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Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and is located at an altitude of approximately 3,650 meters above sea level. The city was founded in the 7th century by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, who established Lhasa as the capital of the then Tibetan Empire. During his reign, some of the city’s most iconic buildings, such as the Jokhang Temple, were built. Lhasa quickly became an important religious and political center, and the city has since been known as the Place of the Sun due to its many sunny days.
In the 17th century, Lhasa again became the capital of Tibet under the Fifth Dalai Lama, who centralized political power and made the city a religious and administrative center. The Potala Palace was built during this period, and it served as the Dalai Lama’s winter residence and still stands as a symbol of Tibetan culture and architecture. Although Lhasa has experienced many changes over the centuries, such as the transition to becoming part of China in 1951, the city has retained its unique cultural and spiritual atmosphere.
Lhasa is home to some of the most iconic sights in Tibet. The Potala Palace is the most famous of them all. The imposing palace towers over the city and is a must-see for its magnificent architecture and rich history. Explore the many rooms and chapels filled with religious treasures and artwork, and visit the Jokhang Temple, the holiest temple in Tibet. Founded in the 7th century, the temple is an important pilgrimage site, where daily prayers and ceremonies provide a unique insight into Tibetan Buddhism.
In addition to the religious and historical attractions, Lhasa also offers lively markets and cultural experiences. Barkhor Street, which surrounds the Jokhang Temple, is a colorful and bustling street where you can experience local culture up close. Here you can find shops selling everything from religious items to Tibetan crafts and souvenirs. It is also a popular place for pilgrims who walk around the temple in a ritual procession known as the kora. If you want to immerse yourself further in Tibetan culture, you can visit Norbulingka, which was the Dalai Lama’s summer palace.
The Potala Palace is one of the most iconic and impressive buildings in Lhasa, occupying a prominent position on Marpo Ri Hill. Originally founded in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo, the current palace building was constructed in the 17th century by the Fifth Dalai Lama. The Potala Palace served as the winter residence of the Dalai Lamas from 1649 to 1959 and is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The architecture of the Potala Palace is a remarkable blend of palace, fortress and temple. The building stretches 400 meters from east to west and 350 meters from north to south and consists of 13 floors, housing over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 altars and around 200,000 statues. The thick stone walls are up to 5 meters thick at the base, and the palace’s copper foundation makes the building resistant to earthquakes that can strike the region.
The palace is divided into two main sections: the Red Palace and the White Palace. The Red Palace is located at the top and is dedicated to religious purposes and houses the stupas containing the mortal remains of the Dalai Lamas, as well as many Buddha and sutra halls. The White Palace is located at the bottom and was the part of the complex used for political and administrative purposes. The White Palace was also the residence and workplace of the Dalai Lamas.
Among the many attractions of the Potala Palace are the site’s impressive murals, thangkas, or religious paintings on fabric, and sculptures that adorn the walls and rooms. These works of art depict scenes from Buddhist mythology, the lives of the Dalai Lamas, and the history of Tibet. Another notable attraction is the eight stupas containing the mortal remains of the Dalai Lamas and are covered in gold and precious stones.
The Potala Palace is also surrounded by beautiful gardens and plazas, which allow visitors to enjoy magnificent views of Lhasa and the surrounding mountains. You can also watch some take or even take a walk around the palace. This walk is known as kora, and it is an important religious practice for Tibetan pilgrims, who walk in a ritual procession to show their devotion.
Jokhang Temple is a temple located in the heart of Lhasa. It is the holiest temple in Tibet and an important pilgrimage site for Tibetans. The temple was founded in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo to house a statue of Jowo Mikyo Dorje, which was brought to Tibet as part of the dowry of his Nepalese wife, Princess Bhrikuti. The temple has undergone several renovations and expansions over the centuries, but it has retained its original spiritual significance and still attracts thousands of pilgrims each year.
The architecture of Jokhang Temple is an exciting blend of Tibetan, Chinese, Nepalese and Indian styles. The temple was built around a central courtyard and has several chapels and halls that are richly decorated with murals, religious paintings on fabric called thangkas and sculptures. The most significant statue in the temple is Jowo Rinpoche, a large statue of Buddha Sakyamuni, said to have been made during the Buddha’s lifetime. This statue is the most sacred object in Tibet and a central focus of pilgrimages there.
Among the many attractions of Jokhang Temple are the impressive murals. They depict scenes from Buddhist mythology and Tibetan history. The temple also houses many valuable religious artifacts and treasures such as ancient manuscripts and ceremonial objects. Another attraction is Barkhor Street, which surrounds the temple. The street is not part of the temple itself, but it is an important place for Tibetan pilgrims, who walk around the temple in a ritual procession known as kora.
Barkhor is the name of a street in the heart of Lhasa. The street came into being after King Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng led the migration to Lhasa. They first built the Jokhang Temple, and Tibetan Buddhist believers began to ritually walk around the monastery. Gradually, they formed a road that became Barkhor and one of the three such ‘turntable streets’ that emerged in Lhasa. Thus, Barkhor was originally established as a pilgrimage route around the 7th century, and it was nicknamed the Holy Road.
The architecture along Barkhor is a fascinating mix of traditional Tibetan buildings and modern constructions. The street is surrounded by old Tibetan farms, shops, hotels and workshops selling Tibetan handicrafts. The narrow streets and colorful buildings create a unique atmosphere where you can experience the local lifestyle and culture up close. Many of the buildings along Barkhor have preserved their original architectural style, providing an authentic insight into Tibet’s past.
The largest and most well-known attraction along and around Barkhor is Jokhang Temple, which is the holiest temple in Tibet. Among the many other attractions on the street are the small chapels and temples that visitors can explore during their walk here. For example, you can see Mani Lhakhang, which is a small chapel. In addition, Barkhor is a popular place for shopping, where you can find everything from religious objects to Tibetan crafts and souvenirs. There are also teahouses and restaurants here, and you can also just enjoy the street life and watch the pilgrim route, which for worshippers is clockwise.
Lhasa Station is the railway station in the Tibetan capital. It was opened in 2006 and is located southwest of the city center. The station opened in connection with the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and the station was built as the terminus of the railway, which in the years 2001-2006 was built as the first to and in Tibet.
The new railway connected Lhasa and Tibet with the rest of China in a modern way, and the station in Lhasa was therefore from the beginning an important part of the developing infrastructure in the region. Lhasa Station was opened with the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, but since then a line to Shigatse in western Tibet has also been opened, and a line east to Changdu is under construction.
Train enthusiasts can of course take a closer look at Lhasa Station itself, but the train rides from here are also some exciting experiences. From the trains you can take a closer look at the Tibetan landscape and enjoy some of the railway’s records. This concerns, for example, the crossing of the Tanggula Pass, where the train runs at an altitude of 5,072 meters above sea level, and the stop at Tanggula Station, which is the highest in the world at 5,068 meters.
Potala Palace, Lhasa, China
Overview of Lhasa
Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and is located at an altitude of approximately 3,650 meters above sea level. The city was founded in the 7th century by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, who established Lhasa as the capital of the then Tibetan Empire. During his reign, some of the city’s most iconic buildings, such as the Jokhang Temple, were built. Lhasa quickly became an important religious and political center, and the city has since been known as the Place of the Sun due to its many sunny days.
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