Yarlung Valley

[3] The Yarlung and the adjoining Chongye Valley formed the original seat of the Yarlung dynasty of Tibetan kings and controlled important ancient trade routes into India and Bhutan.

The valley, often referred to as the "cradle of Tibetan civilisation", is only 72 km (45 mi) long, but contains a number of important castles, monasteries, temples, meditation caves, peaks and stupas.

There are three renowned power places (ne-sum), Sheldrak, Tradruk, and Yumbu Lagang or (Yungbulakang Palace).

[4] Just below the town of Tsetang there once was a 14th-century iron suspension bridge built across the Yarlung Tsangpo River or Brahmaputra by the famous engineer Tangtong Gyalpo, with a span of 150 to 250 metres, but only five large stone supports are left today.

[5] Even when Sarat Das visited in 1879 it was in such a state of disrepair that he had to ferry across the River in a large boat containing traders and their donkeys.