Lhasa

Lasha the capital of Tibet at an the altitude of 3650m. is situated on the north bank of the Kiychu river.Lhasa in Tibetan means place of the gods and potala palace the residence of the Dalai Lama (the god king) is the earthly representation on the celestial palace of avaloketesawora . The Buddha of infinite compassion whose incarnation in the human from is believed to be the Dalai Lama . As Tibet's political , religious and culture centre it is a city truly blessed by the gods, where life is unhurried its people jovial and yet remaining staunchly independent.

Potala Palace

This legendary palace built atop a single hill is synonymous with Tibet . First foremost king, Songtsen Gompo,it was expanded to is present structure during the 17th century by the 5th Dalai Lama . This 13 storey, 1000 room citadel served as the headquarters of the former church-state' of Tibet and was home to successive Dalai Lama who, from the latter half of the 18 century, used it as their Winter Palace.

Klukang Monastery

Located in the northern part of the old city of Lhasa , the Klukang Monastery was built in the mid-seventh century. It was damaged and rebuilt several times. The monastery houses many murals and the statues of Sakyamuni, Maitreya and others. The main hall houses a gilded full-length statue of the eight-year old Sakyamuni brought to Tibet by the Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. The monastery is the location of the Tantric Collage of the Gelug Sect in Tibet .

Barkor Street

Barkor Street is a shoping street around the Jokhang Monastery. Being 500 meters long, it is also a way which the pilgrims walk around the monastery while turning prayer wheels in their hands.

Dragon King Pond

At the rear of the Potala Palace , a pond was left after the earth was collected for the construction of the palace in the mod-17 th century. The Sixth Dalai Lama Tsangyang Gyatso built a three-storey octagon pavilion in the middle of the pond and took a rest in it. The pavilion has the name for a statue of Dragon King in it.

Chrpu Monastery

Built in 1187, the Curpu Monastery is located in the Doilungdeqen County , 70 kilometers away from Lhasa . It is the main monastery of the Black Cap Group of the Karma Sect. The system of succession to grant the Living Buddha was originated here and has become popular among various sects of the Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibet Museum

Located at the southern corner of Norbu Lingka, Lhasa , it is the first modern museum in Tibet . It covers an area of 53,959 square meters and has a floor space of 23,508 square meters including an exhibition area of 10,41 square meters. The museum demonstrates a strict and magnificent traditional Tibetan architectural style. Also it reflects a salient feature of modern architectural art.

The museum houses a rich collection of cultural relics including various kinds of cultural relics of pre-history, handwritten Tibetan classics, colorful Thangka pictures, music and ritual instruments, unique handicrafts and pottery. From the exhibition, the visitors can see the long standing history and profound cultures and art of the Tibet

Outside the exhibition hall are green lawns and shadowy trees. Also there are a performance area for modern cultural and physical activities, a garden of local customs and folk culture and manor houses. In addition, the museum has a cultural gallery, handicraft shop and other service facilities. It is good place for people to relax while visiting the exhibition.

Lhasa River

A tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo, Lhasa River is a place for Tibetan to have a bath and wash their clothes in the seventh month of the Tibetan calendar. During this Bathing Festival from Garmagun in the foot of the Sera Monastery, people are enjoying their bathing and washing. A legend says during the festival the Lhasa River water is good as the holy water. If you like you can join the local people to have a bath in the holy water. In addition, on the southern bank of the river you can see a reflection of the Potala Palace in the river. /some photographers and funs wait here for this wonderful scene. The Tablet to Mark the Construction of the Qinghai - Tibet Highway stands on the bank in front of the Long-Distance Bus Station in city proper. Aslo visitors can hire a canoe sewn up with pieces of cattle hide to cross the river here.

Drepung Monastery

Drive 8km west of Lhasa to Drepung Monastery. Said to be largest monastery in the world housing over 10000 monks .it was founded in 1416 by the disciple of Tsonkhapa founder of the yellow hat gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism . The second,third and the fourth Dalai Lamas lived and were entombed here .Drepung in Tibetan means Richmond.

Jokhang Temple

Situated in the heart of old Lhasa ,it house Tibet's most precious religious relic,a golden shakyamuni Buddha which was brought as a gift by the Chinese princess Wen Cheng on the occasion of her weeding to the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gompo . Surrounding the Jokhang temple in the Bustling Barkhor market place which is the religious and social focus of Lhasa . This the spiritual center of Tibet ,is also the heart of the Lhasa .

Ganden Monastery

Lies 40km east of Lhasa (approx 2hours drive) built by theTsong kha pa founder of the gulugpa order and most important gelugpa monastery in Tibet . In 1959, more than 5000 monks lived and situated here but were soon after dispersed today. Most of the building remain in ruins.

Sera Monastery:

5 km (3miles) north of Lhasa . Sera setting is one of the Lhasa 's prettiest . Once a community of more than 5000 monks , it was a virtually extinguished by the Chinese . The restored monastery sits below the brow of hill in which Tsongkhapa built a hermitage and spent several years meditating . One of the monks disciples began building sera in 1419, completing it a few years later.

