Drigung Til Monastery... loading/unloading zone

This is the arrival spot for all vehicle traffic to the monastery. There is alot of recontruction going on here, and you can see the stacks of lumber which have been unloaded here, to be carried up to the new buildings as needed. This complex must have a decent and regular monatary income due to all the funerals, as funerals are THE main activity at this monastery. From before dawn to after sun down there is a steady stream of groups arriving with their deceased loved ones, and other groups going through different segments of the funerarial process. Everything is unloaded at this spot. Offerings, bodies in wooden-slat crates, sacks of rice and flour as partial payment to the monastery, piles of clothing and blankets, mourning pilgrims, etc...... This was the view from our room at the monastery guesthouse...