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TREKS & CLIMB IN THE HIMALAYA • ADVENTURE TRAVEL ORGANIZER |
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Tibet Cultural Tours
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Tibet Cultural Tours
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 In Lhasa visit Potala palace. It is built in 1645 and completed in 1693. It dominates the landscape. Potala palace is the former winter residence of the Dalai Lama. It used to be the official residence of 13 Dalai Lamas. The Potala is a magnificent building of over 1000 rooms. Inside the many chambers you will see brilliant frescoes paintings and great view of Lhasa. Jokhang temple has valuable relics of Buddha and magnificent statues related to Tibet Buddhism. Often you will see devotees who have come from far flung of Tibet prostrating in and around; it is something you can never see elsewhere. It is the spiritual center of Tibet. Around Jokhang is Barkhor bazar; it is a lively place to shop and bargain. It is also a meeting place for nomads passing though Lhasa in the summer on their way to the high pasture meet each other for pilgrimage.
The sight of pilgrims prostrating themselves in front of Jhokang must be seen to be comprehended. Tibetans from remote part of the country makes their pilgrimage to Lhasa. It is pilgrimage of their lifetime. As you go around Jokhang temple, Lhasa’s cathedral, you come across with pilgrims prostrating themselves, tall Khampas with red braids in their hair, Chinese tourists, and traders selling goods that you cannot imagine.
Sera monastery is one of the three important monasteries. It was built in 15th century. Once upon a time it used to have 5000 monks. It belongs to Gelugpa order known as Yellow Hat. The other important monastery around Lhasa is Drepung monastery. It used to have 8000 monks. They are thought in the tradition of Vajrayana, Tantra and Sutra. Beside the monasteries extension of the tour would allow you to visit Tibetan Institute of Medicine and Astrology to see painting on silk about the history of Tibetan medicine. There are local arts and crafts centers where carpets are made in traditional methods. You may also include visit historical place of Zedang. It is 190km to the east of Lhasa. It is linked with the birth of Tibet's history. On the way there is the oldest monastery of Tibet - Samye monastery. The monastery is simply breath taking and inspiring.
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