We had enough time left after arriving in New Tingri to visit Shegar |
Shegar is dominated by an impressive fortress, Shegar Dzong |
At the base of the fortress is Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Shegar Dzong, the Crystal Fort, |
I hadn't expected something so impressive |
Shegar's New Town |
Bus stop in front of China Post, Shegar |
I had the guide leave me here and arranged for her to pick me up later |
Shegar |
Shegar's main street lined with traditional Tibetan houses |
Main Street, Shegar |
Main Street, Shegar |
Shegar Chöde Monastery |
River passing the base of Shegar's fortress and monastery |
Shegar's old town on the hillside at the base of the fortress |
Walls of the ruins of Shegar Dzong |
Small chapel in Shegar's old town |
Old town Shegar was the only place into Tibet where I found the kids annoying |
To reach the monastery, turn right at the small chapel and head up hill |
Walls of the fortress rising steeply above the old town, Shegar |
Old Town Shegar |
Old Town Shegar |
It's a long way up! |
Shegar Dzong high above the old town |
View from Old Town Shegar across the river |
Climbing up through Old Town Shegar |
Old Town Shegar |
Old Town Shegar |
Farmers busy bringing in the harvest, Shegar |
Farmers working the harvest, Shegar |
The river passing through Shegar |
The river passing through Shegar |
Om Mani Padmi Hum on the cliff near the monastery |
Entrance to Shegar Chöde Monastery |
The Monastery entrance also serves as entrance to the fortress |
Shegar Chöde Monastery, founded 1269 |
I only had the afternoon, but morning light would be much better |
Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Extensive ruins of Shegar Dzong rising above the monastery |
The summit of Shegar Dzong |
Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Colossal statue of Jampa (Maitreya) the Future Buddha |
Colossal statue of Jampa (Maitreya) the Future Buddha |
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Tsonghkapa with his chief disciplesDorje Chang and Guru Rinpoche |
Tsonghkhapa (1357–1419) founder of the Gelugpa Sect |
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Maitreya, the Future Buddha |
Assembly Hall, Shekar Chöde Monastery |
Assembly Hall, Shekar Chöde Monastery |
Mural showing Shegar Dzong and the Shegar Chöde Monastery before its destruction |
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Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Ruins of the monastery and fortress of Shegar |
View across the valley from Shegar Chöde Monastery |
View from Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Village at harvest time near Shegar |
Harvest time, October in Tibet |
View from Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Climbing to the fortress is not easy...the trails are not very distinct |
Ruined walls of Shegar Dzong, the Crystal Fortress |
Temple ruins in red, Shegar |
Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Parts of Shegar Monastery were restored starting in the 1980s |
Climbing the steep walls of Shegar Dzong |
Higher and higher |
Shadow of the mountain of Shegar Dzong cast across the valley floor |
Shegar Dzong |
Shegar Dzong |
Ruined watchtower, Shegar Dzong |
Shegar Dzong |
A large breach in the walls of Shegar Dzong |
The town of Shegar, former capital of Tingri |
Watchtower and western wall, Shegar Dzong |
Shegar Dzong |
Stone piles wrapped in monk's robes looking like sentries, Shegar Dzong |
Walls of Shegar Dzong |
Shegar Dzong |
Not even half way to the top yet |
Walls of Shegar Dzong in late afternoon |
"Sentry" Shegar Dzong |
Looking down at Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Shegar Dzong |
View over the wall of Shegar Dzong |
The summit of Mount Everest from Shegar Dzong |
Shegar Dzong must have been so impressive before it was destroyed |
Ruins of a major temple of Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Lengthening shadows, Shegar Dzong |
View of Shegar from the castle |
Shegar Dzong |
Shegar Dzong |
2/3 of the way to the top |
Upper ruins of Shegar Dzong |
Shegar's New Town where the guide will be waiting for me |
More of Everest is visible from across the ridge of Pang-la Pass |
The summit of Shegar Dzong |
Upper walls of Shegar Dzong |
Summit of Shegar Dzong |
I was hoping a trail I was following would lead down to the village |
Summit of Shegar Dzong from the west |
Summit of Shegar Dzong |
Summit of Shegar Dzong |
A trail leads west away from the walls but eventually circles around to the fortress's mid levels |
Shrine outside the fortress |
Summit of Shegar Dzong |
The walls of Shegar Dzong following the steep slope of the mountain |
The path I'm following loops back to a lower part of the fortress |
Shegar Dzong |
Shegar Dzong |
Walls of Shegar Dzong |
Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Upper monastery ruins |
Morning would be much better for photography, but no time to come back the next day |
Ruins of Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Shegar Chöde Monastery |
Ok, so not all the kids in Shegar are annoying like the ones on the way up |
Shegar Dzong, late afternoon |
I was waaaay up there |