Unexspected Mysteries at Shegar

Shegar (Xêgar, Shelkar, New Tingri, Shekar) is a small town in Tibet. It is a military town and the hotels are about 8 km off the dzong and old town. As for some flooded roads we had to change our route and had the good luck to visit this fortress, which sees only a small number of tourists. The old town is intact, but in the valley are quite a lot of new buildings, which aren’t inhabited yet.

To get into the dzong you have to climb quite a lot of stairs at an altitude of about 4400 m (about 14,600 ft). One could see the very old building reaching until the top of the mountain, which aren’t in use anymore. Inside we could see halls and new – a study room, where lectures for the monks are given. You could see the books they use, maybe they make excerpts.

In one of these rooms I could see the Tibetan horns (dungchen), which use a telescope technic to be smaller, when stored, as they are a couple of meters long, when played. These horns are made of metal, whereas alphorns are made out of wood and don’t use the telescopic technic. 

 

 Look across old town, river, and the new buildings

 

Older buildings on top

 

 

In the main yard of the dzong

 

Interior of a hall, where the monks gather

 

Desks with books and writing material 

and the lecturer's place

 

Tibetan horns (dungchen)