The Ruins of Guge Kingdom
Highlight tourist attraction in west Tibet
About 300 years ago the mysterious Guge Kingdom had gone for good in one night, left only the ruins that recorded the splendid culture and artistic achievements of Guge Kingdom. Guge was an ancient kingdom in western Tibet, Ngari Prefecture, not far away from Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake. The predecessor of Guge can be dating back to Xiangxiong Kingdom. And after the collapse of Tubo Kingdom, the establishment of the Guge Kingdom started in the 10th century. In the 17th century western missionaries came here while the King was conflicting with his brother, also the Buddhist head of Guge. Two versions of the King’s death had been widely spread. One was that the king jumped down the cliff and died, then the Kingdom was invaded by enemies. The other version was that the King surrendered for his people.
But the most mysterious part is why such a mature, splendid culture had completely disappeared in one night. In centuries, mankind seldom know its existence, so no human damage to the buildings and streets, no wiping to the mural and artistic style, no modifying to its text and religion, it even retained the destruction scene of that time, what humans don’t understand is how did this happen overnight ?
Since human beings had discovered the ruins of Guge Kingdom, a number of explorers, travelers, photographers and artists came here to try to figure out how this Kingdom disappeared overnight. Though people tried so hard to find the answers, the disappearance of Guge Kingdom remained one of the top unsolved mysteries of Tibet. Today, the ruins of Guge Kingdom is more likely a cultural relic for people who explore Tibet lost civilization.
Practical Guge Kingdom Travel Tips
There is much to learn before visiting it.
Tibet Travel Tips for Guge Kingdom Ruins
- The Admission Fee is CNY150 per person;
- To visit Guge Kingdom ruins, travelers are suggested to combine Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. The duration is normally from 15 to 20 days, but it depends whether you will take the 3 days trekking around Mt. Kailash.
- To book the tour covering above places, foreign travelers need to confirm the tour at least 1 month in advance, as there are many different sets of permits you will need. Travel agency needs to apply the Tibet permits as early as possible. For more details about Tibet Kailash Tours, please contact Tibet Travel Expert Service.