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Tibet's religious roots run deep in the Yerpa Valley, a ruggedly beautiful site riddled by caves where ancient Tibetans created shrines both before and after the time of Songtsän Gampo, the great 7th century leader who united Tibet and introduced Buddhism to his people.

Some 16 kilometers to the northeast of Lhasa, the area today is home to ruins as well as active temples, shrines and meditation caves, many of which are home to murals, statues and other religious relics.

Yerpa came to be considered one of Tibetan Buddhim's holiest sites after Songtsän Gampo and two of his wives meditated in the Peu Marsergyi Temple and the Chogyel Puk, where they were allegedly enlightened and steeped in Buddha nature.

Subsequently, a number of historically important gurus and Tantric yogis built more temples and shrines in the valley, often within caves. At its height, over 100 caves were in use; today, some dozen can be visited, as can an ancient sky burial site.

Part of the valley's decline can be ascribed directly to the Cultural Revolution (1968-76), when Red Guards driven by their embrace of radical Maoism destroyed countless relics and temples throughout Tibet, deepening the ongoing crisis of trust between many Tibetans and the People's Republic of China that exists to this day. 

Drak Yerpa is also known as Brag Yer-pa, Yerpa, Druk Yerpa, Dagyeba, Dayerpa, and Trayerpa.

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