Abstract= We leave Shigatse for Shetongmön. The Public Security Office forces us to drives back to Shigatse.




Shigatse. Our departure was not early and we payed heavily. While following the advice of the truck drivers we met, only the Brahmaputra northern bank road leads to Shetongmön.

We leave Shigatse by the N, while crossing bumpy streets of the old Tibetan town.


We reach the Brahmaputra river and cross by two large bridges (the valley is very broad). On the other side we travelled up the northern bank of the river to the W. We passed several villages which are widely spaced and the cultivated areas are close to the mountains because the river sides are covered by sands.


It seems like we had travelled far as there was a significant number of road cuts. There existed in the vicinity a new road which is elevated 3 to 4 m compared to the preceding one but which does not allow a normal circulation of surface waters.


About every 400m, the road was cut by works in order to install large drain pipes.

Our vehicle passed unceasingly from one road to the other to circumvent these road works. We cross Chinese workmen and Tibetan girls requisitioned by force. This cavalcade makes the voyage particularly painful and double the distances. This was the same style of road to the one which led to Chonggye.
In Tanag we arrive at a very broad valley coming from N. We go up this valley for two km before crossing the village and the river. We lunch close to the river. Afterwards we continue to follow the Brahmaputra river towards the W. On the way I look for three monasteries. One is unknown and the two others located in such elevation as to be accessible only after several hours of climbing.


We pass through a few villages and finally arrive in a broad valley that is a gravel field. 5 km further we cross a river coming from the N-E and we approach an immense pyramide shaped hill rising in the middle of the plain.