Lhasa
On the northern section of the Barkhor Circuit is a small building on the right, set off from the main path. This is the Mani Lhakhang, a chapel that…
Must-see attractions in Lhasa
Lhasa
A 10-minute walk from Sera Ütse is this superb viewpoint, probably Lhasa’s most scenic picnic spot. From here a new road continues east down into the Dode…
Lhasa
Before leaving the monastery it’s worth having a look at the printing blocks in this new hall. Photos are ¥10. Prints made on site are for sale (¥25 to …
Lhasa
This hermitage high above Lhasa has three simple caves associated with Gelugpa founder Tsongkhapa. It's best visited on a hike from Sera Monastery to the…
Lhasa
Southeast of the Gomde Khang residence is this debating courtyard. You should be able to hear the clapping of hands as you pass if there is a debate in…
Lhasa
Pilgrims pause at this small chapel behind the main assembly hall to pour yak butter on the wall, glimpse holy rock images of Jampelyang and Drölma and…
Lhasa
This small chapel, just across from the exit of the Tomb of Tsongkhapa, holds two large images of the Future Buddha, plus the eight bodhisattvas.
Lhasa
There are some 136 nuns resident at Chupsang and it’s a very friendly place. Visit it as part of a walk from Pabonka Monastery.
Lhasa
This interesting chapel houses the monastery printing press. You can see the printing and assembling of Buddhist texts here.
Lhasa
The northeastern corner of the Potala kora is home to this small prayer hall, humming with the murmurs of chanting nuns.
Lhasa
The tiny meditation cave of Jamyang Chöje, Drepung's founder, has some fine rock paintings.
Lhasa
Built by King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century, Pabonka Monastery is one of the most ancient Buddhist sites in the Lhasa region. Though one of the lesser…
Lhasa
Hikers and anyone who likes to get well off the beaten track will enjoy this excursion to Tibet’s largest nunnery, set in a large natural bowl about 55km…
Lhasa
The Lukhang is a little-visited temple on a charming island in a lake, behind the Potala in the pleasant Dzongyab Lukhang Park. The Lukhang is celebrated…
Lhasa
The New Summer Palace in the centre of the Norbulingka's park was built by the present Dalai Lama between 1954 and 1956 and is the most interesting of the…
Lhasa
About 3km west of the Potala Palace is the Norbulingka, the former summer residence of the Dalai Lama. The lifeless temple-like buildings rank well behind…
Lhasa
Palha Lu-puk (next to Drubthub Nunnery) is an atmospheric cave temple said to have been the 7th-century meditational retreat of King Songtsen Gampo. The…
Lhasa
Below the main assembly hall, the rather innocuous-looking Nyare Kangtsang houses a controversial statue of the deity Dorje Shugden, worship of which has…
Summer Palace of the 13th Dalai Lama
Lhasa
The summer palace of the 13th Dalai Lama (Chensek Podrang) is in the western section of the Norbulingka. The ground-floor assembly hall is stuffed full of…
Lhasa
Entry to the Potala is up two steep access ramps that will soon leave you wheezing in the oxygen-depleted air. The stairs lead past the ticket office to…
Lhasa
This obscure and little-visited Nyingmapa-sect temple is dedicated to the central red-faced deity Tseumar, as well as Pehar (a protector linked to Samye)…
Retreat of the 13th Dalai Lama
Lhasa
South of the New Summer Palace is an artificial lake commissioned by the eighth Dalai Lama. The only pavilion open here at the time of research was the…
Lhasa
Southwest of the Potala, a road leads around the eastern side of Chagpo Ri, the hill that faces Marpo Ri, site of the Potala. Take this road past stone…
Lhasa
A 30-minute hike from Tashi Chöling Hermitage climbs northeast up the ravine to the cliffside drubpuk (meditation caves) of Dadren Ritrö. You can see the…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
Lhasa
This small Sakyapa-school chapel is up some narrow stairs above the Zhambhala Lhakhang, just off the Barkhor Circuit.
