Lhasa
Lhasa has been the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region since the 7th Century when Songsten Gampo built his palace here. Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world, towering 3,600 meters above the banks of the Lhasa River. Lhasa is a religious center that amazes visitors with its breathtaking beauty and unique landscape. Most of the historical sights here date back to the 1600s when the magnificent Potala Palace was built. The Potala dominates the skyline but Jokhang is considered to be the spiritual center of the city. Pilgrims flock to Lhasa to see and experience the remaining enclaves of tradition.
Lhasa covers an area of about 30 thousand square kilometers (7.4 million acres), about 3, 658 m (12 thousand ft) above the sea level on average.
Lhasa has a total population of about 521.5 thousand, including Han, Tibetan, Hui and other ethnic groups, 31 in all. Tibetans comprise over 80% of the population.
Places to visit around Lhasa
Potala Palace: Potala is the most admired monumental structures in Tibet. While circumambulating the palace by following the pilgrim’s path, we can note different aspects and moods of the sophisticated design from varying view points. This massive edifice embodies the best of 17th century, Tibetan architecture, no buildings, before or after, compare with it. The view of the holy city from the roofs is unforgettable. Naming the Potala, A minister of King Songtsen Gampo in the 8th century was the first Tibetan to be sent to India for advanced Buddhist studies and also the country’s first translator, having rendered a number of Sanskrit texts into Tibetan. In one of these he mentioned that Riwo Potala, the mystical abode of Chenresi, it seems plausible that Sambhota coined the name of Potala.
The most poignant areas are the roof terraces housing the Dalai lamas’ residences and the large courtyard known as Deyang Shar. From the historical and religious point of view, two tiny chapels, the Phakpa Lhakhang and the Chogyal Drubphuk, both within the white palace, are the most important. Their style is significant for being neither overtly Chinese nor Indian inspired; the statues are probably the works of an artist familiar with the idioms of central Asia. The Potala’s most sacred statue, the Aryal Lokeshvara is inside the Phakpa Lhakhang, the holies shrine for pilgrims.
Eight dalai lamas are entombed within the Potala. The most spectacular are the elaborate ornate burial Chorten of the fifth and the thirteenth. As a counterpoint to these massive relics spend sometime in the Dukhor Lhakhang, which houses an intricate three dimensional Mandala. The two great halls of the red and white palaces, Tshomchen Shar and Tshomchen Nub give some respite from the dark chapels. The Potala has never been severely damaged. Unlike most Tibetan monasteries, it was not sacked by red guards during the 1960 and 1970s. As a result all the chapels and their artifacts are remarkably well preserved.
The Potala is open every day from 0900-1600, except Sunday, when it is closed. Expect long queues on Wednesdays, and Saturdays, traditional days for pilgrims, when it is open all day. Some parts of the Potala may be locked during lunch.
Jokhang temple: Jokhang temple, Tibet’s most sacred place, is located in the heart of Lhasa. Jokhang is focus of devotion day and night for the pilgrims to pay their homage. Multitudes of Tibetans circle it while going round and round Barkhor, gaining spiritual merits. This temple was built by King Songten Gampo in the 7th century but Jokhang exact date of construction is still not known. In the pilgrimage season, long queues of pilgrims wait patiently for hours just to touch their foreheads to the sacred image of Jowo Sakyamuni. These are short column in front of the Jowo Chapel and the door frames of the inner chapels (tsangkhangs) on the ground floor and second floor. These spectacular works of art, the earliest in Tibet, attest to the sophisticated cosmopolitan nature of the Yarlung Dynasty (7th -9th century). Accomplished Newari artists from Nepal, versed in the fabled art of Gupta India (4th- 7th century) created them. The four ground floor inner chapels with original door frames are Thuje Chenpo, Wopame, Jowo Sakyamuni , and Jampa Gonpo. Of the second floor inner chapels with rare door frames, one stands at the center of the destroyed north wing; the other two are on either side of the Zhelre Lhakhang, itself a recently discovered repository of 12th –Century, murals inspired by the Pala tradition(9th -11th century). As late as 1985, 7th century murals adored the north gallery. These unique relics have now disappeared, brutally detached from the walls. Songtsen Gampos principal chapel is also a highlight of this floor. On the top floor, one of the chapels that draw the most pilgrims is that consecrated to Palden Lhamo, the divine protectress of Tibet. The Jokhang retains design details that go back to the royal period (7th-9th centuries).
