Yumbulakang Palace

Yumbulakang Palace is located at 170km to the south of Lhasa and 10km to the south east of Tsethang town. It is said Yumbulakang was the first building in Tibet and palace of the first Tibetan king Nyatri Tsenpo, built […]

Yumbulakang Palace is located at 170km to the south of Lhasa and 10km to the south east of Tsethang town. It is said Yumbulakang was the first building in Tibet and palace of the first Tibetan king Nyatri Tsenpo, built 2,000 year ago. It lies in the Yarlung Valley near Tsethang, Nedong county, standing on a hill on the eastern bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, also known as Brahmaputra River. This region is called the cradle of Tibetan civilization.

Yumbulakang Palace view from bottom of the hill.

According to legend, during the time of Lhato Thori Nyantsen, a scripture, a golden stupa and a sutra fell from the sky onto the roof of the Yumbulakang. As there was no written language at that time, on one could understand the words on the scripture. But a voice from the sky announced, “one shall come and understand its meaning in five generation”, then Lhato Thori Nyantsen kept the items in his temple. Its meaning got translated in five generation as it was told.

stone piles on the road to Yumbulakang Palace

It is also said that Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo and princess Wencheng (A princess who married with Tibetan King during 7^th century). Yumbulakang used to be the summer palace of the king and queen. Here after this place is called Yumbulhakang Palace. However, Yunbulakang became a shrine temple after the king and princess moved their seat to Lhasa.

One lady reached to Yumbulagang Palace

A white temple standing on the hill is quite a scene in distance, its shape indicates that it designed to be a fortress first. Gone through several times’ restore, Yumbulakang has lived again its old time vitality and is wealthy to pay a visit there.

The view from hillside behind Yumbulagang Palace

After make a kora of the upper floor, you can continue go up on the hill with stone stairs. If you bought a prayer flags down the parking lot stalls, then this is a good place for hanging them. If not, it is still worth to see the magnificent building along with farming villages in the valley.

Your driver will take you to the parking lot at the bottom of the hill from where you can either walk on your own which takes about 40 minutes or hire a horse that takes 30 minutes to Yungbulakang Palace.

You can hire a horse to ride up to Yumbulakang Palace from he bottom of the hill

Further up the valley, , the road leads to Podrang, one of the Tibetan’s oldest villages. Yarto and Tsari which also considered sacred places in Tibet. The entire areas is rich in history remains.

Other names of Yumbulakang Palace are: Yungbulakang, Yumbulhakang, Yumbulagang, Yongbulakang. 

Most tours to Tsethang including a visit to this palace.  The entrance fee of Yumbulakang Palace is 60CNY. The Horse cost 60-100CNY.