Pabonka Monastery on a hillside not far past Sera Monastery |
Lonely Planet recommended the one hour walk between Pabonka and Sera |
After much arguing with the inflexable guide (not reasonable with a group of 1) and many phone calls she agreed |
Given that there's a nice view of north side of Potola Palace from Pabonka, I did not consider it far out of the way |
Paintings and gold inscriptions, Rigsum Gonpo Temple, Pabonka Monastery |
11-headed Chenresig, Rigsum Gonpo Temple, Pabonka Monastery |
Yab-yum "father-mother" associated with Tantric Buddhism |
Famous carved mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" of Rigsum Gonpo Temple, Pabonka Monastery |
Pabonka Potrang built on top of Pabonka Rock |
Pabonka Potrang built on top of Pabonka Rock |
Palden Lhamo Cave in the side of Pabonka Rock |
Palden Lhamo Cave, Pabonka Monastery |
Green Tara, Palden Lhamo Cave |
Palden Lhamo Cave, Pabonka Monastery |
Entrance to the Pabonka Potrang on top of Pabonka Rock |
Wall mural "Mongol leading the tiger" representing supremacy of the Gelugpa sect over their rival red hat sect |
"Four Friends" elephant, monkey, hare and partridge from Tittira Jataka legend |
Jasa Podrang (Temple of Princess Wencheng) with the remains of 108 chortens |
Pabonka Monastery |
Monk of Pabonka Monastery |
Kitchen, Pabonka Monastery |
Dining hall, Pabonka Monastery |
Pabonka Monastery |
Pabonka Monastery |
Fresh October snow on the mountains above Lhasa |
Stupa at Pabonka Monastery |
The Potola Palace in the center of Lhasa 7 km to the south of Pabonka |
Pabonka Monastery |
Hermitage of Tashi Chöling, a 20 min climb from Pabonka |
Trail leading around the mountain to Chupsang Nunnery |
I told the guide she could go with the driver and meet me in one hour at Sera Monastery |
Looking back to Pabonka from the Chupsang trail |
Pabonka Monastery |
Looking down at the newly paved road leading up to Pabonka Monastery |
I didn't find the trail particularly difficult |
...but shockingly the Tibetan guide was unable to handle it and eventually turned back leaving me on my own |
Trail from Pabonka Monastery to Chupsang Nunnery |
Well-worn carved steps between the monastery and the nunnery |
Chupsang Nunnery, home to around 80 nuns |
Trailside shrine near Chupsang Nunnery |
Chupsang Nunnery |
Chupsang Nunnery |
Chupsang Nunnery |
Chupsang Nunnery |
Not wanting to be late to meet the guide at Sera, I didn't linger at Chupsang |
Shrine with rock paintings, Chupsang Nunnery |
Rock paintings, Chupsang Nunnery |
Rock paintings, Chupsang Nunnery |
Leaving Chupsang Nunnery for Sera Monastery |
Leaving Chupsang Nunnery for Sera...but this trail lead back to the valley, not over the mountain like I had hoped |
Descending to the outskirts of Lhasa |
...that's the way I had wanted to go...but too late now |
I had to skirt a walled off military area |
The correct "high road" trail to Sera is somewhere up there |
Arriving at Sera Monatery by the "low road" after a nice 1 hour hike from Pabonka |
The only shanties I had seen in Tibet, outside Sera Monastery |
Sera Monastery |
Outlying building of Sera Monastery still a burned out ruin from the bad days |
Sera Monastery, one of the Six Great Gelugpa institutions |
The Chöding Hermitage above Sera Monastery that I had been planning to hike past |
Map of Sera Monastery |
The guide had been insisting that Sera was closed mid day so it was almost 4 when we got there |
...and just as the Lonely Planet said, the main chapels were already closing |
Incense burners, Sera Monastery |
Sera Monastery |
Sera Monastery |
We managed to get into Sera Je College for about 5 minutes before it closed |
Wall mural, Sera Je College |
Tamdrin (Hayagriva) the horse-headed wrathful deity |
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Rock painting, Sera Monastery |
Staircase behind Sera Je College |
Rock paintings, Sera Monastery |
Jampelyang (Manjushri) Bodhisattva of Wisdom |
Chenresig (Avalokiteshvara) Bodhisattva of Compassion |
Chana Dorje (Vajrapani) wrathful Bodhisattva of Energy |
Gesture of teaching - Vitarka Mudra |
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Thangka wall, Sera Monastery |
Wall used to hang giant Thangka paintings during festivals |
Main assembly hall, Sera Monastery |
Vestibule of the main assembly hall at Sera |
Guardian king in front of the Main Assemby Hall, Sera |
Ceiling of the vestibule in front of the Main Assembly Hall |
Sera Monastery |
Rock paintings in a small cave, Sera Monastery |
Cave painting, Sera Monastery |
Tibetan pilgrim with a prayer wheel |
Sera Monastery |
Sera Monastery |
The guide managed to get us into one small chapel after closing |
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The Wheel of Life, Sera Monastery |
The Wheel of Life - you want to stay in the top half |
Chenmizang, Heavenly King of the West (red) |
Yülkhorsung, Heavenly King of the North (yellow) |
Mongol leading the chained tiger - Gelugpa (yellow hat) sect symbology |
Sera Monastery |
Ornate door, Sera |