Lhasa

The capital city of Tibet, Lhasa is situated in the south of the region on the north bank of the Kyichu River. At an elevation over 3,000 metres, it is the world’s highest city. This ancient sprawling city covers 30,000 square kms, with a population of 400,000, of which 87% are Tibetans. The city has many Buddhist monuments, making it the most important place of pilgrimage for Tibean Buddhists. Among scenic and holy places in Lhasa are;

Attractions
Potala
Originally built in 641during the reign of King Songtsen Gampo, Potala Palace was rebuilt in the 17th century by the 5th Dalai Lama and extended to its present size by the 13th Dalai Lama. The 13-story palace stands 117 metres high and has over 1000 rooms. It covers an area of 130000 square metres. The entire building is made of stone and wood, with walls averaging 3 metres thick. Sitting on the Red Hill, it is the religious and political centre of Tibet as well as the winter residence of Dalai Lamas.

The palace is divided into 2 sections – the White Palace and the Red Palace. The White Palace contains the living quarters of several Dalai Lamas and their tutors, the offices of the old Tibetan government, a Buddhist seminary and a printing house. From the east entrance, a broad corridor upwards leads to the courtyard, where Dalai Lamas watched operas. Around this large open courtyard is a seminary and dormitories. There are huge murals in the hallway depicting the construction of Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple as well as the procession of Princess Wencheng arriving in Tibet. Beneath the East Chamber of Sunshine is the largest hall in the White Palace and it was here that the Dalai Lamas were enthroned.

The Red Palace consists of 4 chapels that house decorative Buddha statues and gold stupas of Dalai Lamas’, in which their mummified and perfumed bodies are preserved. Another interesting piece of art is the Great West Hall, where records of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama’s life were depicted in fine murals. There is also a gallery which has a collection of 698 murals, portraying Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The work took three years to complete and the stupa is comparable with that of the Great Fifth.

Lying in the centre of the Red Palace are Dharma Cave and the Saint’s Chapel – the only structures left which were built in seventh century. Dharma Cave is said to be the place where King Songtsen Gampo, the founder of Potala Palace – carried out religious cultivation. The statues of Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng, Princess Tritsun and his chief ministers are enshrined in this cave. In the Saint’s Chapel, Chenrezi, Tsong Khapa, Padmasambhava, the Fifth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Dalai Lamas are enshrined and worshipped. Visitors can find a stone with a footprint that was believed to belong to the infant Twelfth Dalai Lama.