yumbolhakang is the oldest building in Tibet. At least that is the claim for the original structure-most of what can be seen today dates from 1982. It is still a remarkably impressive sight, with a lovely setting. There has been no conclusive dating of the original Yumbulhakang, although some accounts indicate that the foundations may have been laid more than 2000 years ago. It is more likely that is dates from the 7th century, when Tibet first came under the rule of Songtsen Gampo. The Chongye Burial Mounds encasing the tombs of the kings of Chongye represent one of the few historical sites in the country that gives any evidence of a pre-Buddhist culture in Tibet. Most of the kings interred here are now firmly associated with the rise of Buddhism on the high plateau, but the methods of their interment point to the Bon faith. The most revered of the mounds, and the closest to the main road, is the Tomb of Songtsen Gampo. It is the largest of the burial mounds and has a small Nyingmapa temple atop its 13m high summit. In Lhasa we will rest and have a free day to visit sites and local bazaars before our departure for Chengdu or other destinations.
Arrival: You have option of coming into Lhasa from Nepal or Mainland China. Once you are accepted to the program, you’ll receive our Trip Logistics Guide. It will include all the essential information you’ll need to obtain a Chinese visa and make other necessary preparations for the trip. The guide includes suggested travel gear, a recommended reading list, a day-to-day itinerary, health and safety information, and other key information to make your trip successful and safe. You will receive your Tibet Permit from us in any cities in Mainland China.
