Potala Palace:

The “Potala Palace”, some historical sources claim the Potala had a massive scale of construction prior to the 7^th century in Songtsen Gampo’s reign.

But it wasn’t this large, the current shape or size of the palace which we witness now was rebuilt or further expanded in the 17^th century during the 5^th Dalai Lama, s time. Potala palace may look like a museum for tourists but for Tibetan, it is one of the most sacred places to be worshiped. The main image of the whole palace is the statue of Chenrisi(compassionate Buddha) which is believed to be a self-risen statue. Apart from this, there are so many valuable things to be seen, like various golden tombs, stupa tomb the largest stupa-tomb of 5^th Dalai Lama which is built with 3721 kg. of gold .

Palha Lupuk:

It is a cave temple which is believed to be main meditation cell of the King Songtsen Gampo. The main attraction of the cave is its relief rock carvings. Some of them are over 1000 years old. Altogether there are 70 painted carvings of Bodhisattvas in the cave and on the cave’s central column. Work on the carvings was probably undertaken at three different historical periods, but the oldest are generally the ones lowest on the cave walls. Many of the carvings were damaged in the Cultural Revolution and have since been repaired. The yellow building next to Palha Lupuk is a chapel that gives access to the smaller meditation cave of King Songtsen Gampo’s Chinese wife, Princess Wencheng. It is of less interest than Palha Lupuk, but worth a quick look if you are in the area.

Drepung Monastery:

About 8 km to the west of central Lhasa, Drepung was once the world’s largest monastery with a population of around 10,000 monks. It was founded in 1416 by a charismatic monk and disciple of Tsong Khapa (founder of the Gulugpa order) called Jamyang Choje. He was able to raise funds for the project quickly and within a year of completion, the monastery already hosted a population of some 2000 monks. In 1530 the 2nd Dalai Lama established the Ganden Palace, the palace that was home to the Dalai Lamas until the 5th built the Potala. It was from here that the early Dalai Lamas exercised their control over central Tibet, and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Dalai Lamas are entombed here. Meanwhile the monastic population of Drepung continued to grow. By the time of the 5th Dalai Lama in the early 17th century, the number of resident monks was somewhere between 7000 and 10,000. Today there are around 300 monks in residence.

Nechung Monastery:

Nechung is few minutes’ walk from Drepung. Until 1959, it has been the seat of the State Oracle. The oracles serve as mediums or mouthpieces of protective deity in Tibetan Buddhism and are thought to be possessed by the deities in question. The oracle at Nechung was the medium of Pehar, protector of the Buddhist state and no important decision would be taken by the Dalai Lamas without consulting him. As you enter the main hall, even if it is not as big as drepong monastery, you get to see some beautiful murals on either wall and those are original and dated back to few century ago. And on a top floor, one get to see the chamber or residence of the H.H Dalai Lama.

Sera Monastery:

Sera Monastery, around 5kms north of central Lhasa. It was founded in year 1419 by Jamchen Choje Sakya Yeshi and It consisted more than 5000 monks but with passage of time, it has been reduced to several hundreds . Nevertheless it is still worth a visit particularly from around 2:00p.m onwards as one get to see philosophical debates which the monks will be practising in the debate courtyard and visitors are allowed to shoot the photo as well as videos. If time permits, it, s worth circumambulating the whole monastery as it, s refreshing and can make some beautiful photos. The monastery had been appointed as the state level unit protection relics by the state council of PRC in 1982.

Norbulingka Park:

*Norbulingka means “Treasure Garden” or “Treasure Park” in Tibetan. It served as the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lama. It was initially built by the 7^th Dalai Lama Kelsang Gyatso in the mid-18^th Century, and had later been renovated and enlarged until the beginning of the 20^th Century. The park covers an area of around 36 hectares with 400 rooms inside. It consist of several palace, including Kelsang Potrang, Chensel Potrang, Druzing Potrang, Takten Migyur Potrang and Shabten Lhakang. Norbulingka is the largest horticulture park in Tibet and also the most characteristic Tibetan royal architectural complex garden and palace with dense trees, flowers and chapels. Delicate murals, Buddhist statues and Thangka inside the palace represent the high end Tibetan art since the 18^th century. In 1988, Norbulingka was recognized as a national cultural relics site under the state protection and it was also added to UNESCO’s world heritage list in the Dec, 2001

Tibet Museum:

