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Beside white snow capped mountains, verdant virgin forests and tranquil beautiful lakes, the devotional pilgrims progress toward their places of worship by prostrating themselves under the sky and along the roads, making people humble and modest. At Lhasa Jokhang temple we had the first encounter with the Tibetan pilgrims - such an experience!Tibet, the lost paradise under the sky, is undoubtedly a place where the spirit still lives...
The sacrest spot in Tibet, built on a former lake by a Nepalese princess - Bhrikuti.The main hall, over 1,300 years old, is the oldest shrine of the complex. Above the major entrance, there is a Dharma Wheel (chakra) flanked by two deer. This represents the unity of all things and symbolizes Sakyamuni himself. On both sides of the passageway, paintings showing the building of the temple, and renderings of the temple from the seventh century are adorned on the wall. The statue of Sakyamuni at age 12 sits in the middle of the hall. It has been gilded many times and decorated elaborately with jewels typical of Tibet. Statues of King Songtsem Gampo, Princess Wen Cheng and Princess Bhrikuti are on the second floor. On the top floor, there are four gilded bronze tile tops crafted in the emblematical Tang style.
Tibet, the roof of the world, as impressive from plane as from stories and movies! Snowy majestic mountain peaks, silvery rivers and lakes, as mysterious and exotic as the religious culture and its amazing people!
Everyone knows and visits the Potala Palace. There is a lesser known but as majestic monastery call Drepung. It is perched on the mountains across the river, facing you when you walk out of the Lhasa train station. It is at a distance, so if you don't look for it you won't see it. But your camera zoom lense will bring in a clear view of it. Unlike the Potala, Drepung is still fully "operating". While we were finding our ways in the maze among white brick buildings and endless granite steps, we heard chanting and group debates by resident lamas. The best of it was there were hardly anyone else. The place seems to have stand still in time since thousands of years ago, solemn, spiritual, and mysterious. We were there from 2pm-5pm. The mere few souls we bumped into are humble and friendly lamas (very different mentality from those of Potala). Photo coming soonGetting to Drepung, take public...
This trip is a must do for Tibet. Try and include a side trip to Everest Base Camp. The key to a successful trip is to have a driver who is knowledgeable and flexible. I was lucky enough to meet Dawa, an independent driver with his own good vehicle, who speaks good English. Dawa also drives for a company in Lhasa so it's best if you can contact and hire him direct. You'll not have to pay a commission for the agency who hires him and you'll get the same or better service as he will be able to customise your trip without being under any company restrictions.To contact Dawa, try 0891 - 6380238 or 0891 - 6573958This trip can also be done in reverse if you're coming up from Nepal.
The Tashilunpo monastery is one of the great religious centres in Tibet. It was almost untouched by the cultural revolution and contains numerous impressive chapels and prayer halls.The Monastery was founded in 1447 and is the largest Yellow Hat sect monastery in Tibet. Shigaste is Tibet’s 2nd most important city and Tashilunpo was the seat of the Panchen Lamas. At its peak, Tashilunpo had more than 4,000 monks in its 4 monasteries. Upon the death of a Panchen Lama, it was the 4 abbots of these monasteries that would lead the search for his infant reincarnation.The monastery is a striking red, white and black Tibetan structure with a golden roof. Within the monastery there is a 5 story temple, which contains a 26 meters (86ft) sitting statue of the Maitreya Buddha. The statue was cast from 6,700 ounces of gold and over 115,000 kg of copper, making it the biggest copper Buddhist statue...
A Kumbum is a multi-storied aggregate of Buddhist chapels in Tibet.Only three Kumbums are said to exist. The best known is the Gyantse Kumbum. A further Kumbum is at Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Si) near Xining in modern Qinghai province in China Concecrated in AD 1436, this structure contains 108 chapels in its four floors, and is illustrated with over 10,000 murals.The Kumbum at Gyantse is a three dimensional mandala, meant to portray the Buddhist cosmos. The Kumbum, like other mandalas, which are portrayed by a circle within a square, enables the devotee to take part in the Buddhist perception of the universe and can depict one's potential as they move through it. Mandalas are meant to aid an individual on the path to enlightenment. The Kumbum holds a vast number of images of deities throughout its structure with Vhajra Dhara, the cosmic Buddha, at the top.
The Palcho Monastery or Pelkor Chode Monastery is the main monastery in Gyantse.It is most notable for its Kumbum stupa which has 108 chapels in its four floors. The monastery was founded in 1418 In the early 20th century, the town and monastery were attacked by British soldiers and bullet holes remain in the monastery to this day.Its a bit of a climb to the top but its worth it for the views.
Gyantse is 3,977 metres (13,050 feet) above sea level, and is located on the Friendship Highway, which connects Kathmandu, Nepal to Lhasa, Tibet.Gyantse is the fourth largest city in Tibet (after Lhasa, Sigatse and Chamdo). It is often referred to as the "Hero City" because during the British Younghusband expedition of 1904, the 500 soldiers of the Gyantse fort resisted in a siege of several weeks, before they were by overcome by the superior equipment of the British.Gyantse is notable for the Kumbum of the Palcho Monastery. Commissioned in 1440, this religious structure contains 108 chapels in its four floors, and is illustrated with over 10,000 murals, the last of its type in Tibet. Many of the new clay statues are of less artistry than the destroyed originals - but they are still spectacular.
Yamdrok Lake is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet It is over 45 miles long.The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and is fed by numerous small streams outlet stream at its far western end. According to local mythology, Yamdok Yumtso lake is the transformation of a goddess.Around 90 km to the west of the lake lies the Tibetan town of Gyantse and Lhasa is a hundred km to the northwest. At the time I travelled the road to Gyantse was closed for construction so we had to take the longer route via Shigatse.The lake has a power station that was completed and dedicated in 1996 near the small village of Pai-Ti at the lake’s western end. This power station is the largest in Tibet.
Yak Hotel Lhasa
8 Reviews and 61 Opinions This is a supposedly 3 star hotel but why remains a mystery. We stayed there for 2 days on our...
Gyantse Hotel Gyangze
2 Reviews and 29 Opinions The hotel's official rating is ***, which did mean it was pretty basic - and so it was (it would not...
Kyichu Hotel (Jiqu Fandian) Lhasa
1 Review and 65 Opinions I stayed at this hotel in February 2007. The beds were hard, but that's normal in China. They had...
Reviews and photos of Tibet attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Tibet sightseeing.
Q: I am planning a trip of a life time and have two years to do so… so first I want to get some ideas from seasoned travelers and...
A: If you want to hike or bike, Tibet (which is stunning, by the way) is probably not going to work out. The Chinese government will only issue permits for people to enter...
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