Yumbulagang
Tibet's first palace, and the founding site of Tibetan civilisation according to legend.
Perched on a rocky ridge above the Yarlung Valley, Yumbulagang is traditionally regarded as Tibet's very first palace, linked to Nyatri Tsenpo, the legendary first king of Tibet said to have descended from the heavens to rule here. The Yarlung Valley itself is considered the cradle of Tibetan civilisation, and Yumbulagang its founding monument.
The current structure is a 20th-century reconstruction, the original was badly damaged during the Cultural Revolution, but it faithfully follows the palace's traditional layout: a narrow defensive tower rising from the ridge, with sweeping views back across the valley's barley fields.
Highlights
Traditionally regarded as Tibet's first palace
Linked to the legendary first king of Tibet, Nyatri Tsenpo
Panoramic views across the Yarlung Valley, the cradle of Tibetan civilisation
A steep short climb from the valley floor to reach the palace itself
Practical Info
Address
Yarlung Valley, Shannan (Lhoka) Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region
Opening Hours
9:00am–6:00pm daily, typical
Price
budget
Small entry fee payable on site
In This Destination
Shannan
Cradle of Tibetan civilisation, birthplace of its first kings