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The Ruins of Guge Kingdom
Creation and destruction by war
From Lhasa westward, almost all the way across the Tibet Plateau, are the ruins of the Guge kingdom, a mysterious territory in the west part of Ngari with Gar as its political centre, and to the west and southwest Nepal and India.
The Guge kingdom, whose past glory and civilisation is represented only by the Tsada earth forest, is one of China's first national monuments. It was founded in about the tenth century by a descendant of King Lang Darma, who fled from Lhasa after the collapse of the Tubo kingdom. The ancient kingdom played an important role in the second renaissance of Tibet and survived for some seven hundred years before disappearing mysteriously in the seventeenth century.
The ruins, lying on a hilltop near a river, cover 1,937,500 square feet (180,000 square meters). Houses, cave dwellings, monasteries, and stupas were all found on the hill and in the surrounding area. Palaces were set at the summit, while monasteries were perched on the hillside and cave dwellings for the common people were at the foot. The kingdom was enclosed by tunnels and walls that acted as fortifications. Some structures have survived time and remain in good condition in this isolated region, though many structures have been reduced to dust. A one-and-a- quarter-mile-long (2 km) tunnel built of stone was used for a water supply by the Guge people.
The Guge kingdom is well known for its murals, sculptures, and stone inscriptions, which are to be seen on the surviving structures. Among them, murals from the White Palace, the Red Palace, Yamantaka Chapel, Tara Chapel, and Mandala Chapel are preserved in good condition, although they are hundreds of years old. The murals feature the stories of Buddha.
The walls of Guge are like a library of stone inscriptions, which are as impressive as its murals are. Most sculptures in the Guge style are gold and silver Buddhas. Around the ruins are weapons of the Guge people, and there are mummies that are probably Guge soldiers, the only representations of people of a once glorious kingdom.
With an area extending about 119,700 square miles (310,000 square kilometres) - one quarter of Tibet - and an average elevation of 14,760 ft (4500 m), Ngari has seven counties and also includes the town of Gar. These are inhabited by a population of about 70,000. Known as "the roof of the roof of the world" it boasts many scenic places, such as the ruins of the Guge kingdom, the Pabghong Tso Lake, Mount Kailashi, Mount Namonani, and the holy lake of Manasarovar.
Ngari is also a paradise for animals, including Tibetan donkeys, Tibetan antelopes, and wild yaks. It is the second biggest base for animal husbandry in Tibet.
Location
The ruins of the Guge kingdom, with the average elevation of more than 14,760 ft (4500m), and located in Ngari in the west of Tibet 11 miles (18km) from Zanda county proper.
Climate
It is very cold throughout the whole year, the best months being May, June, September, and October.
Of Special Interest
The Guge Kingdom, which was established around the tenth century, came to an end in the seventeenth century. Its natural and cultural attractions remain a major interest for international tourists.
Main Attractions
The ruins of the Guge kingdom, Tsada earth forest, Tholing Monastery, Mount Kailash ("Sacred Mountain," Gang Rimpoche in Tibetan), Lake Manasarova ("Holy Lake").
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