Lhasa city guide

Lhasa

Lhasa, translated in Tibetan as the place of God, is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. It is centrally located and became the capital in the year 1965. Not only is it the political and economic seat of Tibet, but it is also the religious center as well.

Lhasa prospered for centuries until the 5th Dalai Lama came into power. It was this Dalai Lama who claimed the city as the political center and would subsequently build the magnificent Potala Palace.

The city sits on the north border of the Lhasa River and covers an area of roughly 29,500 sq km. There are 7 counties and the climate is said to be considered temperate. The average annual temperature runs at 7.5 degrees C. January can drop to 2.3 degrees C on average , while July holds at 15.5 degrees C. The city gets a lot of sun during the year, hence earning its nickname the city of sunlight.

Lhasa in Tibet

Lhasa is by far, the most urbanized region in Tibet. The city now has increased spending on its infrastructure and made it what it is today-a blend of past and present. The Downtown has shopping facilities, luxury hotels, restaurants, night clubs and bars. It is hard to go wrong in this Tibetan region-You can always have enough to see with respect to siteseeing and still have most modern conveniences.

Transportation is probably the most accessible here than in any other region of Tibet. One can find(or rent) cars, taxis, bikes, or rvs. While the cost can be expensive, and the traffic at times dangerous-it is doable. The Qinghai-Tibet Highway, Sichuan-Tibet Highway, and the China-Nepal Highway merge in this region, making travel to any of these places rather convenient. The Gongar Airport is approximately 50 km from the downtown-easily accessible by taxi.

With respect to attractions-once again, Lhasa has plenty to offer. In fact, over 150 scenic places are there for the taking(or viewing).Among the best include Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery, Dragon Kings Pool, Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery, Sera monastery, the Tubo Alliance Tablet(from the Tang Dynasty), and the Tibet Museum. Other monasteries noteworthy include Curpu, Yerba, Gaindain, and Ramoche. If hot springs are your cup of tea, then make sure you check out the Dezhong and Xungba Gyura Springs. Of course, one can`t miss Nam Co-one of Tibet`s best lakes to visit. The Nyainaentanglha mountains are a short drive away and don`t forget Barkhor Street located in the heart of downtown. There you can get a feel for the “old Lhasa” and pickup some crafts or religious pieces, as well as other souveniers- a must stop!