Holiday Destination: Lhasa

Lhasa is the administrative capital and a prefecture level city of the Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. It is the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining, Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world. The city contains many culturally significant Tibetan Buddhist sites such as the Potala Palace, Jokhang temple and Norbulingka palaces, many of which are located in Chengguan District, the city seat. Differing from the inland cities and other places in Tibet, Lhasa is unique with an allure all of its own. In the Tibetan language, Lhasa means the Holy Land or the Buddha Land. It is the center of Tibet's politics, economy and culture. The city has also been appointed as one of the 24 historical and cultural cities of China. The splendor and grandeur of the Potala Palace in Lhasa remains a world famous symbol of the enigmatic power of politics and religion in this region. Generally speaking, due to the large temperature differences during any given day in Tibet, warm clothes should be taken to keep away the cold. However, because it also receives a great deal of sunshine, sunglasses, suntan oil, and a sun hat are indispensable items if you're traveling anywhere in Tibet.

Climate

Summer 16.0 °C (60.8 °F), Winter (-1.6) °C (29.1 °F)

Tourist Season

March to October is best for tourism.

Accommodation

Hotels.

General Information Of Lhasa

• Land Area: 20 sq mi (53 km2)
• Population: 11 Lakh.
• Capital City: Xizang (Tibet).
• Language: Chinese and English.

Tourist Attraction in or Near by Lhasa

Barkhor Street

The Barkhor is an area of narrow streets and a public square located around Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet. The Barkor is a popular devotional circumabulation for pilgrims and locals. The walk was about one kilometre long and encircled the entire Jokhang, the former seat of the State Oracle in Lhasa called the Muru Nyingba Monastery, and a number of nobles' houses including Tromzikhang and Jamkhang. There were four large incense burners in the four cardinal directions, with incense burning constantly, to please the gods protecting the Jokhang. The Tromzikhang market is busy in Barkhor, and the area is a major tourist attraction. Barkhor Square and Jokhang Temple Because the Jokhang Temple has been a symbolic center of Tibetan protest since 1987, the Barkhor has also seen many demonstrations. In 1989, when year the 14th Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize, pro Dalai Lama residents threw tsampa around the Barkhor to celebrate. After the Central government denounced the prize, residents who continued such demonstrations were arrested.

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery bras spungs dgon literally Rice Heap monastery, located at the foot of Mount Gephel, is one of the "great three" Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet. The other two are Ganden and Sera. Drepung is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries and is located on the Gambo Utse mountain, five kilometers from the western suburb of Lhasa. Since the 1950s, Drepung Monastery, along with its peers Ganden and Sera, have lost much of their independence and spiritual credibility in the eyes of Tibetans since they operate under the close watch of the Chinese security services. All three were reestablished in exile in the 1950s in Karnataka state in south India. Drepung and Ganden are in Mundgod and Sera is in Bylakuppe.

Jokhang Temple

The Jokhang is located on Barkhor Square in Lhasa. For most Tibetans it is the most sacred and important temple in Tibet. The temple's architectural style is a mixture of Indian vihara design, Chinese Tang Dynasty design, and Nepalese design. It was founded during the reign of king Songsten Gampo. According to tradition, the temple was built for the two brides of the king, Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal. Both wives are said to have brought important Buddhist statues and images from China and Nepal to Tibet as part of their dowries, and they were housed here. Many Nepalese artists worked to construct this temple. During the Bon period of Tibet the temple was called the Zuglagkang. The term zuglag refers to the sciences such as geomancy, astrology, and divination which formed part of the pre Buddhist shamanistic religion now referred to as Bon. It is more commonly known today as the Jokhang, which means the "House of the Buddha".

Norbulingka

Norbulingka is a palace and surrounding park in Lhasa, Tibet, built from 1755. It served as the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas from the 1780s up until the 14th Dalai Lama's exile in 1959. Part of the Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Norbulingka is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was added as an extension of this Historic Ensemble in 2001. It was built by the 7th Dalai Lama and served both as administrative centre and religious centre. It is a unique representation of Tibetan palace architecture. Norbulingka Palace is situated in the west side of Lhasa, a short distance to the southwest of Potala Palace. Norbulingka covers an area of around 36 hectares and considered to be the largest man made garden in Tibet. Norbulingka park is considered the premier park of all such horticultural parks in similar ethnic settings in Tibet. During the summer and autumn months, the parks in Tibet, including the Norbulinga, become hubs of entertainment with dancing, singing, music and festivities.

