SIGHTSEEING DESTINATIONS IN TIBET
With a view to giving you a brief introduction to the
major places where you pass by and sightseeing spots as mentioned
in the itinerary, we have prepared a brief description of each
spots as follows. We hope this description will be of a little
assistance to you.
Zhangmu (7000 ft.)
For Nepali, this place is called Khasa. For Tibetan. better
known by the name of Dram. Zhangmu is a small settlement clinging
to a hillside 10 Kms. from the Friendship Bridge that crosses
the Bhotekoshi river. Zhangmu has become the major trading point
between Tibet and Nepal. The climate is quite different from
the hinterland. The hills around Zhangmu are heavily wooded
with many waterfalls in summer and impressive ice formations
in winter. It has a bank, a post office, a government store,
and is presently undergoing a construction boom to meet the
demands of trade and tourism.
Nyalamu (12200 ft.)
Known as 'Kuti' to Nepalese traders, Nyalamu used to be an important
trade centre. Now-a-days, barrack style Chinese communes surround
the typical old flat roofed, mud-brick houses. Although vegetation
is sparse, one can see an abundance of alpine fauna on the hillside
during the summer months.
Tingri (old) (14100 ft.)
Tingri is an old Tibetan settlement with typical clustered Tibetan
styled housing at the foot of small hillock. A short exploration
in the settlement can expose you to a typical remote Tibetan
lifestyle. Right from the roadside of Tingri, you can see the
MT EVEREST towards the southern direction.
Xegar (New Tingri) (13800 ft.)
A new Chinese commune built at the foot of the ruins of Xegar
Dzong, 7 kms. from the main road. With a population of 3000,
it is the centre of this large and remote area and a base from
which expeditions to Mt. Everest and other peaks are launched.
Lhatse (13100 ft.)
Lhaze is situated where a main Tibetan road turns westwards
towards Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar Lake. During the short summer
season, the whole valley is covered with green barely fields
and bright yellow mustard meadows. It is a welcome change after
the barren lands of the Tibetan plateau. There is also a small,
hot spring located a few kilometers away.
Xigatse - The Estate that Fulfils One's
Wishes (12600 ft.)
It is situated between 29o 02'N and 88o 08'E in the southwest
of the Tibet Autonomous Region where Nyangchu River joins the
Yarlung Tsangpo River. Shigatse is the second biggest town in
Tibet and it is the center of transportation and distribution
of agriculture and husbandry products from the southeastern
part of Tibet. "Shigatse" in Tibetan means the "Estate
that fulfills one's Wishes."
Tashilhunpo Monastery
Tashilhunpo Monastery is the biggest Gelugpa monastery in the
Tsang region of Tibet. It is located in the town of Sigatse
and was founded by Gedun Drup, a disciple of Tsongkapa, the
founder of the Gelungpa Sect. Gedun Drup is recognized as the
first Dalai Lama. It was first built in 1447 and continuously
expanded by the successive Panchen Lamas. The Ngagpa College
(Tantric College), one of its four monastic colleges, is the
residence of the Panchen lamas. The most amazing image in this
monastery is the statue of the giant Maitreya (Future Buddha)
erected by the 9th Panchen Lama in 1914. It took four years
to build this monumental statue which stands twenty six meters
high and is composed of 275 Kg. of solid gold, and a great quantity
of precious things such as pearls, turquoise, coral and amber.
The 4th Panchen Lama's funeral stupa was built in 1662 and it
stands eleven meters high and is covered in solid gold and silver.
Gyantse (13050 ft.)
A small agricultural town famous for its wool carpets and the
Phalkor Choide Chorten, Gyantse lies between a monastery and
fort. This unique structure, built in 1414, consists of five
stories representing the five steps to enlightenment, and is
topped by thirteen rings which symbolize the stages of advancement
towards Buddhahood. There are 108 halls inside, each with frescoes
and Buddha Shrines.
