China to protect mausoleum compound of Tibetan kings
Beijing, Aug 24. (PTI): China is investing about $5.4 million to protect the largest group of mausoleums of ancient Tibetan kings, located in Khyonggyal county in the Himalayan region, a report said today.
Covering a total area of 385 square metres, the nine mausoleums are the last resting places of the 29th to 40th (and last) Tibetan kings, their wives and senior officials of the Tubo Kingdom (700-900), Xinhua news agency reported from Lhasa, Tibet's capi tal.
Among these mausoleums is that of Songtsan Gambo, the most famous Tibetan king because of his epoch-making marriage with princess Wencheng of the early Tang dynasty (618-907) when Tibet was a dependency under the jurisdiction of the dynasty, it said.
According to the head of the county, Puncong-Wangue, the projects for the tomb's protection have already been launched, and a planned road running through the area has been re-routed so as to preserve the harmony of the scenery.
In addition, a 2.4-km-long embankment has been built to prevent the nearby Khyonggyal river causing any damage to the site.
He said the surface of the tomb mounds, built of clay and rocks, have been badly damaged by erosion over the centuries.
Archaeological work is now under way in the mausoleums area, and the overall protection programme will be launched after this work is completed within one year.
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