Place to See in Tibet

Lhasa:
Lhasa, the beautiful capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), is situated in the South Central Part of the region, on the North Bank of the Kyichu River (Lhasa River), in a mountain fringed valley. At an elevation of 3,658 m. (12,000 ft.) the city, nicknamed Sunlight City, is the highest city in the world. This ancient sprawling city, settled 1,300 years ago, covers 30,000 sq. kms. With a population of 4, 00,000 of which 87% are Tibetans. The urban population is 180000. The city has many Buddhist monuments and was the seat of the Dalai Lama, so that flocks of pilgrims have been making their pilgrimage to the city for centuries.

The Jokhang is the spiritual heart of the city and its visit is a must when travelling to Tibet. It is surrounded by the Barkhor and pilgrims from all over Tibet come to complete a circumambulation of this famous and fascinating market. Here you can find everything from prayer flags to jewel-encrusted yak skulls and it is considered good luck to walk around the Barkhor before entering the Jokhang temple. The Jokhang is the holiest Gompa in Tibet. Shuffle among the pilgrims and enjoy the atmosphere of this amazing place, where the smell of thousands of butterlamps fills the air. The Jokhang, which was built in 647 AD by the great king Songsten Gampo, contains the serene and sacred statue of Jowo Sakyamuni, which is believed to be a likeness of the Buddha when he was 12 years old. The Sera monastery is one of the best preserved monasteries in Tibet, renowned for its lively debating sessions in the courtyard in the afternoons. The monastery houses several hundred monks, who live and study within its whitewashed walls and golden roofs. Another monastery to see is the Dreprung, which was founded in the 14th century and with a population of around 10,000 monks it used to be the largest Gompa in the world. These days the figure has been reduced to several hundred but there is still much of interest to see here. Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, lies in a quiet and beautiful garden. One particular mural inside depicts the history of Tibet and all the Dalai Lamas. The rooms have remained as they were when the Dalai Lama left in 1959. Here you can also see where Heinrich Harrer ("Seven Years in Tibet") lived and taught English, as well as the cars which the Great 13th Dalai Lama imported to Tibet

More and more tourists from every corner of the world have been attracted to explore this vibrant city and its mysterious culture as well. Its unique scenery, long history, exotic culture, mysterious religion and spectacular monuments, make your stay a lifelong memory.

Shigatse:
Shigatse, also Xigatse, means "fertile land" and stands at the junction of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu River. It is the second biggest city in Tibet, situated at the altitude of 12,600 ft. It is the famous city for its great Tashilhunpo Monastery - the seat of the Panchen Lama, who is regarded as the reincarnation of the Buddha of Endless Enlightenment. Items of interest inside this monastery built in 1447 by the First Dalai Lama are: the relics of Sakyamuni, the Hall of Maitreya, and a incredible collection of thankas, frescoes and statues. There is also a dynamic 'free' market where one can buy local handicraft embedded with coral and turquoise, Tibetan Daggers, Chinese pottery and yak butter. Since it is the second biggest city of Tibet, it is the center for transportation and distribution of agriculture and other products.

Shigatse Prefecture connects with three countries of Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim in the south, Ngari in the west, Nagchu in the north and Lhasa and Lhokha in the east. It occupies an area of 176,000 square kilometers.

Historically, Shigatse Prefecture was called Tsang, which was an important administrative Prefecture of Tibet. After the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet in 1951, two Branch Working Committees were established in Shigatse and Gyantse, respectively. In 1956, an administrative office of the Prefecture level was established. In 1959, the Prefectural Commissioner's Office was set up in Shigatse and Gyantse, respectively. In 1964, one office which was merged from the two offices was named Shigatse Prefectural Commissioner's Office, and renamed in 1978 as Shigatse Administrative Office.
Shigatse Prefecture as the largest State trade port in Tibet administers 17 counties, 218 townships (including 12 towns), 1,752 villagers committees and 28 urban residents committees. Shigatse Prefecture has a varied topography with an average elevation of more than 4,000 meters.

Everest Base Camp:
The northern Everest Base Camp is one of the highlights for adventure travellers in Tibet and it provides stunning views of the Everest massif, as well as Makalu and Shishapangma. The spectacular Rongbuk glacier forms part of the amazing panorama you will be able to enjoy from your tent. Rongbuk monastery, which was founded in 1902 around a series of meditation caves which had been in use for over 400 years, is the last hint of civilization in this area. The lama here traditionally blesses all expeditions aiming for the summit of Mt. Everest. The trek to Advance Base Camp provides even more incredible views and a real sense of the awesome grandeur of this mountain.

Tsedang:
Tsedang (Zetang) is the birthplace of earliest Tibetans and the political and economical centre of Shangnan prefecture. It sits on the south bank in the middle section of the Yarlung Tsangbo River with a moderate climate at an altitude of 3,600 meters.

The nearby Yarlung River scenic area is a national scenic park with Samye Monastery, Yumbu Lhakang Palace, burial site for Tsampos and Traduk Monastery spotting the region. It is located between two mountain ranges at the northern side of Himalayas, to the south of Nyanchen Tanggula mountains, just by the Yalong Zangbu river, with land area over 800,000 square kilometers. The Yalong river flows from the south through the area and empty itself into Yalong zangbu river, hence the Yalong river formed a huge river delta at its end when it merges into another.