The Norbulingkha

The jewel park'as it know in Tibetan , was built in the 18th century and served as the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. This colorful garden landscape was the site of picnic and public gatherings .The places are richly decorated , creating an atmosphere of peaceful repose.

Yamdrok Tso or Turquotse Lake

It is a lake of a glaring blue that radiates a near mystical charm. It is about 240kms in circumference and is more like an island sea .There are yak herders around and the lake itself supports population of scale less fish in its non saline waters. It is about 124kms from Lhasa.

Gyangtse

Gyangtse is a pastoral town between Lhasa and Xigatse .It is 264kms southwest of Lhasa (8hours drive) it still retains the charm of the traditional Tibetan town untouched by modern expansion. It made world headlines in 1904 when colonel young husband, who led British expedition to Tibet defeated the Tibetan army there . As a crossroad on the principle trade route to India ,it used to be renowned for the excellence of its carpets. The compound encircled by an impressive wall, once contained 19 monasteries, presided over by the still intact fortes perched atop a near by mountain.

Kumbum

It is one of the most unique an magnificent buildings in Tibet consisting of 6 storeys complete with a Buddhist hall and a prayer hall. It has 112 chapels and its walls are adorned with religious paintings. Built in the 15 century ,it has withstood all battles and revolutions since.

The Paelkhor Chode Monastery

Located near the khumbum . It was founded in the 15century. It has been remarkably well preserved and many of the statues and paintings inside it date back to the time of its founding.

Xigatse

Xigatse is the second largest town in Tibet and the capital of Tsang, lying 354km west of Lhasa at an altitude of 3810m.

Zham Town

A small mountainous town bordering with Nepal is 2,300 meters above sea level. Its houses are built along the mountain slope. Many Nepalese businessmen come here for business. The tourists to Nepal will have a short stay here. Some of them just join the one day tours to Nepal .

Palkor Monastery:

Located at the western end of the Changge Range inGyangze County , it was built in 1414. Its 17 Dratsang (colleges) belong to three sects of Sagya, Kadam and Gelug and gather all religious sects, a salient feature of the monastery. Its main building is the Hall Coqen. By the monastery stands the resplendent Palkor pagoda. This nine storey pagoda is 32.5 meters high and has 108 doors. Its 77 Buddhist halls house some 100,000 statues of Buddhas. SO the pagoda is alsop famous as the "100,000 Buddha Pagoda".

Salu Monastery

Some 30 kilometers to the southeast of Xigaze, the monastery was built in 1000. It demonstrates a combination of the Tibet and Han architectural styles. It is famous for its sandalwood slips carved with Buddhist scripture and a jar for filling sacred water. It is said that for years the water does not decrease or deteriorate. The murals in the monastery are rich in contents and excellent in workmanship and are one of the rare fine arts in Tibet .

Mt. Qomolangma

Located in boarding areas with Nepal inTingri County , it is 8,844.43 meters high, the tallest mountain of the world. In the area of 5,000 square kilometers around the mountain, there are four peaks being more than 8,000 meters high and 38 peaks being more than 7,000 meters high. At the foot of Mt. Qomolangma or 40 kilometers away stands the Rongpu Monastery, with the highest elevation in the world. The monastery has become a camp of mountaineers from northern slope to Mt. Qomolangma . On the northern slope of the peak there are 217 glaciers with the Rongpu Glacier being the largest.

Rongpu Monastery

Atop the Rongpu Qinzhogma Hill at the foot of Mt. Qomolangma the monastery is 90 kilometers away from the Tingri County seat and is 5,800 meters above the sea level, the highest of its kind in the world. Annually it holds three day sorcerers activities on the 15 th of the fourth month and the Ghost Beating Festival on the 29 th of the 11 th month of the Tibetan calendar.

Tashilhunpo Monastery

Founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the first Dalai Lama. It is the seat of the Panchen Lama who is second to the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy . The 5th Dalai Lama declared that his teacher, then the Abbot of Tashilhunpo, who a manifestation of the Buddha Amitabha and the fourth in line of incarnate Lamas who would henceforth be referred to by the title of Pancen Rrinpochhe. Tashihunpo has one of the world's largest status -a 9 storeyed gilded bronze statute of Maitriya, the future Buddha.

Sakya Monastery

Sakya lies 143km to the south-west of Xigatse. Sakya monastery, the centre of the sakya order of the Tibetian Buddhism , was founded in 1073 by Knochok Gyalpo during the rule of Sakyapas the priest patron relationship between Tibetan and China was established. Sakyapa rules reigned over Tibet for nearly a hundred years from 13-14 th century. Many of its priceless images frescos statues, holy scriptures remaining today date back to the time of its founding.

Xegar

Also called New Tingri, surrounded by Mountains, is another town that lies in shadow of a great fortress. Even in ruins it is majestic. Seeming to go out of the craggy brown rock, its sinuous wall bristles with watchtowers like stegosaurus sPines. Isolated in 1855 by marauding Nepalese in search of booty, the gurkhas cut of the dzong's water supply and settled in for a long siege. Shegar proper has little to recommend it except the highest post office in china.

Zhangmu

Known to Nepali as khasa , hangs on a cliff face, its boom town architecture having a temporary look; even the monastery roofs are sheathed in corrugated iron sheets.