An overview of some of the most important pilgrimage places in areas of Central Tibet. Starting out with a brief history of Tibet to the modern day, the author proceeds to describe the various special monasteries, caves, mountains and other sites in places such as Lhasa, Yarlung, Drikung, Chongye, Reteng, and Ganden. Accompanying the author's detailed cultural and historical descriptions are photos and numerous carefully drawn maps with place names written in phoneticized Tibetan. The appendices and back materials include additional information that provide a broader cultural and historical framework for understanding Tibet's holy places and landscape (e.g. Appendix I – The Suppine Demoness), as well as overviews of several additional sites that are unique or special in their own right (such as places connected to specific individuals or lineages of Tibetan Buddhism).
Preface ix -- Introduction 1 -- Notes on Pronunciation and Tibetan Names 33 -- Note on Cartography 34 -- Glossary of Geographical Terms and Keys to Maps 34 -- The Holy City of Lhasa 38 -- The Caves of Drak Yerpa 73 -- North of Lhasa to Reteng 80 -- To Ganden and Beyond 96 -- The Drigung Mandala 106 -- Tolung: The Karmapa's Domain 122 -- The Highway from Lhasa to Chaksam Bridge 132 -- Below Lhasa to Simpo Ri 139 -- The South Bank of the Tsangpo 147 -- The Upper Dranang and Drachi Valleys 164 -- Yarlung: The Heart of Tibet 171 -- Chongye and the Royal Tombs 196 -- Dorje Drak and the Caves of Drakyul 205 -- Samye Chokor 216 -- The Valley of Yon 236 -- Sangri and the Woka Valley 245 -- Dakpo and Lhama Latso 255 -- Across Tsang to Nepal Border 264 -- Appendices I The Supine Demoness 284 -- II Guru Rinpoche's Cave Power-Places 288 -- III Power-places with Treasure Troves 290 -- IV The Lume Temples 295 -- Some Principal Kadampa Gompas 295 -- The Original Kagyu Gompas 296 -- Notes to the Text 297 -- Glossary of Tibetan Terms 304 -- Visual Glossary of Buddhas 309 -- Selected Bibliography 325 -- Index 327