Lhasa

The “Sunlight City” and holy city of Tibetan Buddhism: the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor kora circuit, with day trips to Yamdrok Lake and Samye Monastery.

Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in the Lhasa River valley at about 3,650 m. With more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year it is called the “Sunlight City,” and it is the holy city of Tibetan Buddhism and the starting point for travel in Tibet. In the city are the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street, and Norbulingka (together a World Cultural Heritage Site), as well as Ramoche Temple, Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, the Tibet Museum and Zongjiao Lukang Park. In the outskirts are Pabonka, Drak Yerpa Monastery and Ganden Monastery; to the southeast, via Shannan, you can reach Samye Monastery, Tibet's first monastery, and about 100 km to the southwest is the sacred Yamdrok Lake. Namtso, Gyantse, Shigatse and Nyingchi are covered as separate destinations. Climate: May–October is the tourist season. In June–September daytime temperatures hover around 20°C, and in July–August there is often rain at night with sunny days. September–October is crisp and clear with the best visibility. November to April is the low season: clear, dry and cold, with few tourists and discounts on tickets and hotels, and also when the largest numbers of Tibetan pilgrims come to worship. The visit can be divided into three parts. First, the city core (the Potala Palace, Chakpori Hill, Zongjiao Lukang, the Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street and Ramoche Temple): 2 days, which also lets you acclimatize. Second, the monasteries around the city (monk debates at Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Norbulingka and the Tibet Museum): 1–2 days. Third, day trips to Ganden Monastery, Samye Monastery or Yamdrok Lake. In the evening you can see the outdoor drama Princess Wencheng. Getting there: Gonggar Airport is about 60 km from the city, with an airport shuttle bus taking about 1 hour; the Qinghai–Tibet Railway takes about 20 hours from Xining to Lhasa, and taking the train into Tibet helps you adjust gradually to the altitude. We suggest 4–6 days. Notes: altitude sickness is the main concern, so plan only low-intensity activities for the first two days after arrival. The Potala Palace requires advance real-name reservations and visits are by time slot. Remove hats when entering temples, walk clockwise on koras, and photography is prohibited in most halls. UV is extremely strong and the climate is dry, so use sunscreen and moisturizer. Foreign visitors must obtain a Tibet Travel Permit.

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