CHINA TIBET D5 - JUNE 2007

TIBET JUNE 2007

DAY 5

Jun 8

LHASA

Lhasa is the capital of Tibet with an altitude of 3700m above sea level.

Barkhor Square is a large public square popular with both local and tourists. Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Streets all are situated here. There are many shops selling Tibetan crafts.

Johkang Temple is a Tibetan Buddhist temple built in 647AD. The name Jokhang means House of Buddha. This is one of the holiest destinations for Buddhist pilgrims. Lots of pilgrims travelled long distances and prayed in front of the temple. The temple incorporated Tibetan, Tang Chinese, Nepalese and Indian architecture and craftsmanship. The temple is located in the popular Barkhor Square.

Barkhor Street is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble. It is a place that pilgrims tramped out around Jokhang Temple over the centuries and the pilgrims walked along the circular street clockwise.

The highlight of Tibet tour is a visit to Potala Palace. Potala Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  In order to cater for the large number of visitors, visitors are allowed for 2 hours inside the palace and walk within the palace on prescribed route.  It is 117m high with 13 stories. Photography is strictly prohibited within the temple.

The photos were taken on the way up to this majestic temple. Due to high altitude, we had to take slow and small steps without running out of oxygen. Up here we had a panoramic view of the city of Lhasa.

We witnessed a construction brigade of women manually pounding a compound with singing and synchronized steps.

Descending from the palace

                                                       

                                                                                    

                                                    

Panoramic view of Lhasa from Potala Palace

The Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama since the 7th century, symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration of Tibet.

Enclosed within massive walls, gates and turrets built of rammed earth and stone the White and Red Palaces and ancillary buildings of the Potala Palace rise from Red Mountain in the centre of Lhasa Valley at an altitude of 3,700 metres. As the winter palace of the Dalai Lama from the 7th century CE the complex symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration of Tibet. The White Palace contains the main ceremonial hall with the throne of the Dalai Lama, and his private rooms and audience hall are on the uppermost level. The palace contains 698 murals, almost 10,000 painted scrolls, numerous sculptures, carpets, canopies, curtains, porcelain, jade, and fine objects of gold and silver, as well as a large collection of sutras and important historical documents. To the west and higher up the mountain the Red Palace contains the gilded burial stupas of past Dalai Lamas. Further west is the private monastery of the Dalai Lama, the Namgyel Dratshang.(UNESCO write up)

.In the evening, we had dinner at a beautiful restaurant