Lhasa, capital of the mystic Tibet Autonomous Region, lies on the northern bank of the Kyichu River. Bathed as it is in shimmering sunlight, the 'highest city in the world' is often called 'Sunlight City,' and is the Mecca for followers of Tibetan Buddhism. Its long history, unique landscapes and spectacular monuments give visitors an unforgettable holiday experience. Though it is now a modern city, it is nonetheless wondrous, and tourists from every corner of the globe have flocked to the vibrant town to explore its mysterious culture.

Lhasa's religion-based history is evidenced by the abundance of reverent holy architectures and monuments. Notable examples are the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple . The latter was built in 647 AD by the first King of Tibet, Songsten Gampo. Every day, pilgrims from all over the region stream through the temple, where their souls bask in spirituality after their long and arduous trek. They light up lamps fueled by yak butter in honor of the deities and chant sacred mantras to show their pieties to Buddha. Visitors will be spellbound by the various exotically-crafted holy sculptures. Each year, the temple hosts the Great Prayer Festival, an important date on the Buddhists calendar.

Located on the Red Hill of Lhasa, the Potala Palace was also constructed by King Songsten Gampo. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times in its history, and it currently stands 117 meters high and 360 meters wide, covering an area of more than 130,000 square meters. It is divided into two main parts, the White Palace and the Red Palace, and it is famed for its fabulous buildings, complicated constructions, its splendid artworks and the air of the divinity with which it is surrounded.
Two other must-see areas of Lhasa are Barkhor , a circular street running around the center of the old city, and Norbulingka, or 'Treasure Park.' The former doubles as a marketplace, where shaggy nomads, traders, monks and pilgrims mix together as they buy and sell scriptures, prayer banners, jewelry, Tibetan knives and ancient coins.
As the influx of tourists into Lhasa has expanded in recent years, accommodation conditions have seen marked improvements. Lhasa has up-market hotels (Lhasa Hotel) for the highbrow traveler as well as comfortable hostels (located on and around Beijing Dong Lu) for the backpacker.
Restaurants offering local, regional and international cuisine can be found in Lhasa, mainly around the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor . Tourists to Tibet usually find Lhasa an ideal place to acclimatize before heading to its more remote parts.
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This article was posted on 2007-08-22
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