4 ShangriLa - Feilai

28th October 2025 - Drive from Shangri-La to Feilai 

We checked-out of our Shangrila Hotel after breakfast and firts went to see the Gamden Sumtseling Monastery. After buying our Entry tickets Jamthang decided to hire 2-3 taxis to take us up to Monastery Level by road, as it would have taken us a while to climb up. We took about 1 hour to see inside the Monastery.  

 
Ganden Sumtseling Monastery is an architectural marvel that blends Tibetan and Han Chinese styles. Surrounded by an elliptical fortress wall, the monastery’s imposing structure commands attention from afar. The main hall is both majestic and opulent, adorned with vibrant frescoes that depict historical events and Buddhist teachings with intricate detail.

The monastery’s layout is hierarchical, with the two primary assembly halls, Zhacang and Jikang, perched at the highest central point. These main buildings are constructed in a five-story Tibetan style, facing south. The upper levels of the main hall are adorned with gilded copper tiles, while the corners of the roof feature animal figures in a nod to traditional Han Chinese temple architecture. The lower hall, supported by 108 columns, represents an auspicious number in Buddhism and can accommodate up to 1,600 monks.

Inside, the walls are lined with “myriad scroll cabinets” filled with scriptures. At the forefront of the main hall stands a bronze statue of the Fifth Dalai Lama, surrounded by stupas containing the relics of eminent lamas. The top floor houses a sacred chapel with statues of the Fifth and Seventh Dalai Lamas, alongside ancient palm-leaf manuscripts, thangkas (Tibetan Buddhist paintings), and other sacred objects. 

Read More: Ganden Sumtseling Monastery - Wikipedia 

Our next stop was at the Great Bend of Yangze River at a viewpoint on G214, where the Yangtze the longest river of China makes a complete U-turn. There are 2 Viewing galleries, a little way down from the road - parking level, to get different angle views for the photographers.

Shortly after leaving the Great Bend, we reached the Dongzhulin Monastery on G214. It had a nice huge rectangular courtyard surrounded by two storied structure with beautiful Painted Murals and a beautiful statue of Buddha in the main temple.

It was a coincidence we met a local lady there who had studied in Shantinketan many years ago and had also visited Darjeeling in West Bengal. She was chatting with our Group Leader Kaushik Shil and others sharing her India experience. 

After we left Dongzhulin Monastery we drove all the way to Feilai where we checked into a very nice Boutique Hotel, in the Feilai Temple complex. The Lobby was beautiful and decorated with lots of exotic Orchids; never seen the likes of those! It had a nice Dining Sit-outs inside the Lobby; where we had our breakfast next day. The rooms were large, well furnished and with Bed and Floor heaters. It was pretty cold outside. 

Soon after checking-in, we departed to the nearby Viewpoint to see the Sunset over the Meili Snow peaks. We could not see the spectacular 13 Princes' Peaks due to dense Clouds over the mountains. We saw only streaks of the setting sun pierce the clouds. The viewpoint platform was beautiful with a line of Chortens. We had dinner at the roadside eateries just above the Viewpoint. Hoping to see those Meili snow peaks in morning sunrise tomorrow morning.