Pabongka Monastery nestled at the foot of Treasure Umbrella Mountain in northern Lhasa, merely 7 kilometers from the urban center, Pabongka means "Stone Palace" in Tibetan— the entire monastery was built on a 20-meter-tall, massive boulder, looking like a hidden secret embedded in the mountain from afar. There are no noisy tourists here, only the sound of wind fluttering prayer flags, making it perfect for those who want to wander in thought, meditate, or nurture a curiosity about Tibetan history.

The story of Pabongka begins with Songtsen Gampo. In 643 AD, before the construction of the Jokhang Temple, this Tubo king chose this place as his meditation retreat and practiced here in seclusion with his ministers for three years. More fascinatingly, the Tibetan script we use today was created by Thonmi Sambhota right here in this monastery, on the stone wall of the monastery gate corridor, the first ever carved Six-Syllable Mantra remains. Touch the stone wall, and you can almost feel the radiance of wisdom from a thousand years ago.