Sakya:
In Tibetan, Sakya means "grayish earth," an apt name, given the region's surrounding landscape.
Both Gyantse and Sakya claim the title of the "most Tibetan" of all Tibetan towns, in no small part due to their relative remoteness (158 and 311 miles, respectively) from Lhasa.
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A former capital of Tibet, Sakya's main draw today is the fortress-like Sakya Monastery. The monastery itself was the center of the Buddhist Sakyapa order. The order held extraordinary power throughout the region as a result of a 13th-century pact arranged with the Mongols to the far north. Sakya submitted to foreign, Mongol control but the local monks maintained local power. Plus, they gained assurance that the fierce armies created by Genghis Khan would leave them be.
Tibetan/Mongol ties grew strong with the pact, insuring local stability and relative freedom and prosperity. In fact, the largest pillar within the Sakya Monastery was presented as a gift from Genghis Khan's grandson, Kublai Khan, to the monastery. But the pendulum swings both ways and as Mongol power waned in the mid-14th century, Sakya's power waned as well.
Today, the town is growing again, fueled by tourism. New construction is not necessarily attractive construction; besides the monastery, visitors should focus on the traditional, gray, red and white-painted homes.
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Sakya has two monasteries; both suffered under the Cultural Revolution but the Southern Monastery, built in 1268, has been beautifully restored. It reflects Mongol design techniques - massive and thick. The chapels are worthy visits but it's the Main Assembly Hall that truly awes: Buddha statues, pillars and rich silk brocades glisten in the light of flickering butter lamps. It is estimated the hall can accommodate 10,000 worshippers.
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Sakya
is featured
on the following tour: |
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