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POTALA PALACE
This legendary palace built atop a single hill is synonymous
with Tibet's first and foremost king, Songtsen Gompo.
The 5th Dalai Lama expanded it to its present structure
during the 17th century. This 13 storey, 1000 room citadel
served as the headquarters of the former church-state
of Tibet and was home to successive Dalai Lama who,
from the latter half of the 18th century, used it as
their Winter Palace.
TSEDANG
No tour of Tibet is complete without a visit to Tsetang,
situated 190 km Southeast of Lhasa in the Yarlung Valley
along the banks of the Tsangpo River (Bramhaputra),
the cradle of Tibetan civilizations.
YAMBULANKHANG
Situated about 12 km south of Tsedang, it is the first
palace built by the Tibetans for their first recorded
King Nyatri Tsenpo, who is believed to have descended
from heaven. It is a 5 story fortress-like dwelling
built on the spur of a hill that commands an impressive
view of the entire fertile valley. It was destroyed
during the Cultural Revolution and the present structure
is an exact replica of the original rebuilt in 1982.
TRANDRUNK MONASTERY
Famous for its Pearl Thanka bearing the portrait of
Avalokiteshwor (chenrez) made of 30,000 pearls.
CHONGGYE
In a valley, 30 kms south of Tsedang lie the famous
tombs of the early Kings of Tibet. Among the numerous
tombs there, the biggest and the most distinguishable
one is that of King Songtsen Gompo the foremost King
of Tibet.
SAMYE
Samye lies about 88 kms from Gonggar Airport (approx.
2 hours drive) across the Tsangpo River. It is the first
monastery built by King Trisong Detsen in the latter
part of the 8th century. Samye Monastery combines 3
distinctive architectural styles that of India, China
and Tibet and symbolizes the source, stability and spread
of the Buddhist faith. With the building of this monastery,
the community of monks began to cross the Tsangpo River
on ferry (1 hour). Upon arrival on the other side, the
drive to Samye will be in local trucks or tractors.
LHASA
Lhasa the capital of Tibet at an altitude of 3650 m,
is situated on the north bank of the Kyichu River. Lhasa
in Tibetan means "Place of the Gods" and Potala
Palace " the residence of the Dalai Lama (the god
king), is the earthly representation of the celestial
Palace of Avalokiteshwor, the Buddha of infinite compassion
whose incarnation in the human form is believed to be
the Dalai Lama. As Tibet's political, religious and
cultural center, it is a city truly blessed by the gods,
where life is unhurried, people jovial and yet remaining
staunchly independent.
DREPUNG MONASTERY
Drive 8 kms west of Lhasa to Drepung Monastery. Said
to be the largest monastery in the world housing over
10,000 monks, it was founded in 1416 by the disciple
of Te Tsonkhapa, founder of the Yellow Hat Gelukpa sect
of Tibetan Buddhism. The second, third and the fourth
Dalai Lamas lived and were entombed here. Drepung in
Tibetan means 'Richmond'.
JOKHANG MONASTERY
Situated in the heart of old Lhasa, it houses Tibet's
most precious religious relic, a golden Shakyamuni Buddha
which was brought as a gift by the Chinese Princess
Wen Cheng on the occasion of her wedding to the Tibetan
King, Songtsen Gompo. Surrounding the Jokhang Temple
is the bustling Barkhor market place, which is the religious
and social focus of Lhasa. This, the spiritual centre
of Tibet, is also the heart of Lhasa.
GANDEN MONASTERY
Lying 40 kms east of Lhasa (approx. 2 hours drive),
built by Tsong Kha Pa, founder of the Gelugpa order,
is one of the biggest and most important Gelugpa monastery
in Tibet. In 1959, more than 5,000 monks lived and studied
here but were soon dispersed. Today, most of the building
remains in ruins.
SERA MONASTERY
This monastery is situated 5 kms (3 miles) north of
Lhasa. Sera's setting is one of Lhasa's prettiest. Once
a community of more than 5,000 monks, it was virtually
extinguished by the Chinese. The restored monastery
sits below the brow of hill on which Tsongkhapa built
a hermitage and spent several years in meditation. One
of the monk's disciples began building Sera in 1419,
completing it a few years later.
