Brief Introduction
Yumbu Lakang is the oldest-known dwelling in Tibet and the original Yumbulakhang would have been over 2000 years old when it was almost totally destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. The present building is a 1982 reconstruction in two parts, with a small, two-storey chapel and an eleven-metre-high tower.

From afar, the fortress temple of Yumbulakhang, 12km south of Tsetang, appears dwarfed by the scale of the Yarlung Valley. Widely regarded as the work of the first king of Tibet, Nyatri Tsenpo, when he arrived in Yarlung.

The lower floor of the chapel is dedicated to the early Tibetan kings: Nyatri Tsenpo is to the left and Songtsen Gampo to the right of the central Buddha statue. The delightful and unusual upper-storey chapel, with Chenresi as the central image, is built on a balcony. Some of the modern murals up here show legendary events in Tibetan history; look out on the left for Nyatri Tsenpo and for the Buddhist scriptures descending from heaven. The energy can ascend by ladders almost to the top of the tower where King Nyatri Tsenpo supposedly meditated. The deep, slit windows at knee level mean the views aren´t that wonderful, however; for the best scenery, take a walk up to the ridge behind the temple.

Not far from the ancient castle, is a plot of land shaped like a scythe (when viewed from the air), and enclosed by low walls. This is known as Zorthang, Scythe Plain, and is reputed to be the first cultivated field in Tibet. It is a tradition for pilgrims and farmers alike to collect soil from this place and to sprinkle it on their own plots to ensure a good harvest. Each year at sowing time the small community of monks, still at Yumbu Lakang, conduct rituals to propitiate its earth spirits.

Features
Yumbulakhang´s construction surrounded by various myths and legends associated with the founding of the Tibetan civilization.