Tibet Museum

The region of Lhasa accounts to be one of the most desired tourist destinations especially for all those who wish to go for a unique vacation. Tibet Museum, Lhasa forms one of the popular attractions in this place. This museum comprises of a separate area for exhibition. This area accounts for about 10, 451 square meters. Special facilities and security services for the tourists are to be found in this museum. In order to cater to the international tourists, the exhibitions are conducted in various languages such as English, Chinese, Japanese and Tibetan. In the year of 1994, the establishment of the Tibet Museum in Lhasa was considered to be one of the Aid Tibet Projects. It was in October 1999, during the 50th anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China when this museum was inaugurated. The name of the museum was encrypted by the former Chinese chairman, Jiang Zemin.

Chimpu Caves

This is one of the popular tourist attractions in Lhasa and hence has attracted millions of tourists for centuries over. So come and visit the Chimpu Caves, Lhasa. These caves are within a lush U shaped valley and serve both the purpose of relaxation and pilgrimage. These again played a great role in maintaining Buddhist traditions during periods of persecution. This is also known as Qingpu Shandong. These caves were also the centers for imparting education before formal monasteries were established.

Ganden Monastery

Ganden Monastery is one of the great three Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located at the top of Wangbur Mountain, Tagtse County. The other two great monasteries are Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery. Ganden Monastery one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet is located on Wangbur Mountain at an altitude of 3,800 meters. Being one of the Three great Temples, Ganden Monastery, is preserved by the National Key Cultural Relic Preservation scheme in 1961. The other two temples are the Sera Monastery and the Drepung Monastery.

Lhasa Carpet Factory

Lhasa Carpet Factory is a factory south of Yanhe Dong Lu near the Tibet University in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It produces traditional Tibetan rugs that are exported worldwide through Canton. Although the actual weaving and finishing is done by hand using old style vertical looms, many of the stages of the process are now mechanised and the dyeing is not done at the factory. It is a modern factory the largest manufacturer of rugs throughout Tibet employing some 300 workers. Traditionally Tibetan women were the weavers, men the spinners, but both work on the rugs today.

Potala Palace

The Potala Palace is located in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is named after Mount Potalaka, the mythical abode of Chenresig or Avalokitesvara. The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India, during the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Lozang Gyatso, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, started the construction of the Potala Palace in 1645 after one of his spiritual advisers, Konchog Chophel, pointed out that the site was ideal as a seat of government, situated as it is between Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa. It may overlay the remains of an earlier fortress, called the White or Red Palace, on the site built by Songtsen Gampo in 637. Today, the Potala Palace is a museum.

Sera Monastery

Sera Monastery is one of the great three Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located 1.25 miles north of Lhasa. The other two are Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery. The original Sera monastery is located in Lhasa, Tibet, about 5 km north of the Jokang and is responsible for some 19 hermitages, including four nunneries, which are all located in the foot hills north of Lhasa. The Sera Monastery, as a complex of structures with the Great Assembly Hall and three colleges, was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Chojey of Sakya Yeshe of Zel Gungtang a disciple of Tsongkhapa. During the 1959 revolt in Lhasa, Sera monastery suffered severe damage, with its colleges destroyed and hundreds of monks killed.

Accessibility

Bus Terminal in or Near by

Lhasa Dongjiao Bus Passenger Transport Station

3 Jiangsu East Road
Chengguan, Lhasa, Xizang (Tibet), China

Airports in or Near by

Huanghua Airport: For international and domestic flights.

Railway Stations

Lhasa Gonggar Airport

Doilungdeqen
Lhasa, Xizang (Tibet), China

Lhasa Railway Station

Doilungdeqen
Lhasa, Xizang (Tibet), China