Sights in Tibet
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Mani Lhakhang
As you follow the flow of pilgrims past sellers of religious photos, felt cowboy hats and electric blenders (for yak-butter tea!) along the Barkhor Circuit, you'll soon see a small building on the right, set off from the main path. This is the Mani Lhakhang, a small chapel that houses a huge prayer wheel set almost continuously in motion. To the right of the building is the grandiose entrance of the former city jail and dungeons, known as the Nangtse Shar.
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Drubthub Nunnery
Southwest of the Potala an unmarked road leads around the eastern side of Chagpo Ri, the hill that faces Marpo Ri, site of the Potala. Take this road past stone-carvers and rock paintings to Drubthub Nunnery . The nunnery is dedicated to Tangtong Gyelpo, the 15th-century bridge-maker, medic and inventor of Tibetan opera, who established the original nunnery on the top of Chagpo Ri. Gyelpo's white-haired statue graces the nunnery's main hall.
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Jampa Lhakhang
If you head south from the Mani Lhakhang, after about 10m you will see the entrance to the Jampa Lhakhang on the right. The ground floor of this small temple has a two-storey statue of Miwang Jampa, the Future Buddha, flanked by rows of various protector gods and the meditation cave of the chapel's founder. Pilgrims ascend to the upper floor to be blessed with a sprinkling of holy water and the touch of a holy dorje (thunderbolt).
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Four Guardian Kings
Just inside the entrance to the Jokhang are statues of the Four Guardian Kings, two on either side. Beyond this is the main assembly hall or dukhang, a paved courtyard that is open to the elements. During festivals the hall is often the focus of ceremonies. The throne on the left wall was formerly used by the Dalai Lamas. You'll see a line of pilgrims filing past the main Jokhang entrance as they walk the pilgrim circuit around the temple.
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Gyantse Kumbum
Commissioned by a Gyantse prince in 1427, the Gyantse Kumbum is the town's foremost attraction. The 35m-high chörten, with its white layers trimmed with decorative stripes and its crown-like golden dome, is awe-inspiring. But the inside is no less impressive, and in what seems an endless series of tiny chapels you'll find painting after exquisite painting (kumbum means '100,000 images').
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Chapel of Chenresig
This chapel contains the Jokhang's most important image after the Jowo Sakyamuni. Legend has it that the statue of Chenresig here sprang spontaneously into being and combines aspects of King Songtsen Gampo, his wives and two wrathful protective deities. The doors of the chapel are among the few remnants still visible of the Jokhang's 7th-century origins and were fashioned by Nepali artisans.
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Chapel of Jampa
Walk through the monastery and bear left for the first and probably most impressive of Tashilhunpo's sights: the Chapel of Jampa. An entire building houses the world's largest gilded statue, a 26m figure of Jampa (Maitreya), the Future Buddha. The statue was made in 1914 under the auspices of the ninth Panchen Lama and took some 900 artisans and labourers four years to complete.
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Norbulingka
About 3km west of the Potala Palace is the Norbulingka, the former summer residence of the Dalai Lama. The pleasant park contains several palaces and chapels, the highlight of which is the New Summer Palace (Takten Migyü Podrang), built by the current (14th) Dalai Lama, but it's not really worth the entry fee.
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Gyantse Dzong
Gyantse Dzong towers above Gyantse on a finlike outcrop, and has outstanding views of the Pelkhor Chöde Monastery and surrounding valley. The fort was taken by the British in 1904 during their invasion of Tibet. Entry is via the gate north of the main intersection, or drive up from the back side.
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Tibet Museum
This museum has some interesting displays, if you can filter out the Chinese propaganda. Starting with the prehistory of Tibet, the multiple halls cover everything from weapons and musical instruments, to folk handicrafts and fine ancient thangkas (Tibetan sacred art). Look for the 18th-century golden urn (exhibit No 310) used by the Chinese to recognise their version of the Panchen Lama. A useful handheld audio self-touring device is available for Y20.
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Chapel Of The Hidden Jowo
Chapel Of The Hidden JowoThis Is The Chapel Where Princess Wencheng Is Said To Have Hidden Jowo Sakyamuni For Safekeeping After The Death Of Her Husband. You Can See The Cavity On The Eastern Wall, Currently Blocked By A Bag Of Tsampa (Roasted-Barley Flour). Inside Is A Statue Of Öpagme (Amitabha) And The Eight Medicine Buddhas With Characteristic Blue Hair.
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Drak Yerpa
For those with a particular interest in Tibetan Buddhism, Drak Yerpa hermitage is one of the holiest cave retreats in Ü region. Many ascetics have sojourned here and contributed to the area's great sanctity. The site is deeply peaceful and has stunning views. The caves are accessed via the village of Yerpa, 30km (18mi) northeast of Lhasa on a good road.