As Tibet’s first museum in the modern sense, the Museum of Tibet, situated at the southeastern corner of the Buddhist religious garden Nor-bu-ling-ka in Lhasa, was inaugurated in October 1999 on occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and the 40^th anniversary of the Democratic Reforms in Tibet as the product of one of the 62 Chinese government funded projects launched in July 1994 in commemoration of the 30^th anniversary of the formation of the Autonomous Region of Tibet. Covering 53,959 square meters, the Museum is an enormous and magnificent building complex with a total floor area of 23,508 square meters, including exhibition halls with 10,451 square meters. In plan strictly arranged along the axis of the compound stand one after the other the Introductory Hall, the Main Exhibition Hall and the Storehouse for Cultural Relics. The architectural design, while bearing conspicuous signs of Tibetan ethnical tradition, obviously reveals the Modernist emphasis on practical function and the Post Modernist artistic feathers. It represents a harmonious application of those three distinct elements. The whole treasures of cultural relics housed in the Museum include a wide range of prehistoric cultural remains, statues of Buddha and Bodhisattvas made of different materials, ancient Tibetan scriptural texts written in inks of gold, silver and coral, delicate Thang-ka paintings, various musical instruments and ritual articles. To these are added handicrafts characteristic of Tibet, pottery of unique styles, etc. The inaugural show was exclusively dedicated to the general theme of “The History; Culture; Art and the folk culture. The Museum performs the concurrent functions of preservation, academic research and social education. Furnished with air-conditional devices, multi-functional-optic-equipments, sophisticated.

Tibetan Hospital:

Tibetan medicine is specialized form of medical science, which dates back hundreds of years. Since the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet, Tibetan medicine has been further developed. The “Lhasa Hospital of Tibetan Medicine”, the “Tibetan Medicine Research Institute” the “Tibetan Medicine Factory” and the “Tibetan Medicine School” has all been opened. A new Tibetan Medicine College is currently undergone construction. The Lhasa Hospital of Tibetan Medicine is the center for all treatment and scientific research. It routinely treats over 800 outpatients a day. It is also the city’s major Tibetan pharmacy, turning all sorts of plants, herbs, root vegetables and other minerals into 100,000 kilograms of medical products, annually. The Tibetan people have a great faith in their unique brand of medicine, and much research and exploration has taken place. Ancient medical texts have been reproduced and new research findings have been compiled and published.

Jokhang Temple:

It is known in Tibetan as the Tsuglag khang, the Jokhang is the most revered religious structure in Tibet, estimated dates for the Jokhang’s founding range from 639 to 647. Construction was initiated by King Songtsen Gampo to house a Buddha image (Akshobhya) brought to Tibet as the dowry of his Nepalese wife Princess Bhrikuti.

*The Jokhang temple is situated in the centre of the old Lhasa, the construction of which started in 647 A.D. during the time of the Tubo King Songtsen Gampo. After extensions in later periods, it takes the size like it is today. The temple faces west, 4 storey and whole construction size is about 25100 meter square. In the centre hall on the first floor, sits the alloy casted statue of the twelve year old Shakyamuni, brought by Princess Wen Cheng. The Jokhang temple also listed by the state council as one unit of the important cultural relics to be specially pretected.

Ramoche temple:

Ramoche is the sister temple to the Jokhang. It was originally built to house the Jowo Shakyamuni image that is now in the Jokhang. The principal image in Ramoche is Akshobhya, brought to Tibet in the 7th century as part of the dowry of King Songtsen Gampo’s Nepalese wife. The image represents Shakyamuni at the age of eight years. It is said that it has been badly damaged by Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution. Built at the same time as the Jokhang, it is thought that, unlike the Jokhang, Ramoche was originally built in Chinese style. It was later rebuilt in Tibetan style and by the mid-15th century had become Lhasa’s Upper Tantric College, Gyuto. Today Ramoche is a little tired, and down at heel. It suffered extensive damage during the Cultural Revolution and unlike at other Lhasa sights renovations seem to have been carried out with little zeal. The Akshobhya image can be seen in the assembly hall of the temple. There is a circumambulation circuit lined with prayer wheels around the perimeter of the temple.

Ani Tsamkhung Nunnery:

This small active nunnery is the only one which exist within Tibetan quarter. Again there is not a great deal to see, but the nuns are friendly and seem genuinely pleased to have a foreign guest. The site of the nunnery probably dates back to the 7^th century but it was a monastery at least until the 15^th century. The main hall is up a flight of stairs on the 2^nd floor. The principal image is a 1000-armed Avalokiteshvara(compassionate Buddha). The nunnery is little difficult to find. It is on a narrow street southeast of the Barkhor.

*Tsamkhung nunnery is located in the southeast of Jokhang temple, is the only nunnery established in the old city of Lhasa. During the 7^th century, Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo had been meditating in a natural cave at this site reciting prayers to pacify the dangers from the flood of Lhasa River. Thus the nunnery was named Tsamkhung, which means the meditation cave. During the 12^th century, Doctor Gewabum took meditation at this site. In the fifteenth century, Kujor Tokden, a Tsongkapa’s close disciple, started to establish the nunnery here. During the beginning of 20^th century, the venerable Lama Pabongka and Tampa Choedak, the 19^th throne holder of Ganden monastery enlarged the nunnery to the present size. It is one of the nunneries in Tibet that has gained certain prestige within or outside of Tibet Autonomous Region.

