Gyantse: It can be defined as a glimpse of an irretrievably lost era. The monastery here includes the massive temple of Palkhor Chode and the great multi-chapel Khumbum Chorten. These religious monuments “parts of Gyantse’s ancient monastic town”, contain some of the most extraordinary works of art in Tibet.
Palkhor Chode Monastery (The great temple of Gyantse): Palkhor Chode Monastery is one of the cosmopolitan art style monasteries of Gyantse. It was built by Kunsang Phag between 1418 and 1425, and their building outer walls are painted a customary red. Within it are superb works executed during one of the most creative periods of Tibetan art; a time before the Tibetan styles became stereotyped and ubiquitous. The temple also is seminal from historical and icono-graphic points of view. It has two floors, with an additional single chapel superimposed on the second. Its main entrance opens to the south. The assembly hall has 48 columns and contains long row of seats where the monks perform their daily rituals. On the walls, wall painting depicts larger than life deities. On the left side of the hall’s entrance, next to the door, Acala with a sword is followed by the paradises of Vairocana, Manjushree (Jampelyang), Avalokiteswara (Chenresi), Sakyamuni, and Ratnasambhava. The style of this wall painting differs somewhat from that of the murals (paintings) in the assembly hall and is similar to most of the painted works in Khumbum.
Khumbum: Gyantse Kumbum is a monumental Chorten, whose architecture is peculiar to Tibetan Buddhism. 
Kumbum denotes 100,000 images and the term derives from the creation of divine images in the myriad chapels. It is the most important Chorten ever built in Tibet and others have survived (Jonang, Riwoche, Gyang, Jampaling), but no one can compare to the majestic Gyantse Kumbum in term of design and artistic contents. The Kumbum has 64 chapels in its four lower floors. Its statues however, have suffered recent damage, and having been restored (some drastically), they have less artistic significance.
Gyantse Dzong: The foundation of Gyantse castle (Dzong) is attributed by some sources to Phagpa Pal Sangpo (1318-70), who established his residence on the same cliff. After receiving the permission, he laid the foundation of a settlement in 1365. Kunga Phagpa (1357-1412) established a great temple (tsuglag khang) near the palace in 1390 and completed in 1397. The complex, named Samphel Rinpoche ling included an inner chapel (Tsangkhang), to which a Shalyekhang (top most chapel) and a Gonkhang (Chapel of the Wrathful Deities) were added. The temple has suffered through the ages; the Gonkhang no longer exists; only a few murals have survived.
Yamdruk Tso: It is believed that like holy mountains, lakes are also endowed with spiritual powers. The remote portions of Lake Yamdrok Tso (4408m) and skirts holy Tonang Sangwa Ri, a mountain consecrated by Guru Rinpoche, a founder of Tibetan Buddhism. Beyond the lake are old caravan trails that lead to the district of Lhodrak and then on the Bhutan and India. The eastern shores of Yamdrok Tso have a number of superb campsites; good places to spend a couple of rest days.
