Tibet

Tsaparang was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Guge in the Garuda Valley, it is a huge fortress built on top a pyramid-shaped rock, 152 to 183 meter (500 to 600 feet) at the end of a long narrow spur. There are numerous tunnels and caves that have been carved out of the rock and at the base was the village where the common people lived.

There are two public temple on site, the Lhakhang Marpo (Red Chapel) and the Lhakhang Karpo (White Chapel). Inside the tunnel, a twisting staircase leads to the royal quarters and at the top was the summer palace. All the buildings at Tsaparang are built out of carved rocks and mud bricks, but the temples have managed to withstand better the environments compared to the surrounding ruins. Quite unfortunately the statues inside the temples were destroyed by the Chinese Red Guards during the revolution in 1967.

This ancient kingdom is located in Ngari Province in western Tibet, 26 km west of Thöling monastery.

China - Tibet