Purang is an ancient
trading post. Indian and Nepali communities residing in the mountainous parts of India and Nepal bordering the Purang county have for many generations conducted trade with Tibetan communities at Purang. But the conditions under which this trade presently happens are significantly different from those prevailing before the mid-twentieth century. The government of Nepal issues special border area passes to its citizens who are bona-fide residents of the border district of
Humla, which enables them to seek seasonal work in Purang. On a cliff above the town was the large ancient fort of
Tegla Kar (Lying
Tiger Fort) and
Simbiling Monastery (both totally destroyed in 1967 by Chinese artillery during the
Cultural Revolution, but the monastery has since been partially restored). Beneath them is the
Tsegu Gompa or the "Nine-Storey Monastery" which was probably originally a
Bön establishment. Tsegu covers many
terraces and may be reached by ladders, and contains many unique and ancient wall-painting, darkened from centuries of smoke. It seems that the Tegla kar (Lying Tiger fort) was built during the
Zhangzhung dynasty which was conquered by the Tibetan king
Songtsen Gampo in the early 7th century CE. It became the main fort of the Purang Kingdom, in the 10th century under King Kori, one of the two sons of Tashi Gon, King of the
Guge Kingdom. The Purang kingdom is believed to have ended in the 15th century. In addition, Purang is said to be the place where
Sudhana, a previous incarnation of the
Buddha, lived. Purang is the gateway town for travel to
Mount Kailash and
Lake Manasarovar to the north. These are important destinations for
Bon,
Buddhist,
Hindu,
Jain and even
New Age pilgrims.
Traditional cosmology designates Mount Kailash the
center of the universe. Great religious merit is attributed to
parikrama around the mountain, and to
bathing in Lake Manasarovar. == Administrative divisions ==