YAMDROK TSO OR TURQUOISE LAKE
A lake of glaring blue colour that radiates a near
mystical charm. It is about 240 kms in circumference
and is more like an Island sea. There are Yak herders
around and the lake itself supports a population of
scale less fish in its non-saline waters. It is about
124 kms from Lhasa.
GYANGTSE
Is a pastoral town between Lhasa and Xigatse. It is
264 km Southwest of Lhasa (8 hours drive). It still
retains the charm of a traditional Tibetan town untouched
by modern expansion. It made world headlines in 1904
when Colonel Young Husband, who led British Expedition
to Tibet, defeated the Tibetan army there. As a crossroad
on the principle trade route to India, it used to be
renowned for the excellence of its carpets. The compound,
encircled by an impressive wall, once contained 19 monasteries,
presided over by the still intact fortress perched atop
a nearby mountain.
KUMBUM
It is one of the unique and magnificent buildings in
Tibet consisting of 6 stories complete with a Buddhist
Hall and a prayer hall. It has 112 chapels and its walls
are adorned with religious paintings. Built in the 15th
century, it has withstood all battles and revolutions
since.
THE NORBULINGKHA
The 'Jewel Park' as it is known in Tibetan, was built
in the 18th century and served as the Summer Palace
of the Dalai Lamas. This colourful garden landscape
was the site of picnic and public gatherings. The places
are richly decorated, creating an atmosphere of peaceful
repose.
THE PELKHOR CHODE MONASTERY
Located near the Khumbum, it was founded in the 15th
century. It has been remarkably well preserved and many
of the statues and paintings inside it date back to
the time of its founding.
XIGATSE
Is the second largest town in Tibet and the capital
of Tsang, lying 354km west of Lhasa at an altitude of
3810 m.
TASHILHUNPO MONASTERY
Founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the first Dalai Lama.
It is the seat of the Panchen Lama who is second to
the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhist Hierarchy. The 5th
Dalai Lama declared that his teacher, then the Abbot
of Tashilhunpo, was a manifestation of the Buddha Amitabha
and the Panchen Rinpochhe. Tashilhunpo has one of the
world's largest status - a 9-storied gilded bronze statue
of Maitriya, the future Buddha.
SHAKYA MONASTERY
Shakya lies 143 km to the southwest of Xigatse. Konchok
Gyalpo founded Shakya Monastery; the centre of the Shakya
order of Tibetan Buddhism, in 1073 during the rule of
Shakyapas, the priest patron, and relationship between
Tibet and China was established. Shakyapa rulers reigned
over Tibet for nearly a hundred years from 13-14th century.
Many of its priceless images, fresco statues, holy scriptures
remaining today date back to the time of its founding.
XEGAR
Also called New Tingri, surrounded by Mountains, is
another town that lies in the shadow of a great fortress.
Even in ruins it is majestic. Seeming to grow out of
the craggy brown rock, its sinuous wall bristles with
watchtowers like stegosaurus spines. Isolated in 1855
by Marauding
Nepalese in search of booty, the Gurkhas cut off the
dzong's water supply and settled in for a long siege.
Shegar proper has little to recommend except the highest
post office in China.
ZHANGMU
Known to Nepali as Khasa, hangs on a cliff face, its
boomtown architecture have a temporary look for even
the monastery roofs are sheathed in corrugated iron
sheets.
MOUNT KAILASH - LAKE MANSAROVER
Mt. Kailash and Lake Mansarover is considered as a
holy spot and it's legendary reputation to Hindus and
Buddhists are alike. Mt. Kailash, 6675 m. rock pyramid
is the abode of the gods and the earthly manifestation
of the mythical Mount Mera "Pillar of the Universe".
For over a
Thousand years' devout pilgrims of both religions have
ritually circulated this sacred mountain and holy lake
Mansarover in act of worship, which continues even today.
TREKKING IN TIBET
Tibet's countryside immerses you into wide-open spaces
drenched in dazzling light. You may encounter nomads
who wander Tibet's highland valleys with their herds
of sheep and yaks, a living link to the old ways. Some
of the remote region still harbor herds of kyang (wild
asses), gazelles, and blue sheep and in far isolated
high valleys, the giant wild yak.
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