POTALA PALACE: The Potala
Palace is surely one of the wonders of
the world. It rises more than 3000m over
the valley floor. This is 13 storied, with
1000 rooms, living quarter of the Dalai
lamas apartments for Regents, Tutors, High
Lamas, splendid ceremonial areas, offices
of Chapel, Shrine and corridors, Treasuries,
cell for monks and servants, granaries
and store rooms. The 5th Dalai Lama Kundung
(Chorden) is covered with 3700 gold and
the 13th Dalai Lama, with a ton of gold
besides priceless jewels..
NORBU LINGKA PALACE: The 'Jewel
Pard" as it is known in Tibetan, was
built in the 18th century and served as the
Summer Palace of the 13th and the 4th Dalai
Lamas. The palace is an interesting mixture
of religious and modern elements and as we
walk through to see the main throne ball,
an audience hall, The Dalai Lama's Bed room
and prayer room and the room for his mother.
This colorful garden landscape was the site
of picnic and public gatherings. The palaces
are richly decorated, creating an atmosphere
of peaceful repose.
SERA MONASTERY: Once it was the
second largest of all monasteries in Tibet.
Sera "Enclosure of Wild Rose ",
it was founded in 1419 by a disciple of Tsong
Khapa. At its peak, it housed over 7000 monks
and was famous for its warrior monks, the "Dob-Doa".
We will visit Ngawa chanting hall and see
the remarkable murals in the Drezme College’s
chanting Hall.
JORKHANG TEMPLE: Situated in the
heart of old Lhasa, houses which was brought
as a
gift by the Chinese princess Wen Cheng on
the occasion of her wedding the Tibetan king,
Songtsen Gompo. Surrounding the Jolkhang
Temple is the bustling Bharkhor market place
which is the religious and social focus of
Lhasa.
DREPUNG MONASTERY: Drepung lies
8km west of Lhasa on the main road, then
3km north
a steep unpaired road. Its name Drepung Means "Rice
Heap “was the biggest and the richest
of all monasteries in Tibet. This monastery
is said to be the largest monastery in the
world, housing over 10000 monks and governed
7700 subsidiary monasteries and was divided
into four colleges, each with its chanting
ball, dormitories, kitchens and offices.
It was founded in 1416 by the disciple of
Je Tsonkhapa, founder of the Yellow Hat Gelukpa
Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The second, third
and fourth Dalai Lamas lived and were entombed
here. The entire monastic communities assemble
only for special ceremonies and festivals.
Today, about 400 monks lived there. Approaching
Drepung, you will see the Nechung Temple,
the home of the State Oracle the present
oracle lives in India.
BHAKHOR MARKET: Walk along the Barkhor
street that circles the Jolkhang and you
are in
the heart of the old Lhasa with its narrow
streets whitewashed stone homes, windows
framed in black and brightly painted woodwork
and almost everyone has got something to
sell over there.
YAMDROK TSO
(Lake): it is one of holy lakes in Tibet
lying about 100 kilometers southwest
of Lhasa. It is 4441 meters above sea level.
We usually drop a visit here on the way from
Lhasa to Gyantse. There are many islands
providing homes to wild ducks and geese.
It is also called the "Fish Store of
Tibet".
PALKHOR MONASTERY: At the foot of Dzong
Hill nearby Gyantse, Pelkhor Monastery is
a very special monastery in Tibet. There
are monks from Gelugpa, Sakyapa and Kahdampa
order living harmoniously together although
they quarreled and fought. It is famous for
the Kumbu Stupa built in 1412 and completed
10 years later. In the stupa, there are 108
gates and 77 chapels
TASHILUMPO MONASTERY: It was built in 1447
AD, the oldest and largest Gelugpa monastery
in Tibet, the seat of Banchen Lama, painted
in red and white, the buildings in the monastery
stand closely together in terraced rows,
offering a grand and majestic view. The most
amazing image in this monastery is the statue
of giant Maitreya (Future Buddha)--the largest
one in the world, erected by the 9th Panchen
Lama in 1914; it stands 26 meters in height
and 275 kg in weight with solid gold, great
quantity of precious things such as pearls,
turquoises, corals and ambers. The image
of the Buddha is kind, generous and vivid.
LHATSE: Small town near Shigatse
XEGAR: Small town near Everest
ZHANG MU: Small town near Nepal boarder
