Lhasa
This small and politically active nunnery is the only one within the precincts of the old Tibetan quarter. The site of the nunnery probably dates back to…
Must-see attractions in Tibet
Lhasa
Hardong served as a residence for monks studying at Sera Je College. In the first inner chapel, look for a photo of Ekai Kawaguchi, the Japanese monk who…
Eastern Tibet
This small forested park contains a 200m-high waterfall. It's a beautiful, fresh area for an hour-long break. Note that, while the Chinese have built…
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A pleasant hour-long (2.5km) walk or a quick drive northeast of Reting leads to the village-like Samtenling Nunnery, home to more than 140 nuns. The main…
Tsang
Hidden in the fold of a valley north of town, this ruined and little-visited monastery is a 7km drive from Gyantse from a turn-off near the Rabse Nunnery…
Palace of the Eighth Dalai Lama
Lhasa
This palace (also named the Kelsang Podrang, after the seventh Dalai Lama) is the first you come to after entering the Norbulingka grounds and also the…
Lhasa
On the northern side of the small hill Parma Ri is the Gesar Ling, a Chinese construction dating back to 1793. It is the only Chinese-style temple in…
Shigatse
Locals make merry at this park on the eastern side of Shigatse. Grab a bottle of Lhasa Beer and join them. There are a couple of dozen tents where people…
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This 18th-century monastery, a branch of Drigung Til, is home to 38 monks of the Drigung Kagyu school. On the main altar of the assembly hall look for a…
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Inside the main assembly hall the principal image to the left is of a 1000-armed Chenresig dating back to the time of King Songtsen Gampo. According to…
Lhasa
An easy 20-minute walk from Pabonka leads up to this hermitage. There’s not a lot left to see but it offers good views. Pilgrims drink holy spring water…
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This two-floor chapel is dedicated to Songtsen Gampo and his two wives. The original building dates from the 7th century and resembles a smaller…
Lhasa
One of four chapels surrounding the Jokhang at cardinal points, this recently renovated small chapel southwest of Barkhor Sq is dedicated to the Rigsum…
Lhasa
Tsongkhapa himself was from Amdo (modern-day Qinghai), and many monks came from the province to study here – hence the chapel's alternative name. Look for…
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Built in the 14th century as a Sakya monastery with five colleges and 80 monks at its peak, this post–Cultural Revolution rebuild is now home to just 20…
Lhasa
An active and unusual monastery that is located near Lhasa’s most notorious political prison. Huge amounts of rice wine and chang (barley beer) are…
Ngari
If you have time to kill in Zanda, drive 4km east of town to this ancient iron link suspension bridge over the Sutlej River. It's thought to be one of the…
Ngari
It's worth a quick stroll to this hilltop pagoda for panoramic views over Ali and it's dramatic surroundings. Be careful not to photograph the army…
Treasures of the Potala Exhibition
Lhasa
This recently improved exhibition hall in the Potala complex is worth a quick visit for the stunning 15th-century lotus-shaped Vajradhara mandala (just…
Ngari
This newly renovated Bönpo monastery has some interesting murals, though the caretaker will likely call the PSB upon your arrival. The dramatic cliff-side…
Lhasa
Once one of the six principal temples encircling the Jokhang, this partially renovated temple is connected to Reting Monastery. It’s in a housing…
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Rebuilt only in 2016, this hilltop Kagyu school monastery is now home to 30 monks including the 11th Powa Rinpoche, an important Karma Kagyud…
Phurbu Chok Hermitage Mani Lhakhang
Lhasa
Pilgrims walking the Potala kora keep the huge prayer wheel spinning constantly in this charming chapel on the eastern side of the Potala. A stall across…
Lhasa
The smallest of Drepung’s colleges, this one can safely be missed if you’ve had enough. The principal image in the main hall is Jampa. Upstairs are some…
Lhasa
This small chapel on the western side of the Meru Nyingba Monastery has a central image of Marmedze (Dipamkara), the Past Buddha, and a small inner kora…
Eastern Tibet
These reconstructed towers, known as the Shuba Ancient Fort, stand off the old highway 7km east of Bahel. They are said to date from the reign of Songtsen…
Ngari
North of the main entrance to Tsaparang a trail follows a green river valley down about 700m to a cave on the left that holds the mummified remains of…
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If you have time to spare, this small but pleasant Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) monastery with a bucolic location is worth a quick stop en route to Nalendra…
Ngari
This ruined chapel is flanked by an ancient-looking chörten. Only the feet of the main statue remain inside but there are some lovely old thangkas on…
Lhasa
Die-hards can track down this hard-to-find chapel with old murals in the south of the old town. It’s accessed from the south.
Lhasa
A small building to the side of the printing press holds these three sand mandalas.
Ngari
Worth a quick visit are the photogenic caves and chörtens to the west of the main Tsaparang site, near the public toilet.
Shigatse
This tiny, ancient chapel in Shigatse's Tibetan old town houses a building-sized prayer wheel and is home to two monks.
Lhasa
This small Sakyapa-school chapel is up some narrow stairs above the Zhambhala Lhakhang, just off the Barkhor Circuit.
Lhasa
This small and little-visited college is one of several used as a monastic residence and monks welcome visitors.
Lhasa
This charming yellow-walled mani lhakhang (prayer-wheel chapel) is south of the Norbulingka entrance.
Lhasa
This small and little-visited college was once home to students from Inner Mongolia and is worth a brief look.
Lhasa
This small and little-visited college is worth brief exploration if you want to get off the beaten path.
Lhasa
This atmospheric monastery kitchen on the eastern side of the main assembly hall is worth a visit.
