The second field research of the FWF research project was successfully conducted from May 23 to July 8, 2023. Alongside eight locals, a horse, and eleven mules, the project team of TU Graz — Carmen Auer, Helmut Woschitz, and Vera Schabbon — set off from Dunai in Lower Dolpo. After a fourday trek, they reached the Tarap Valley, where digital surveys of the Shipchok and Ribo Bhumpa Gompa monasteries were carried out. After five days of work, the group further ascended the valley to survey the village temple of Kagar (“Kagar Labrang”) and a small, private temple (“Zur Gompa”), as well as the surrounding building structures. Thereafter, the route led northward over the Jyanta-La (5,221 meters in elevation) and into the village of Tsa in the Nangkhong valley in order Jigmey Lodey, Helmut Woschitz, Carmen Auer, Tsering Lanzom, Vera Schabbon © akk, TU Graz to map the Hrab ensemble. This was followed by the documentation of the Namdo ensemble, located about an hour’s walk from Tsa. During this period, it was also finally possible to visit and photographically record the Yangtse Monastery near the border with Tibet. On the way back, the opportunity arose to survey the Mehkhim ensemble, which lies in a remote location on the eastern slope of the Tara Valley.
The trip concluded this year’s fieldwork, and the team returned to Dunai after a three-day descent. Aside from the good preparation and communication with local protagonists, the results of this year’s measurements reveal that the use of 3D laser scanning technology enables buildings to be surveyed quickly and precisely. This can significantly reduce the time required for on-site mapping operations, which is a great advantage, especially in hard-to-reach areas such as Dolpo.
