Palace of King Darub (, Daruluk Gyelpoi Podrang, ), locally referred to as Zongkar (, “White Palace”), is the earliest surviving royal complex in Gonjo County, Tibet. Built during the Tibetan Empire after Darub was enfeoffed as a regional king, it served as the political and religious center of eastern Kham.
History.
The palace combines Tibetan fortification and Buddhist temple architecture. Its 14-meter central tower, constructed with rammed earth mixed with crushed shells for whitening, houses a 9th-century chapel containing gilt-bronze statues of Padmasambhava, Avalokiteshvara, and King Trisong Detsen. Walls feature early Tibetan frescoes depicting imperial hunting scenes and tantric mandalas.
Notable relics include:
Listed as a Fifth-tier in 2009, the palace underwent stabilization of its southeastern wall in 2018. Access requires a permit from Qamdo's Cultural Bureau due to its fragile murals. Local festivals reenact Darub's annual tribute processions to Lhasa here every August. On October 7, 2019, the State Council announced it as the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.