The Drolma Ri kora is a pilgrimage circuit around the hill that backs the Tashilhunpo Monastery complex, taking about two hours at a comfortable pace. The path climbs behind the monastery walls, past strings of prayer flags and cairns, with expanding views over Shigatse and the Yarlung Tsangpo valley as you gain height. Prayer wheels and shrines are placed at intervals along the route, and you will likely encounter Tibetan pilgrims completing the circuit with prayer beads and low chanting.
The upper sections of the kora pass above the monastery roof, offering a bird's-eye view of the golden rooftops below and the whitewashed walls spreading across the hillside. On clear days the views extend to the ranges beyond the valley. The descent brings you back through the monastery's outer wall and past the main entrance.
The kora is free to walk and always open. Start from the main monastery entrance and follow the clockwise direction — going counterclockwise is considered inauspicious. Comfortable shoes help; the path is rocky in places. Altitude affects exertion more than the gradient would suggest at sea level.