Shegar (also known as New Tingri) is reached by turning off the Friendship Hwy at Baber and heading 7km northwest. It's worth a visit for the ruins of Shegar Dzong (Crystal Fort), once the capital of the Tingri region. The remains of the dzong's defensive walls snake incredibly over the pinnacle that looms over town. A 2km kora trail leads up from the western side of town to the top of the impossibly steep crag. Along the way you can see Mt Everest in the distance. Morning light is best for taking photographs.
On the way up you'll pass the Shegar Chode Monastery, a small Gelugpa institution built in 1269. A painting inside depicts the monastery at its height, when it had around 800 monks. These days only a few remain, but they are happy to have visitors sit and chat with them in the courtyard. Keep an eye out for the 'longevity sheep' (sheep that were saved from slaughter) that hang out in the courtyard.
