Brief information on Yumbulagang Palace  

Yumbulagang is an antique fort in the district of Naidong County, nearby Tsetang in Shannan Area. Perched on the mountain top, the towering and outstanding Yumbulagang looks like a blockhouse. “Yumbu” means female deer, Jormo Zhaxi Ceri Mountain took this name after its shape. “Lagang” means sacred palace. In Tibetan dialect, Jormo Zhaxi Ceri also means “auspicious mountain”. About 400 meters northeast from the mountain, there is an ever-flowing spring called “Geer spring”. Local people believe that the spring can cure any disease, so most people who come to Yumbulagang to worship will come here to drink the waters and bathe in them.

Yumbulagang, also called “palace of mother and son”, is counted as the first building in Tibet, with a history of over 2,000 years. It is said that it was built for Nyatri Tsanpo, the first Tibetan King, by Bon believers in the 2nd century BC. Then it became the summer palace of Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng. The 5th Dalai Lama changed it to the monastery of the Old-Yellow Hat Sect (Kadamspa).

Now the Yumbulagang Palace is mainly dedicated to the worship of Shakyamuni Buddha, but wall paintings vividly show the first king of Tibet, the first architecture of Tibet, as well as the first tilled land in Tibet.

Yumbulagang is largely divided into a front part and a back. The front part is a multi-layer palace but it is well matched to the back part, the square watchtower of a high blockhouse.

In the 7th century AD, Songtsen Gampo moved the capital city of Tibet to Lhasa, and then Yumbulagang gradually became a Buddhist palace. The ground floor is the palace of ancient Tibetan Kings. In the middle you can see a statue of Buddha with statues of Songtsen Gampo to the right and Nyatri Tsanpo on the left. Along the right wall are statues of Tibetan rulers - Heyebabu, Wusong, and Songtsen Gampo’s other minister Ka Dongzhan. While along the left wall are statues of Songtsen Gampo’s capable minister Sanbuzha Tritsong Detsen and Tibetan ruler Totonianzhan. The statues of Avalokitesvara and Sakyamuni are enshrined on the first floor.

Standing on the top of the tower house, you can enjoy the splendid panoramic view of the valley, and dream of the ancient legends of this palace. Nowadays, besides the rooms for the monks in the palace, there is a bedroom for Dalai Lamas who come here to do religious service.

*You can download the bilingual note to show it to a taxi driver or someone else to find your way to Yumbulagang Palace if you plan to visit Yumbulagang Palace and have language problems.

   

Hours: 24 hours
Adress: Tsetang, Naidong County, Shannan Area, Tibet
Transportation: The most convenient way to Yumbulagang is to rent a motor tricycle.