Gyantse Horse Racing Festival
Gyantse is a beautiful place located in the south of Tibet, with an average altitude of 4,000 meters. Gyantse means “the peak of victory ” in Tibetan and it lies among the mountains. Many ancient customs have lasted for hundreds of years, and the locals live a traditional life there. There are so many festivals held in ancient towns, and the Gyantse Damar Festival is the most famous one. Darma means horse racing and archery in the Tibetan language. Originating from the 15th century, the annual athletic competition takes place in the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar, from the 10th to the 28th. But now, the Damar Festival is mostly held around August during the slack season, and the festival usually takes 5-7 days. Various content is included in the Gyantse Horse Racing Festival, such as archery, wrestling, Tibetan Opera, yak racing, and divine rituals taking place there. Also, there is an attractive trading market where you can pick up some specialty items from Tibet and have a picnic where you can enjoy a good time with hospitable local Tibetans.
When the Gyantse Damar Horse Racing Festival comes, the Tibetans living in the region and some travelers from all over the world will come to attend the celebration. Thousands of tents are set up near the city, which gives this area a splendid view from afar. The athletes and artists compete on the plain, where various flowers are blooming around. Watching the festivities and competitions will be an exciting experience that you can not miss during your Tibet tours in June 2026. Also, visiting towns nearby would be a good choice for you.
Tourist Attractions in Gyantse
The Gyantse Kumbum and Gyantse Dzong are the top attractions in Gyantse. Unlike the other stupas in Tibet, the Kumbum Stupa is a unique stupa with a style of Nepal. As a giant architectural stupa with a height of 34m, the Kumbum Stupa means “hundreds of thousands of Buddha images” in Tibetan. It is situated in the Palkhor Monastery, and once it was one of the most important centers for the Sakya sect in Tibetan Buddhism.
The Palkhor Monastery is a typical Tibetan Buddhist monastery that combines the stupa with the temple. It was set up by the local prince Rabten Kunsang Phak and the 1st Panchen Khedrup Je in the 15th century. The Palkhor Monastery is very special because it’s the only temple in Tibet that houses monks from different sects. The monks from the Gelugpa, Sakyapa, and Kadampa sects coexist in perfect harmony in this monastery. The main structure of the Palkhor Monastery is a three-story building. It’s incredible that hundreds of thousands of Buddha statues are stored there. Each of them is exquisite and valuable.
The Kumbum Stupa is one of the most special temples all over the world. Erected in 1418-1427, the masterpiece is built with 9-story temples piled up like a pyramid. It’s designed to be a mandala, which is a model of the cosmos in Buddhism. It’s considered that monks could be enlightened when they practice Dharma there. With a great number of artworks, the Kumbum Stupa could be one of the most standout places in Tibet.
History
Gyantse Damar Festival first took place in 1408 to commemorate a Minister, Paba Sambu, of the Interior of the Sakya Dynasty. He was diligent in government for the people, doing good deeds, and was quite famous among the local people. After his death, the people of Gyantse held commemorative activities for him every year, which gradually evolved into a horse racing festival. As time went by, it became an important competition all through Tibet. Buddhist activities, dancing to the god, song and dance performances and other events were added in. With the increasing number of people coming to the celebration, a trade market was also set up for Tibetans.