Pala Manor

　　    Pala was originally the chieftain of a tribe in Bhutan. Due to internal conflict in Bhutan, he migrated to Tibet and obtained an official title from the local Tibetan government. As the power of the Pala family grew, so did the scale of Pala Manor. In 1904, British invasion forces burned down the original Pala Manor, which was located in Jiangga Village near Gyantse. After the conclusion of the anti-British war, the manor was relocated to Banjiulunbu Village. Over the following decades, the family’s influence continued to expand. The owner of Pala Manor, Wangjiu, had served as a novice monk at Linbu Monastery before disrobing to manage the daily affairs of the manor. He reorganized the manor’s economy, expanded its size, and tightened control over the serfs. By the time of the Democratic Reform in Tibet, Pala owned 22 small manors, over 8,600 ke (a unit of land measurement) of land, six pastures, and more than 14,250 head of livestock in total. He also possessed over 2,440 serfs known as "langsheng." In 1959, Pala Wangjiu participated in the rebellion and fled abroad, and his manor should have been entirely confiscated. However, considering that Pala Manor was one of the twelve major manors in Tibet and held special historical significance, the then Gyantse Sub-Party Committee decided to properly preserve it. Later, the county government carried out multiple renovations. Today, Pala Manor is the only well-preserved aristocratic manor from old Tibet. The manor currently has 57 rooms, with the main building being a three-story structure that includes a prayer hall, reception rooms, bedrooms, and even a dedicated hall for playing mahjong. The interiors are adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, exuding luxury and grandeur. The prayer hall is exquisitely furnished, with sutras and Buddhist shrines well preserved; the bedrooms are filled with gold, silver, and jade ornaments; and there are also precious foods, tableware, imported wines, imported white vinegar, and luxurious fur garments left behind by the Pala nobility—luxury at its peak—that vividly reflect the extravagant lifestyle of the Pala aristocrats in those days. Inside the main building, there are displays of torture instruments such as whips and shackles. The manor also preserves the prisons of the old days, tools used by the Tibetan nobility to rule over the serfs. The langsheng courtyard, consisting of 13 rooms that remain in their original state, features living quarters for the langsheng that are cramped, low, dark, and cage-like, forming a sharp contrast with the luxurious residences of the nobility.

　　    Address: Banjuelunbu Village, Jiangre Township, Gyantse County, Shigatse City

　　    Type: Historical Architecture

　　    Recommended Visiting Time: 2–3 hours

　　    Phone: +86-892-8822216

　　    Opening Hours:

　　    9:00–18:00

　　    Ticket Information:

　　    Gate Price: Starting from 25.0 RMB

　　    Gate Price starts from 25.