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Jokhang Temple
Also known in Tibetan as the Tsuglhakhang, the Jokhang is the most revered religious structure in Tibet. Although little remains of its 7th-century origins - most of its sculptures postdate the Cultural Revolution - it is thick with the smell of yak butter and the murmur of mantras, and bustles with awed pilgrims. An unrivalled Tibetan experience.
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Chapel of the Holy Born
The last chapel in the Potala is the Chapel of the Holy Born. Firstly, in the corner, is the statue and chörten of the 11th Dalai Lama, who died at the age of 17. There are also statues of the eight medicine buddhas, a central Sakyamuni and fifth Dalai Lama, and then Chenresig, Songtsen Gampo and the first four Dalai Lamas.
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Chapel of the Nine Buddhas of Longevity
In the Chapel of the Nine Buddhas of Longevity, look for the murals by the left window - the left side depicts Tangtong Gyelpo and his celebrated bridge (now destroyed) over the Yarlung Tsangpo near Chushul. The images of coracle rafts halfway up the wall add an intimate touch. There are also nine statues of Tsepame here.
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Tomb of the Fifth to the Ninth Panchen Lamas
Built by the 10th Panchen Lama to replace tombs destroyed in the Cultural Revolution, the central statue is of the ninth Panchen Lama. The 10th Panchen Lama returned to Shigatse from Beijing to dedicate the tomb in 1989. He fulfilled his prediction that he would die on Tibetan soil just three days after the ceremony.
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Tashilhunpo Monastery
The seat of the Panchen Lama and one of Tibetan culture's six great Gelugpa institutions (along with Drepung, Sera and Ganden monasteries in Lhasa; as well as Kumbum and Labrang in Qīnghǎi and Gānsù provinces, respectively). Built in 1447 by a nephew of Tsongkhapa, the monastery is the size of a small village, and lends itself to a half-day or more of exploration and discovery.
In addition to the mesmerising statue of Jampa (Maitreya) Buddha (at nearly 27m high it's the largest gilded statue in the world) in the Temple of the Maitreya, the monastery is famed for the opulent tombs of the fourth and 10th Panchen Lamas. The former saw 85kg of gold and masses of jewels…
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Shide Tratsang
The badly ruined temple of Shide Tratsang is connected to Reting Monastery and was once one of the six principal temples encircling the Jokhang. It's in a housing courtyard, down a back alley near Tashi I restaurant, and remains a rare example of what Lhasa looked like before the renovation teams moved in.
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Chapel of the Victory over the Three Worlds
The Chapel of the Victory over the Three Worlds houses a library and displays examples of Manchu texts. The main statue is a golden thousand-armed Chenresig, while the main thangka is of the Manchu Chinese emperor Qianlong dressed in monk's robes, with accompanying inscriptions in four languages.
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Chapel of Three-Dimensional Mandalas
The Chapel of Three-Dimensional Mandalas houses spectacular jewel-encrusted mandalas of the three principal Tantric deities of the Gelugpa order (Chana Dorje, Demchok and Yamantaka). Unfortunately you can no longer walk around to see the fine blackened murals near the throne of the seventh Dalai Lama.
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Chapel of Immortal Happiness
The Chapel of Immortal Happiness was once the residence of the sixth Dalai Lama, whose throne remains; it is now dedicated to Tsepame, the Buddha of Longevity, who sits by the window. Next to him in the corner is the Dzogchen deity Ekajati (Tsechigma), with an ostrich-feather hat and a single fang.
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Tomb of the 10th Panchen Lama
This dazzling gold-plated funeral chörten holds the remains of the 10th Panchen Lama, who died in 1989. His image is displayed in front of the tomb. The ceiling of the chapel is painted with a Kalachakra (Dukhor in Tibetan) mandala and the walls are painted with buddhas of real gold.
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Rigsum Lhakhang
The Rigsum Lhakhang is a small chapel hidden in a housing courtyard southwest of Barkhor Square. It's dedicated to the Rigsum Gonpo trinity of Jampelyang, Chenresig and Chana Dorje (Vajrapani). Look for the line of prayer wheels disappearing down the alley.
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Gedun Choephel Artists' Guild
On the northeast corner of the Barkhor is the Gedun Choephel Artists' Guild, an exhibition hall for a dozen modern Tibetan artists. It's a rare opportunity to view Tibetan modern art free from religious convention (and there are good views from the roof!).
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Chapel of Kalachakra
Noted for its stunning three-dimensional mandala, which is over 6m in diameter and finely detailed with over 170 statues. A statue of the Tantric deity Dukhor (Kalachakra) stands in the far right corner, though access to the room is limited.
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