Gyantse city is the county capital of Gyantse county. It was a strategic intersection of great historical importance. It is about 250 km from Lhasa and 67 km from Shigatse city. Gyantse was once considered to be Tibet’s third-largest town after Lhasa and Shigatse. Still, nowadays its status has diminished, in size being surpassed by Tsedang city, Chamdo, and more cities in the Tibetan region.
Nevertheless, Gyantse has preserved much of the old Tibetan atmosphere and rural life continued here for centuries, Gyantse has traditionally dominated the wool and timber trade routes from Nepal, Sikkim, and Bhuies.
Some of the best places to visit in Gyantse county are the fortress, Pelkor Stupa, and Ralung Monastery.
The great monastic complex of Gyantse is known as Pelkor Chorten after the name of Langdarma’s son Pelkor Tsen who is said to have resided here in the ninth century. The stupa is also known as Kumbum Stupa which means hundred thousand statues of Buddhist gods and goddesses in the stupa.
Pelkor Chorten temple complex has many temples and the main temple known as Tsuklakhang was built by prince Rabten Kunzang Phak. The Kumbum stupa was completed in 1427 followed by an increasing number of colleges which at the end of the 17th century numbered 16, representing the Sakyapa, Shalupa, and Gelukpa schools. In the 19th century, there were 18 colleges, with the Karma Kagyu and Drukpa Kagyu schools being represented.
The great Kumbum stupa is an octagonal shape representing Tibet’s outstanding artistic achievements. It was built and decorated between 1427-39 by Prince Rabten Kunzang Phak in the style known as Tashi Gomang or Kumbum.
This design consists of a terraced stupa exterior with multi-layered interior chapels. Rising 35 meters high, the stupa is said to have 108 gates, nine floors, and 75 chapels. One tradition identifies the 108 gates with the nine floors multiplied by the 12 astrological signs which represent time. Within the 75 chapels, the images form a progressive hierarchy of the three-dimensional mandalas, ensuring that the stupa encapsulates within it the entire spiritual path and gradation of the tantras.
The original fortress of Gyelkhar Tse is attributed to Pelkor Tsen, the son of the Last king of Tibet Langdrama, who vainly sought to perpetuate the Yarlung Dynasty from west Tibet following the assassination of his father.
The walls of the present structure were reputedly built in 1268, following the rise to power of the Sakyapas. In 1365, a palatial castle was founded on the hilltop by local prince Phakpa Pelzangpo, who acquired influence at the court in Sakya through his reputation as a brave general in southern military campaigns conducted by his Sakyapa overlords.
At Shalu where in 1350 he entered into a marriage alliance with the lords of Shalu. As a dowry, he was granted the fiefdom of Changra, west of Gyantse and he invited the great Buddhist master Buton Rinchendrub of Shalu to reside in a temple that he had constructed there.
In 1365, in addition to the Gyantse castle, he also founded the Tsechen Chorten and temple complex at the entrance to Gyantse valley and adopted it as his principal seat. Later in the 14th century, his son expanded the Gyantse complex, and the royal residence was moved into Gyantse itself.
At present day, it is a museum and from the top of the fortress, you can see the whole of Gyantse town.