Dare Monastery in Zhongba County, Shigatse

Chinese Name: 达热寺
English Name: Dare Monastery
Location: Located 20km north at Dare Village(达热村) of the Payang Town(帕羊镇) in Zhongba County
Admission Fee: Free
Opening Hours: All the day

Dare Monastery is located 20km north at Dare Village(达热村) of the Payang Town(帕羊镇) in Zhongba County, and Da(达) means horse in the Tibetan language, while Re(热) is the meaning of stable, so the whole name Dare(达热) means the place where the horse is put.

The legend of Dare Monastery
The legend of Dare Monastery is said that the King Zengge Saer(曾格萨尔王) went west to fight against King Dahls(达尔斯王), he passed by the source of Chaiqu River(柴曲河), which is now the place where Dare Monastery located, he liked the vast boundless grassland, various animals and springs. Under the ornament of Lunbu snow mountain(伦布雪山)the scenery here is very beautiful. Especially in the evening, visiting the place from a distance, it is like a tiger skin put here, the hill behind the monastery looks like an elephant standing in the area, the whole environment, giving a feeling of magic, and the King Zengge Saer(曾格萨尔王) adopted the strategist advice, hence the grassland has become a place where the King Zengge Saer(曾格萨尔王)and other heroes put their horses. At the end of the war, in order to commemorate the great achievement of the King Zengge Saer(曾格萨尔王) defeated King Dahls(达尔斯王), then the horse circle was built into a hall of 16 pillars, called Dare Monastery.

When Hasakewa(哈萨克哇) invaded Tibet and during the “great cultural revolution”, the monastery was destroyed, the scroll was lost, the Bodhisattva was destroyed, and the monastery was in ruins.

Attraction Transportation:
We can take a shuttle bus from Shigatse to Zhongba County, then transfer a local mini van to Dare Monastery.
Attraction Travel Tips:
· pay attention to respect the local custom in the monastery.
· 1 – 2 hours travel.
· best season to travel: all the year round.