Dzongkar

Dzongkar, the “White Fortress,” was the royal stronghold of Mangyül Gungthang in the upper Kyirong valley. The kingdom occupied an important approach between Tibet and Nepal, with the lower valley town of Kyirong serving as a centre of exchange. Its rulers traced their descent to the old Tibetan royal house and governed a domain tied by marriage and religious patronage to the powers of central Tibet.

In the thirteenth century Mangyül Gungthang came under Sakya overlordship. The kingdom endured changes of masters and rivalries among its neighbours for centuries. Its last king faced revolts in border districts, and in 1619 the armies of the ruler of Tsang surrounded his kingdom and took him away. He died the following year, when Tsang's conquest brought the royal line's rule to an end.