Kailash:
Mount Kailash is 6,714m high and with its four sheer walls and snow capped peak it is an awe-inspiring sight. Shaped like a diamond it is venerated among peaks like an eight-pedalled lotus. It also has geographical significance as four great rivers flow from it: the Karnali, the Indus, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra, which drain the vast Tibetan Plateau. However, it is most famous for its religious significance; Kailash is an object of devout pilgrimage for Buddhists and Hindus, who believe it is the abode of the Gods.

Lake mansarovar:
Lake Manasarovar is situated approximately 30km from Mt. Kailash and is one of the highest freshwater lakes in the world. This beautiful and sacred lake is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus, as it is believed that bathing in the holy (and cold) waters will cleanse one's sins. With views to Gurla Mandhata (7,728m) this is a place of serene beauty. On the northwest shore of the lake is the picturesque Chiu Monastery.

Yarlung and Tsedang:
Yarlung and Tsethang are known as the Valley of Tombs and the cradle of Tibetan civilization. The Tibetans believe they were born of a monkey and an ogress, and Tsethang is the home of the mysterious Monkey Cave. The old earth tombs of the great ancient Tibetan kings, including Songsten Gampo, scatter the plains in the highest royal graveyard in the world. You will also see small but charming temples containing statues of Songten Gampo, his wives and ministers. This area also boasts Tibet's oldest building, constructed in the 2nd century. Yambu Lakhang was built for the first Tibetan king Nyatri Tsenpo and is perched high in the mountains overlooking the plains. Once used as a summer palace by Songsten Gampo, it was converted to a monastery after he moved the capital to Lhasa.

Sera Monastery:
Sera is more like a small town on the outskirts of Lhasa at the base of Tatipu hill. It is the main teaching monastery and one of the three great Gelukpa 'Universities'- once housing more than 5500 monks. Here one can see the young novices learning scriptures in the Debating Garden and being rewarded for a correct answer with a resounding hand-clap from their Master, Sera is also the birthplace of Tibetan medicine.

Drepung Monastery:
Drepung monastery is situated in the west suburbs of Lhasa city. Formerly the largest and richest monastery in the world with 10,000 manks (now 400). It is the size of a small town and lies sprawled over the size of a small town and lies sprawled over the side of a mountain 8 km from Lhasa. Of particular interest is the medieval monk's kitchen with its great cauldrons of steaming barley 'stamp' sitting on top of huge earthen stoves and tented by saffron-robed monks wielding massive ladles….

Tsurpu:
Tsurpu monastery I built on the north side of the river in the Dowo Lung Valley. This is the home of Karmapa, Karmapa is the true 'living little Buddha' – the new reincarnated leader of the black hat sect. He is the only spiritual leader actually living in Tibet. The recent recognised 17th Karmapa can be visited by all visitors. Tsurpu monastery was built in 12th century. Tsurpu is the riches monastery in Tibet.

Gyantse:
Once Tibet's third most important city, lying in the Nyangchu valley along the main routes from India and Nepal to Lhasa. In former times it was a fort, the centre of Tiber's wool trade and a gateway to the outside world. Other spots of interest: Palcho monastery and the Kumbum Pagoda.

Sakya Monastery:
In 1073 Gongjue Jiebu of the Kun family built a monastery on the north bank of Zongqu River to teach his new esoteric theory of Buddhism. He was convinced that the monastery built on such a site would light the mundane world. Because the monastery was built by a chalky hill, it was named Sakya, meaning chalky earth in Tibetan. The Sakya Monastery built by (popular known as the North Temple) became inadequate for rising and evermore powerful Sakya establishment. A larger monastery, which is still standing today, was built on the south bank of Zongqu River by the Kun house and Pagpa, a well-known Tibetan in the Mongolian imperial court of the 13th century. This monastery, now popularly known as the South Sakya, sits against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains 165 kilometers west of Shigatse. In 1260 Pagpa was appointed the imperial tutor and later placed in charge of Buddhist affairs. Kublai Khan then appointed him ruler of Tibet.

Samye:
Built in the mid-8th century, Samye is the first formal Buddhist Monastery with the Buddha Dharma and Sangha in Tibet. The whole construction of the monastery, for the stupas forest-like, the building high and expansive, the scale grand and broad, is designed in accordance with the shape of "mandala" layout, and furthermore, the monastery is well-known to the whole world for the highlighted and mixed perfection of Han, Tibetan and Indian architecture style in the main hall and the numerous relics such as wood and stone carvings, frescos and statues kept in the monastery. As described in a historical book, this monastery is considered "an unimaginable construction and incomparable monastery". Over the centuries it has come under the influence of the Nyingma, Sakya and Geluk schools and is thus considered a symbol of Tibet’s national identity.

Tsetang:
Tsetang (Zetang), the birthplace of earliest Tibetans, sits on the south bank in the middle section of the Yarlung Tsangbo River Traduk Monastery is one of the earliest Buddhist temples in Tibetan history. Built in 641 A.D., it is said that King Songtsan Gampo established the temple to suppress the ogress in order to prosper his kingdom. And later it became the winter palace of King Songtsan Gampo and Princess Wencheng in Shannan. Of all the treasures and relics kept in this monastery, the pearled Tangka -- "Avalokitesvara at his rest" is the most remarkable.