This is the stunning, most inhospitable environment of Western Tibet. The landscape looks so barren and unforgiving that it’s difficult to imagine that a power kingdom once sat here. At various points in history after 10th century AD, the kingdom held sway over a vast area including the south-eastern part of Zanskar (India), Upper Kinnaur, and Spiti valley either by conquest or as tributaries. The ruins of the former capital of Guge kingdom are located at Tsaparang in the Sutlej valley, not far from Mount Kailash and nearly 2000 km west of Lhasa.
It’s cold and arid up here. The winters must be incredibly harsh. Nothing seems to grow on the chiseled rocks and lifeless sand. How did Guge rulers feed their people? How did they raise armies? This place sits high on my wish list. Must see.
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