Tibet: Gyantse Monastery & Kumbum
This 14th century monastic complex in the town of Gyantse in central Tibet consists of a monastery, a walled city, a clifftop fortress or dzong, and an absolutely unique stupa or Kumbum. It’s one of the most important monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism, and as far as Kumbums go – this is the biggest such structure in the world. A Kumbum is a stupa-like building with 9 floors containing 108 gates leading to 76 chapels with Buddhist figures in each of them. The first five floors are square and the rest are circular. Secret passages lead up to the top floor (in fact I was the only person in our tour group to get to the top). Bizarre and mesmerizing at the same time – it’s truly spectacular to explore!
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