Day 04:- Lhasa Gyantse
Morning drive to Gyantse via Yamdrok Tso (264 km). Gyantse Area: (Yamdrok Tso, Kumbum, Palkhor Chode) Gyantse is a pastoral town between Lhasa and Shigatse. It is 264 Kilometers southwest of Lhasa and retains the charm of a traditional Tibetan town untouched by modern expansion. It made world headlines in 1904 when Colonel Younghusband led a British Expedition to Tibet and defeated the Tibetan army there. As a cross road on the principal trade route to India, it was once renowned for the excellence of its carpets. The compound, encircled by an impressive wall once contained 19 monasteries presided over by the still fortress perched atop a nearby mountain. Yamdroktso On the old road between Gyantse (4040m) and Lhasa, the dazzling Yamdrok Tso (4441m) can be seen from the summit of the Kamba-la pass (5030m). In clear weather, the lake is a fabulous shade of deep turquoise. Leaving Yamdrok Tso is as spectacular as arriving, since you have to cross the 5045m Karo la, with its awesome roadside views of the Nojin Kangtsang Glacier. Kumbum This building in Gyantse is one of the most unique and magnificent in Tibet consisting of 6 Stories complete with a Buddhist Hall and a prayer hall. It has 112 chapels and its walls are adorned with religious paintings. Built in the 15th Century, it has since then withstood all the ravages of battles and revolutions. Palkhor Chode Monastery Located next to Gyantse's Kumbum, it was founded in the 15th century. It has been remarkably well preserved and many of the statues and paintings inside date back to the time of its founding. Overnight Gyantse.