Gyantse Damak or the Gyantse Horse racing festival is celebrated in the town of Gyantse. The Gyantse is considered as the leading producer of barley in Tibet, and the town has significant cultural Influences in Tibetan Culture and tradition.
The festival has more than 500 Years of History. It was started by the prince Gungsang Rabten in the living memory of his father, as an athletic competition in the year 1400. Now it becomes an essential inter-village Competition.
Initially, the festival was mainly a religious ceremony with limited entertainment like wrestling matches and weightlifting. Later Prince Tashi Rabten adds Horse racing, Archery, Tibetan Opera, songs and dances to the festival
That’s how the Current Gyantse Damak Festivals is formed as time passes. It is most commonly called the Gyantse Horse racing for the horse racing is now the main event in the festival.
Travelling to Tibet during this festival could add a great deal of authentic local experiences to your Tibet tour. This festival can really help you to understand and participate in the Cultural Life of Tibetan.
Travel Guide to Gyantse Damak Festival
Gyantse is located in The Sino-Nepalese friendship highway. It is located right 260 Kilometers from Lhasa after the Mt Nyanchen Kangsar and Yamdrok Lake. It is a small medieval town with a very beautiful stupa and Beautiful fort. The streets in the Gyantse town has not been changing for many years. The most popular attractions in the town are Palchoe Stupa in the Kumbum monastery and the Gyantse Dzong, the fort.
Palchoe Monastery is the main monastery in the Gyantse town. It was found in the year 1418, In the 14th century, this monastery is well known for its unique nature of having 3 different schools of Tibetan Buddhism in one monastery. Now the monastery is well known for its Kumbum Stupa. which is Stupa of many doors. This stupa has 108 different temples in it.
Gyantse fort is originally built by the son of the last Tibetan king. The fortress is dated to 1268. Local Prince Phakpa Pelzangpo (1318-1370) renovated. In the year 1904 During the British expedition of Tibet. British force invades Tibet, at the Gyantse fort they encountered fierce opposition from local people.
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