Tsurphu Monastery:

Tsurphu Monastery (4480m), around 70kms northwest of Lhasa, is the seat of the Karmapa branch of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. Tusum Khyenpa(1^st karma pa) founded it in the 1180s and it,s considered to be his 3^rd monastery. It was the 1^st Karmapa(1110-93), who instigated the concept of reincarnation and since then we do have reincarnations of lama in Tibet. The current Karmapa is the 17^th Karmapa and believed to be one of the highest lama of tibet

Drak Yerpa hermitage:

It is around 30kms to the northeast of Lhasa, and it can be one of the most beautiful place to be visited. Drak Yerpa has been one of the main retreat site in whole Tibet since 7^th century. We can enjoy the beautiful view and will witness the authentic life of the mixed farmers. Personally, it is one of mine favourite place around lhasa.

Up there, one get to see some beautiful chapels and above all, every chapels are built up over cave. The wholatede mountain over there are covered with colourful religious flags.

Nam-Tso Lake (the Lake of Sky):

Namtso Lake (sky lake4718m), approximately 190km north of Lhasa, is the second largest salt-water lake in China, the first being Kokonor (Chinghai Lake) in Amdo and ofcourse it is known to be world,s highest salted lake. It is over 70kms long and reaches a width of 30kms. The Nyenchen Tanglha mountain range, with peaks of over 7000m, towers over the lake to the south. Getting to the lake requires crossing the range via the lagyen la pass (5150m). The water is a miraculous shade of turquoise blue and there are magnificent views of the nearby mountains. The popular place to stay is Tashi Dor Monastery, which is on an outcrop of land that juts into the southeast end of the lake.

Reting Monastery:

The monastery dates back to 1056. It was initially associated with Atisha, the Indian scholar who first came to Tibet via the Guge Kingdom of Western Tibet and then traveled to Wu(central Tibet), where he emerged as a principal catalyst in the revival of the near moribund Buddhist faith. In its later years, the monastery had an important connection with the Gelugpa order and the Dalai Lamas. Two regents – the de facto rulers of Tibet for the interregnum between the death of a Dalai Lama and the majority of his next reincarnation – were chosen from Reting abbots. The Main Assembly Hall has been reconstructed and contains murals of Tsongkhapa, other prominent Lamas and Tantric deities associated with the Gelugpa order. The chapel to the rear of the hall contains Reting’s most important image, a gold statue of Guhyasumaja-said to be the personal Tantric deity of Atisha.

Drigung Til Monastery & Tidrum Nunnery:

Drigung village is around 150 km northeast of Lhasa. This area has long been a center for meditative retreat and is dotted with meditation caves. Travelers who make it out here claim that it is well worth the effort. Drigung Til is the head monastery of the Drigung School of the Kagyupa order. Although it suffered some damages in the Cultural Revolution, the monastery is in better shape than most of the other monastic centers in this part of central Tibet.. It was first established in the mid-12^th century, and since then, it has become one of the main spot to perform the sky-burial. The Main Assembly Hall is probably the most impressive of the buildings at the monastery and the central figure inside is statue of the founder of the monastery. You can see his footprint on a slab of rock at the foot of the statue. If drive, in few minutes to the north of Drigung Til ,will arrive Tidrum Nunnery, with its medicinal hot springs. The nunnery is set in a narrow gorge and there is a guesthouse nearby set up apparently to accommodate visitors to the hot springs. The inner pilgrimage circuit (Nangkhor) of Tidrum leads up to a Guru Rinpoche’s cave. It is by all accounts an arduous but splendid walk.

Ganden Monastery:

Ganden (4500m) was the first Gelugpa pa monastery and founded in year 1409 by Tsongkapa who is also the founder of this Gelugpa lineage. This monastery was the 2^nd largest monastery of this lineage and there used to be more than 7000 monks in those time . unfortunately this monastery had been badly damaged during the cultural revolution. Now, the strength or the number of monks shrinked to 300s . The main image or the most valuable object that you can find in this monastery is the Stupa Tomb of the Tsongka pa. it is still huge monastery so one may not able visit whole in a day. Therefore it will be a good idea if you do the selective. The other interesting thing that you can do there is, going for half an hour walk around the monastery and you may enjoy the beautiful scenery of the whole Lhasa valley.

Netang Dolma Lhakhang:

The temple was founded in 1046 by a scholar Atisha who is also known as revival of Buddhism in Tibet. Atisha was invited to Tibet from India in order to revive the Buddhism in Tibet as the earlier Buddhism had been badly damaged in 9^th century and it lasted for a century.

While he came to Tibet, he brought some statues of Buddha along with him and among them, the most sacred statue he brought is the statue of Tara and even today, many of these can be seen there. Above all, the tara statue is kept as main image of this temple and the temple,s name is named after the main statue.

Rato Monastery:

Located at the Rato village in a side-valley, some 5 km behind Nyethang Dolma Lhakhang, Taktsangpa founded Rato monastery in the 11th century; and it had later associations with the Kadampa master Ngok Loden Sherab and Tsongkhapa. This Gelugpa institution is renowned for its fine wall murals. Noted for the study of Buddhist logic and metaphysics, the monastery had about 400 monks at the height of its development. The principal incarnate Lamas of Rato are all in exile, living in India, Germany, etc