Norbulingka Palace (Summer palace of Dalai lamas): Norbulingka place known as jewel park is one of the most relaxing part of Lhasa and 40 hectare enclave on the outskirts of town, full of trees, ponds, gardens, palaces, and pavilions. Since the mid of the 18th century it has been official summer residence of Dalai Lama. It has four major complexes; Kelsang, Tsokyil, Takten Migyur, and Chensel. Chensel is the centerpiece of Chensel lingka, the western half of Norbulingka. The palace consists of no less than 400 rooms and chapels. It lies at Lhasa’s west end. Norbulingka was started by the seventh Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso (1708-57). The eighth Dalai Lama, Jampel Gyatso (1758-1804), spent time here in meditation and was responsible for one of the summer palace’s rigorous expansion. He built the Chora, the Tsokyil Potrang, the Lukhang Lho, Druzin Potrang, the perimeter walls of the park’s southeast section. After the death of 13th Dalai Lama in 1933, the 14th Dalai Lama built his new palace north of the Chensel Potrang and called it Takten Migyur Potrang. The name signifies that Buddhism is eternal and unchanging. This was the last major construction at Norbulingka.
Drepung Monastery: Drepung means rice-heap which comes from the Sanskrit Dhanyakataka, the name of stupa in south India where the Buddha first taught the Kalachakra Tantra. The monastery is located 8 km west of Lhasa. With an area of over 20,000 sq m, its principal buildings are the Tshomchen, the four main tratsangs, and the Ganden Potrang. Each of these has its own residential units, Khangstens and other functional buildings. The major structures follow a simple architectural plan. Each consists of a courtyard, a large hall and inner chapels. Dominated by a high ridge known as Gephel Utse, Drepung was founded by Jamyang Choje in 1416. This celebrated yellow hat lama was born near Samye to a wealthy family (a childhood friend donated large sums for the building of Drepung). With the contribution of rich families and feudal lords, he announced plans to create a great monastery One year after commencement, the monastery had become home to 2000 monks. By the time of the Fifth Dalai lama (1617-82), its population had grown to a staggering 10,000 monks. Pilgrims move through the complex in a clockwise sequence from the parking lot fronting the main entrance: Ganden Potrang, Tshomchen, Ngagpa Tratsang, Jamyang Lhakhang, Loseling Tratsang, Gomang Tratsang, and the Deyang Tratsang.
Sera Monastery: Sera is one of the Gelugpa’s six great monasteries (the other five are Drepung, Ganden, Tashilhunpo, Labrang, and Kumbum). Sera lie at the base of Phurpa Chok Ri, a mountain of the Tatipu Range that defines the northern limit of Lhasa city. It was founded in 1419 by Sakya Yeshe (1355-1435), a principle disciple of Tsong Khapa. The complex today, a veritable monastic city, occupies a site of nearly 12 hectares. It is made up of the Tsokchen Great hall), three tratsangs, and 30 Khangstens. A Khangsten is a residential compound with chapels reserved for monks coming from different areas of Tibet, whereas a Tratsang is a college that offers specialized studies, headed by its own abbot (khempo). It was a vital center for religious activity and Sera boasted over 5,000 monks and novices. It is one the best preserved monasteries in Tibet, its principal buildings were in explicably spared during the Cultural Revolution. Pilgrims follow a well trodden route when they visit the main chapels. The basic clockwise sequence is Sera Me, Ngagpa Tratsang, Sera Je, Hamdong Khangsten, Tsokchen, Tsong Khapa’s hermitage.