stunning makeshift town that has sprung up around a Tibetan monastery

[Serpo]

Little boxes on the hillside... home to 40,000 Buddhist monks: The stunning makeshift town that has sprung up around a Tibetan monastery



The remote settlement located in the Larung Valley, Serthar County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China
The thousands of tiny homes sprawled up the mountainside form one of the world's largest Buddhist institutes

By Amanda Williams (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Amanda+Williams)
PUBLISHED: 13:52 GMT, 27 June 2013 | UPDATED: 16:11 GMT, 27 June 2013
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Nestled amid the rolling mountains, deep within the Larung Gar Valley, thousands of tiny wooden homes form one of the world's largest Buddhist institutes.
The remote but sprawling settlement is found at elevations of 12,500ft and is home to over 40,000 monks, nuns and religious students.
It is located in the Larung Valley, Serthar County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885C4B000005DC-212_964x632.jpg The sprawling hillside settlement of Larung Gar, home to Serthar Buddhist Institute, in the traditional Tibetan region of Kham



http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885C5B000005DC-417_964x619.jpg The thousands of tiny homes sprawl up a mountainside forming one of the world's largest Buddhist Institutes

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885CCA000005DC-696_964x628.jpg The remote settlement is found at elevations of 12,500ft and is home to over 40,000 monks, nuns and religious students



http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885D1A000005DC-561_964x627.jpg The homes are predominantly made out of wood. Each one is built so close to the next that they all begin to merge into rows of homes

It is said to have sprung up from a handful of settlers into the sprawling town that now occupies vast areas of hilly terrain.
At the focal point is a giant Buddhist monastery - the Serthar Buddhist Institute - with a huge wall separating the monks from the nuns.


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The homes are predominantly made out of wood. Each one is built so close to the next that they all begin to merge into rows of homes.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885C4F000005DC-797_964x610.jpg Located in a valley, the town allegedly sprung up from a handful of settlers into the sprawling town that now occupies vast areas of hilly terrain




http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885D02000005DC-577_964x626.jpg The tiny homes are predominantly made out of wood and are almost identical to each other


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885D57000005DC-885_964x635.jpg At the focal point is a giant monastery - with a huge wall separating the monks from the nuns


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885D3A000005DC-403_964x1077.jpg Japanese photographer Shinya Itahana, 33, visited the Larung Gar Valley a number of times to capture the eye-catching town in both summer and winter

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885C3F000005DC-593_964x624.jpg The sprawling settlement of homes are a beautiful sight. The photographer said the makeshift town is 'a very welcoming place as long as you do not disturb the peaceful atmosphere'





But the one to three roomed dwellings do not have their own toilets - instead communal ones have been built for the 40,000 plus residents.
Japanese photographer Shinya Itahana, 33, visited the Larung Gar Valley a number of times to capture the eye-catching town in both summer and winter.
He said: 'It is a very welcoming place as long as you do not disturb the peaceful atmosphere. It has become a bit of a tourist attraction - not just with pilgrims but some foreigners too.'
Reaching the picturesque hillside town is not an easy task, with the nearest large city, Chengdu, being located around 400 miles away.
The journey by car can take around 13 - 15 hours. Shinya added: 'During the winter months it can take longer, around a day, because the road conditions are so poor.'

But that has not stopped people flooding to the Buddhist institute to study Tibetan Buddhism.


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885CFA000005DC-930_964x609.jpg



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2349761/Little-boxes-hillside--home-40-000-Buddhist-monks-The-stunning-makeshift-town-sprung-Tibetan-monastery.html

[Serpo]

Some of the thousands of monks gather outside the settlement of Larung Gar. It is home to Serthar Buddhist Institute


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885C53000005DC-299_964x618.jpg Tibetan monks gather during a lecture at the Institute. Hundreds of people flooded to the Buddhist institute to study Tibetan Buddhism



http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885CD2000005DC-40_964x606.jpg Reaching the picturesque hillside town is not an easy task, with the nearest large city, Chengdu, being located around 400 miles away. But that has not deterred the crowds from making the pilgrimage



http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885D4E000005DC-868_964x601.jpg Tibetan monks, armed with cans and umbrellas, collect water from a communal well

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/27/article-2349761-1A885D0E000005DC-981_964x602.jpg A typical street scene at the settlement. The one to three roomed dwellings do not have their own toilets - instead communal ones have been built for the 40,000 plus residents

[Jewboo]

The one to three roomed dwellings do not have their own toilets - instead communal ones have been built for the 40,000 plus residents.



WHO paid for and WHO cleans these toilets every day?

http://www.gfx-art.fr/forum/images/smilies/1516208530.gif

[Bonate]

There have been an influx of Chinese moving to Tibet which has limited the opportunities for Tibetans. This might be why these close encounter homes having been built, although Tibetans tend to prefer a nomadic lifestyle. It is sad to see their cultures shattered, but once again we abandoned them for our own personal gain.

[Serpo]

WHO paid for and WHO cleans these toilets every day?

http://www.gfx-art.fr/forum/images/smilies/1516208530.gif

who says they get cleaned

[Ponce]

I wonder what the Chinese government think of all this.....and also as to when will the US troops will go there to "liberate" them or the NSA with their spy's equipment.....looks like a place where I would like to be at, where I don't bother any one and no one bothers me...........................hey guys? stay the hell away from there.....monk Ponce is at work.

V

[Twisted Titan]

I hope nobody dosent leave a lantern burning overnite or that will become the biggest mass grave ever

[Serpo]

biggest mass grave ever

That maybe a highly competitive area.......................


they seem to be made of some form of concrete

[Son-of-Liberty]

WHO paid for and WHO cleans these toilets every day?

http://www.gfx-art.fr/forum/images/smilies/1516208530.gif

Night Soil. Maybe someone cleans it for free?

[JohnQPublic]

In Brazil it would be called a Favella. In India a shanty town. Since it is perceived that Buddhists are peaceful, wise people, this becomes a beautiful sight. Probably the people are trying to escape the living hell in the rest of China.

[Down1]

In Brazil it would be called a Favella..
Favella.
Learned a new word.
Although it appears the Brazilians like their satellite dishes.
5071

[JohnQPublic]

Favella.
Learned a new word.
Although it appears the Brazilians like their satellite dishes.
5071

You see them in India, too, as well as makeshift power poles and cables.