Lhasa is the spiritual and political capital of Tibet, as well as the region's largest city. With an elevation of 3,650 meters, Lhasa is one of the highest inhabited places on Earth. Lhasa means “land of the gods” in Tibetan.
Potala Palace
Potala Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994, and contains the White and Red Palaces. The White Palace or Potrang Karpo comprises the living quarters of the Dalai Lamas, as well as offices, the seminary and printing house. The Red Palace or Potrang Marpo is devoted to religious study and Buddhist prayer. The complex has an intricate layout of many different halls, chapels and libraries on different levels, as well as smaller galleries and winding passages.
Only 2000 visitors are allowed each day, so tickets must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.
Norbulingka Palace
Norbulingka, or The Jewelled Park, was the summer residence of the Dalai Lamas from the 1780s until the 14th Dalai Lama's exile from Tibet in 1959. Part of the Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Norbulingka is a recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built by the 7th Dalai Lama from 1755 and served as an administrative and religious centre. It is a unique example of Tibetan palace architecture, and covers an area of around 36 hectares. Norbulingka is on the west side of Lhasa, a short distance southwest of Potala.
Jokhang Monastery
The Jokhang Monastery, in Lhasa's Barkhor Square, is a sacred and important temple in Tibet. It blends Indian vihara, Chinese Tang Dynasty and Nepalese architectural styles. Jokhang was founded during the reign of King Songsten Gampo. According to legend, the temple was built for the monarch's two brides, Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal. The wives are said to have brought important Buddhist statues and imagery from China and Nepal to Tibet as part of their dowries, which were kept in the monastery.
Lhasa is the capital and largest city in Tibet, whose name means “land of the gods”. It sits on Qinghai-Tibetan plateau on the banks of the Lhasa River at an altitude of 3,650 metres above sea level, and is one of the highly inhabited regions on earth. The city is surrounded by the Himalaya mountain range and steeped in over 1,300 years of history.
Guests can reach Lhasa by train or by air via Lhasa Gongar Airport. The hotel is in the city centre, a 10-minute drive from Lhasa Railway Station and 40-minute drive from the airport.
Lalu Wetlands National Nature Reserve, also known as Lhasa Wetlands Nature Preserve, comprises 625 hectares (1,540 acres) of protected wetlands in the centre of Lhasa. The wetlands are completely surrounded by Lhasa. The international importance of this reserve is recognized by the Ramsar Convention on wetlands.
Yamdrok Lake
Yamdrok Lake is one of the three holy lakes of Tibet, 100km southeast of Lhasa. The lake, which is over 72km long, is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and fed by many small streams. According to local mythology, the lake represents the transformation of a goddess.
Namtso Lake
Namtso (Heavenly) Lake is a mountain lake over 100km northwest of Lhasa. At 4,718 meters above sea level, the Namtso Lake is higher than all other lakes in the world. Namtso is one of Tibet's three holy lakes, with an area of 1,920 square kilometres.
Ramoche Temple
Ramoche Temple is a Buddhist monastery covering a total area of 4,000 square metres (almost one acre). It is a really important temple in Lhasa after Jokhang Monastery.
Sera Monastery
The Sera complex is divided into two sections by pathways. The eastern part contains the Tsokchen (Great Assembly Hall) and the Homdong Kangtsang (dwelling units), while the western part houses the three colleges of the Sera Je Tratsang, the Sera Me Tratsang and the Ngkapa Tratsang of Gelug (Lama Tsongkhapa) traditions. These were founded by Tsongkhapa as monastic universities that catered to monks from the ages of 8 to 70. The monastery belongs to the Gelukpa Order and is one of the largest in Lhasa.
Drepung Monastery
Drepung Monastery, 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 kilometres west of Lhasa.
Tsubu Monastery
Tsubu Monastery is the traditional seat of the Karmapa lamas in Gurum town, 70km from Lhasa. The monastery is about 4,300 metres above sea level. It was built in the middle of the Dowo Lung valley, on the north side of the river, with high mountains surrounding the 300 square-metre complex. The original walls of the main building were up to four metres thick. The monks' residences were on the eastern side.
Ganden Monastery
Ganden Monastery or Ganden Namgyeling is one of the Great Three Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located on Wangbur Mountain, Tagtse County, at an altitude of 4,300 metres. Ganden means "joyful" and is the Tibetan name for Tuṣita, the heaven where the bodhisattva Maitreya is believed to reside. Namgyal Ling means "victorious temple".
Samye Monastery
The Samye Monastery or Samye Gompa was built between 775 and 779 CE under the patronage of King Trisong Detsen. The monarch sought to revitalize Buddhism, which had declined since King Songtsen Gampo introduced it to Tibet in the 7th century. The monastery is in Dranang, Shannan Prefecture. Its design is supposedly modeled on Odantapuri monastery in Bihar, India. The 18th-century Puning Temple of Chengde, Hebei Province, was modeled after Samye Gompa.
Barkhor is a public square and narrow streets around Jokhang Monastery. The Barkhor is a popular devotional walk for pilgrims and locals, encircling Jokhang, Muru Nyingba Monastery (seat of the former State Oracle), and a number of nobles' houses including Tromzikhang and Jamkhang. The Tromzikhang market is busy in Barkhor, and the area is a major tourist attraction.