Drigung Til Monastery

The Drigung Til Monastery survived the Cultural Revolution better than many other religious sites in Tibet. Tucked away on a high, steep slope, the monastery seems to be a watchful eye over the Zhorung-chu Valley below. As you can imagine, from its height, it offers some of the best views in the area.

From the courtyard, a full 180-degree panorama delights visitors who make the winding and high trip up into the mountains. The original shape is still somewhat intact, even after being established for close to 1000 years. It serves as the head of the Drigungpa School with around 200 monks residing within its walls. Statues of Jigten Sumgon, founder of the temple, as well as a Skyamuni and Guru Rinpoche are housed here. Drigung Til is also known for its famous sky burials. It is one of the holiest and revered locations for these unique death rites. People from hundreds of miles away, coming from the remotest corners of the province, travel to Drigung Til with their deceased loves ones to give them a proper and holy sky-burial. While it is one of the fewer tourist-populated sites, it is at the top of the list for spectacular sights.

Admission: 30rmb