Graveyard for Tibetan Kings: Tibet Tour

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		-- Attractions: -- Graveyard for Tibetan Kings -- Mindroling Monastery -- Samye Monastery -- Trandruk Monastery -- Yamdrok Yumtso Lake -- Yumbu Lakhang

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Graveyard for Tibetan Kings

The graveyard lies at Chonggye county, 27 kilometers (16 miles) south of Tsedang. Those hill-like mounds are believed to be tombs of Tibetan kings from 7th century to 9th. The tops of the mounds are level, which is different with mausoleums in China and matches history records. Although there are various versions about the number of the tombs, it seems to be nine.

The largest mound is believed to belong to Songtsen Gampo, a most outstanding ruler, whose reign marks Tibetan mythology and recorded history. The tumulus is 13.4 meters (44 feet) high, with a small but charming temple atop. The temple houses statues of Songtsen Gampo, his wives and his chief ministers and monks who is taking care of the tomb. Songtsen Gampo made an outstanding reign and enjoyed so high a reputation among his people that he was believed as a reincarnation of Chenrezi, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, so his tomb is the grandest one. According to history record, his tomb is very large, having 9 chapels. The king was buried in the center chapel while the other chapels hold voluminous treasures of the king and sacrifice of men and horses. In accordance with biography of a Tang dynasty official dispatched to Tibet, men would be stabbed at ribs with sharpened sticks as deceased kings' sacrifices. The king's body was wrapped in gold foils and surrounded by gems. In the tomb, the statues of Songtsen Gampo, Sakyamuni, Chenrezi and other deities may be enshrined. The gate of the tomb faces southwest, where is Sakyamuni's homeland, to show the king's piety to Buddhism.

Before the tomb of king Tride Songsten, which is close to that of Songtsen Gampo, there is a elegantly carved stele on which Tride Songsten's merits and achievements were inscribed. Another stele stands before the tomb of king Trisong Detsen, who is deemed as the second most outstanding king in Tibet, also reads the merits and achievements of His Majesty. A couple of lions squat at the graveyard, guarding the highest royal graveyard in the world.