Shey-crystal Mountain (Ribo Drugta) and Shey Gompa is the one of the most sacred Himalayan pilgrimages of Nepal. It has the legendary connection in Buddhism, located in the north of the Phoksundo lake in Upper Dolpo with the elevation of 4160m from sea level, is the spiritual heart of Dolpo. Being the spritual hear of Upper Dolpo the trek in to Upper Dolpo and exit from Upper trek pass through this revered and sacred holy place. His immense holiness Tuptop Singe Yeshe had enlightened from Shey-Gonpa. The Crytal Mountain (Ribo Drugta) is the major panoramic and pilgrimage of Shey gonpa. The crystal mountain (Ribo Drukta) is also known as the younger brother of Mt. Kailash.
History and Legend of Shey and Crystal Mountain
The holiness of Crystal Mountain is based on legend. A thousand and so years ago Buddhist ascetic Gyamgon Rimpoche, the main Lama of the Thiwong Gyamgon Gompa, the main gompa of Kakyupa sect, one of the four major sects of Buddhism, once dreamt about the Shey area where he'd never been before and he sent one of his most brilliant disciple to explore the Shey pilgrimage. Drutop Shinge Yeshe, as per his guru's order, left Tibet and visited Dolpo. He first saw Shey from Saikpa Kang of present Bhijer. When he found the people whose supreme god was a wild mountain spirit. Then he tried to overcome fierce the mountain spirit, using the flying snow loin, a legendary companion of snow leopard as amount but spirit resisted by unleashing a horde of snake beings. However snow lion reproduces itself 108 times, once for each book of Buddhist scriptures, and with this reinforcement, Drutop vanquished the spirit and transformed into ‘a thundering Mountain of purest Crystal’.
“I flew through the sky on a snow lion and there among the clouds I perform miracles. But not even greatest of celestial feasts can equal to once rounding on foot this crystal mountain.” - Druptop Senge Yeshe
Based on Drutop’s words, the people of Dolpo gather during July/August before the barely harvest, they circumambulate (kora) the crystal mountain. On the full-moon day, the Dolpo people, follow the small river stream coming down from Kang La pass and foothills of Crystal Mountain. The pilgrims cross a pass where the prayers flag shape in the wind, on the way to the circle of Crystal Mountain a glacial lake is located where the snow lion gamboled in victory; they joined hands and dance in a circle to the music of a lute. This ten miles circuit ends in the cave where Drutop Senge Yeshe attained enlightenment and where reliquary holds his ashes.
Myths of Crystal Mountain and Shey
One day Druptop Senge Yheshe was in kora of Crystal Mountain on his lion, certainly, he felt thirsty and thought to prepare some tea with the support of some stones around. But each stone he turned was carved 'Om', the holiest word. He regretted being on a lion in such a holiest pilgrimage and he made seven koras on his foot and by the time he reached top of Crystal Mountain, and he saw Mt. Kailash in Tibet as bottom up a bowl, that's why Crystal Mountain is believed to a be younger brother of Mt. Kailash. Still now, if one makes seven koras of Crystal Mountain he can reach the top. Duptop Senge Yeshe started living in Shey making Komoche gompa (which is still in existence) not returned to Tibet.
In every twelve years cycle of Buddhist calendar, each year represented by a different animal and each year with the importance of twelve different pilgrimages, which including Mt. Kailash in Tibet, Swayambhunath in Kathmandu, Shey in Dolpo and other in many other places in the world. The Shey is major pilgrimage during Dragon year. There is a religious belief that if one makes kora of Crystal Mountain in dragon year is equals visiting 11 rests of the major pilgrimages. The great festival falls for one week from full moon of the seventh month in Tibetan Calendar.
During the festival, all the Buddhist followers from the region and beyond gather to the place and perform typical dances, wear traditional and antique dresses and different events like horse riding, archery and lama dances are organized. There is religious preaching by the fifth reincarnation of Tuptup Singe Yeshe and other respected high lamas. Great and holy pujas and blessings are also made during the festival.
Gompas in Shey (Monateries in Shey)
There are three Gompas in Shey village such as Komoche Gonpa (valuable Gonpa), Sel sumdo Gonpa, Tsakhang gompa. Komoche Gonpa is the gompa, an old hermitage where his immense holiness Tuptop Singe Yeshe had been a solitary meditation on many years ago and which is located on the rock. This is a Kagyupa temple and constructed by accomplished Singe Yeshe. It is also known as the stupa of ‘complete Victory’ and footprints of master Senge Yeshe are the key manifestations at this site.
Tsakhang Gonpa and Shel sumdo Gonpa are Kagyu-Nyingma monasteries which are constructed by lamaTenzin Repa. Tsakhang Gonpa is located on the rock of Crystal Mountain. Tsakhang Gompa is in the cluster of three monasteries under Shey Gompa, the seat of Dolpo Shel-ri Rinpoche. It is situated at more than 16,000 feet above sea-level in Shey, Upper Dolpo.A disciple of the second Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Palden Khyentse Oser, the previous third Dolpo Shel-ri Rinpoche spent many years in solitary retreat at Tsakhang Gompa.
Shey Festival is commenced every 12 years Tibetan lunar calendar. In the year of Dragon (Druklho), Shey Festival takes place in Shey Gompa Upper Dolpo. Shey Festival happens in the twelve-year cycle in the Buddhist calendar each year is represented by a different animal and each year with the importance of twelve different pilgrimages, which include Mt. Kailash in Tibet, Swayambhunath in Kathmandu, Shey Gompa in Dolpo, and other in many other places in the world. Last time Shey Festival happened was in 2012 and the next festival took place in Shey Gompa in 2024. Himalayan Companion is organizing Shey Festival Trek 2024.
In the conclusion, Shey is not only a historical Buddhism place but also the habitat of Himalayan wild animals such as Blue Sheep, Snow-leopard, marmots, wild rabbits, birds, Himalayan cats, and many more wild animals and birds. Therefore Shey is also a major attraction of Shey-Phoksundo national park. As it is a holy place, and national park area hunting and poaching of wild animals is strictly restricted in the area.
Himalayan Companion's Dolpo trek itineraries such as Dolpo Jomsom Trek, Inner Dolpo Trek(Upper Dolpo Trek), Dolpo Mugu trek, Upper Dolpo Mustang trek, and Upper Dolpo immersion trek passes through and explore a days round Shey Gompa.
