Tsurphu Monastery
Tsurphu is the seat of the Karmapa or Black Hat branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The 17th Karmapa Lama escaped from Tibet into India in 1999. The Chinese government has effectively punished the monastery by doing no maintenance on the only road. It took two hours to travel several kilometers.
Colorful Thongka
This colorful thongka is adjacent to the Karmapa throne which is visible to the left.
Karmapa Throne
Colorful Mural
Found on the second floor of the assembly hall.
Figure 1
Inside Assembly Hall
Figure 2
Door to Monk Quarters
The heavy fabric shown here provides insulation to the door of the monk quarters.
Watching the Tourists
The old dude and monk are watching us unload from our minibus.
Sister & Brother
These kids were the
beneficiaries of our extra food. The girl particularly liked the bubble gum.
Valley View
The Tsurphu Monastery has a commanding view of the valley.
Out for a Stroll
Drying Carpets
The just washed carpets are laid out on the rocks beside the river to dry.
Approach to Tsurphu
Harvesting
Working in the Fields
Thrashing the Grain
Grazing Yaks
A dozen or so yaks are grazing along this colorful riverbank.
Elderly Woman
Her very
weathered skin is a testament to the arduous life in rural Tibet. The band-aids seem to be made of canvas tape.
Drying Yak Manure
Dried yak manure is used to fuel stoves and provide heat throughout Tibet.
Suggested Tibet Travel Guides
(Order Through Amazon Books - Click on the book name)
As with most Lonely Planet guides, this Tibet edition are invaluable resources for planning your journey. They offer you the most up-to-date information about where to go and where to aviod, how to get there and get around, where to stay at a reasonable rate. The guides provide everything you'll need to know for a rewarding visit.
Mapping the Tibetan World
The strength of this guide is the comprehensive maps it has covering most of Tibet. It also gives summary information about each locale.
Fromers China
A comprehensive guide for China as a whole. It includes a section on Tibet.
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