Phalkor monastery
Located in Gyantse and founded jointly by Kedup Je of the Gelugpa
Sect and Rabten Kunsang of the Sakyapa Sect in 1418, the Phalkor
Monastery has a special influence over Tibet's Buddhism owing
to its unification of three different sects, the Gelugpa, the
Sakyapa and Bhuton Sects, in a single monastery. The famous
Kumbum pagoda, built in collaboration with Newari artists from
Nepal & Tibetan artists, also stands in the same courtyard
with nine story's, 108 doors and 77 chapels containing clay
sculptures and various murals. The pagoda is said to have 100,000
images, either sculptured or painted, this is the reason for
its name "100,000 Image Pagoda".
Yamadroke Lake - The Sacred Lake (14300
ft.)
Yamadroke Lake is one of the biggest and beautiful lakes in
Tibet. We pass by this lake with about 2 hours drive along its
bank. Yamadroke means torquise in Tibetan language. In fact,
the lake looks exactly as beautiful as torquise blue during
the good weather days. This freshwater lake, unlike other Tibetan
lakes, is sweet and non-saline, extending for 624 sq. km., in
the shape of two pincers of a large scorpion. You can have a
short stop on its bank and enjoy photography here.
Lhasa - The Land of Gods (11850 ft.)
Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region is located
between 29o 36'N and 19o 06' E at the north bank of Kyichu river,
a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, at an altitude of
3650 meteres above sea level. Lhasa has a history of more than
1300 years and has been the center of politics, economy, culture
and religi pung Monastery was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje,
a disciple of Tsongkapa, the founder of Gelugpa Sect. The monastery,
occupying an area of 250,000 square meters with a fixed number
of 7,700 monks, is the largest monastery in Tibet. The monastery
keeps many historical relics, Buddhist scriptures, arts, and
crafts.
Sera Monastery
Sera means "hailstone" in Tibetan. Set at the foot
of the Wudu Hill to the north of Lhasa City, Sera is comprised
of a great sutra chanting hall and a college. Situated at three
kilometers distance to a northern suburb of Lhasa, Sera Monastery
was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje, a disciple of Tsongkapa,
the founder of Gelugpa Sect. The monastery was erected on a
mountain slope. Sera Monastery together with Ganden Monastery
and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa are known as the Three Great
Monasteries of Tibet.
Jokhang Temple
Jokhang Temple, situated in the center of the old section of
Lhasa called Barkhor, was built in the mid-7th century A. D.
It was later extended by successive rulers, and has now become
a gigantic architecture complex. Located in the east, and facing
the west, Jokhang is a four storeyed Temple with splendid golden
roofs. Its architecture features art from the Tang Dynasty but
also assimilated many features from both Nepalese and Indian
Buddhist Temples. The murals in the temple depict the life stories
of historic and religious characters. The temple houses many
historical relics, including statues of King Songtsen Gompo,
Princess Wencheng, Princess Bhrikuti Devi (Nepalese). "Princess
Willow" (a tree), and "The Uncle-Nephew Alliance Tablet."
Jokhang is Tibet' s spiritual center, and the holiest destination
for Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims. It houses a sitting of statue
of Sakyamuni when he was 12 years old. The circular Barkhor
Street has innumerable shops, and wayside peddlers intermingle
with devotees walking clockwise around the Jokhang. An evening
walk (Kora) around the Jokhang Temple together with the Tibetan
pilgrims is a lifetime experience.
Potala Palace
The Potala, one of the most famous architectural works of the
world, sits on top of the Red Hill in Lhasa. In the 7th century,
after the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo's married Princess Wencheng
of the Tang Court, the Plalace was built to provide the Tibetan
court with a place of worship and meditation. In the mid-17th
century, it was re-built by the 5th Dalai Lama to its present
size, and became the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lamas. The construction
took fifty years from beginning to completion.
The Potala is divided into two sections, namely,
the Red Palace and White Palace. The total height of the Potala
is 117 meters spanning thirteen storeys. The length of the Palace
from east to west is 400 meters and the breadth from south to
north is 350 meters. The building was constructed of stone and
timber with golden roofs. It is a majestic architectural masterpiece.
