Lhasa Things to Do

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We did this monastery on our first exploring day after a hearty breakfast we walked with our tour guide and right when he opened the curtain to go in I heard the most beautiful voices praying in unison. It was absolutely compelling and peaceful.

Inside the Potala Palace, there are eight stupa-tomb chapels - each housing a three-tier stupa monument where the relics of the Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, and the Thirteenth Dalai Lamas are buried (the stupa of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama stands separately from the others and you need to be with either a monk or a guide to access it). The stupa funeral was unique to high ranking lamas - even holy people were usually buried following the traditional practice of sky burial.

The stupas themselves are richly decorated with ornamental motifs, as well as amber, pearl, coral, agate, diamond and other precious stones, as well as gold foil and sandalwood.

Stupa of the 5th Dalai Lama was the first to be built and is still the largest, reaching to almost 50 feet. It holds mummified and perfumed body of the Fifth Dalai Lama, as well as Buddhist relics, including the thumb of Sakyamuni, the Supreme Buddha.

The principal centre of the Buddhist worship in Tibet, the Jokhang houses over 3,250 statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, guardians and historical figures, with some dating back to as far as the 7th Century and the reign of the King Sangtsen Gampo. Majority of these originate from India and Nepal, as well as Tibet itself. The most important of these is the image of the Sakyamuni Buddha at the age of 12, housed in the chapel of Jowo Sakyamuni. Another important image is the statue of Chenresing (or Avalokiteshvara), which is considered to be the second holiest after the Jowo Sakyamuni.

In addition, there are over 1,250 tangkhas (religious paintings), over 500 stupas and countless other religious objects. Pretty much all of the most important images, artefacts and chapels are located in the inner sanctum of the Jokhang.

The Red Palace was begun several years after the death of the great 5th Dalai Lama, originally to house the stupa chapel that would house his remains. Further stupa chapels were added in later years. In addition to these, there are numerous Buddha chapels and sutra halls. For somebody used to the Western European planning and building regulations, it's hard to believe that the entire Red Palace was completed only in about 4 years.

While the White Palace is the administrative part, the Red Palace is entirely devoted to religion and prayer, and incorporates the holiest locations in the Potala Palace - the Saint's Chapel and King Songtsen's cave.

There are 4 further substantial chapels (West, East, South and North), as well as Great West Hall.

Chogyal Drubphuk chapel is the other ancient part of the Potala palace, also said to date back to the reign of King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. According to tradition, the chapel was the site of the cave where the King meditated (he was considered to be an incarnation of Bodhisattva Chenresing - an earlier legend tells of a cave that, in more ancient times, was the abode of Chenresing, and it was on the site of the present-day Potala palace). His statue (in a red turban, with the head of Amitabha emerging from the top) is the centrepiece of the chapel.

Songtsen Gampo's statue is flanked by the statues of two of his three wives, the Chinese wife Princess Wencheng (the taller figure in blue and gold garments) and the Nepalese wife Bhrikuti Devi

Part of the White Palace, Phakpa Lhakhang (Saint's Chapel or the Lokeshvara Chapel) is one of the two oldest surviving structures in the Potala Palace (the other is Chogyal Drubphuk), said to date back to the 7th century and the rule of King Songtsen Gampo.

It is also home to Potala's holiest image - the Arya Lokeshvara, and is usually one of the most crowded chapels in the building (and unfortunately, one of the smallest). There are also numerous other relics, such as the footprints of Padmasambhava (better known as Guru Rinpoche) from the rocks of Gungtang La pass.

The Barkhor kora, going around Tibet's most holy shrine - the Jokhang - is often described as the perfect introduction to Lhasa (even though if you're visiting the city with a guide, you won't normally start your trip there). To make orientation easier, the best place to start the first time is the square in front of the Jokhang (the Barkhor Square). As it is a traditional Tibetan Buddhism kora, the circumambulation should be done clockwise, keeping the Jokhang to your right at all times. The road will take you around the temple, at the same time following Lhasa's busiest and most traditional shopping area.

As you walk (and, no doubt, glance at some of the wares on offer at the stalls) along, you will see a number of smaller shrines (in order you will pass them if you start from the Barkhor Square): Mani Lhakhang, Jampa Lhakhang, Meru Nyingma Monastery, Gongkar Chode, and Jambhala Lhakhang.

It's worth doing the kora several times at different times of the day as the constant stream of pilgrims is always fascinating (sunset and sundawn are by far the busiest times) - and it's also an excellent chance to see the traditional costumes of Tibet's different regions and nationalities as they are often worn for pilgrimage.

Potala is the palace where the Dalai Lama spent the winter. Located in the highest part of Lhasa, can be seen from away. The problem is to climb on foot, without know how many stairs, and with altitude oxygen begins to be scarce. Complicated. We began to feel the heart beat faster and my legs to subside. But the visit is well worth once again, with lots of pilgrims ...

Sitted at the top of the city, allowing an extraordinary sight. It has 13 stories tall and over a thousand rooms. Built in part 631, currently divided into two main parts: the white palace, the spiritual zone (built in 1645) and the Red Palace, the administrative area (date 1693). Was once the center of the administrative and religious power in the country and is now a vast museum.