| Tibet Tour |
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Tibet is a rich and beautiful land with an
average altitude over 4,000m (13,120ft) above sea level.
Possessing more than fifty peaks above7,000m (22,960ft),
Tibet is home to eleven Himalayan mountains over 8,000m
(26,240ft)
Tibet has its own culture that is still alive which perhaps
would have been perished several decades ago. Spiritual
traditions, temples and monasteries, lakes and rivers, and
mighty snow clad peaks are just a few of the intoxicating
wonders to be experienced by adventurous travelers who get
the opportunity to visit this land. Buddhism, with a history
of some 1,300 years is shaped into a unique form of
"Lamaism". Tibetan history, culture and religion are mixed
together and infiltrate every aspect of social life. Tibetan
religious arts have a distinctive style with adoption of
Indian and Chinese Buddhist influence, thus forming a pearl
of Oriental Buddhist art. The various people who live on the
Tibetan plateau, such as Tibetans, Monpas, Lhopas and
Moslems, each have their own unique of traditions of
marriage, burial birth, and other ceremonies. Festivals in
Tibet are numerous providing many opportunities for large
and exciting celebrations. So come and visit the land rich
in mountains, monks, mystery and adventure. |
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Major Attraction Places of Central
Tibet and other information |
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| Potala Palace |
The dominant landmark of
Lhasa 117 meters above the city below.
Construction started on the red hill in 1645
under the 5th Dalai Lama. An immense building,
13 storey high with walls 3 meters thick
Containing over 1000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and
200,000 statues it was both the residence of the
current Dalai Lama and tomb of the former ;Heads
of state. The entire building is made of stone
and wood and covers an area of 130,000 square
meters. The Potala is full of elaborate art work
and frescos that tell many stories. |
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| Narbulingka |
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he name means "Jeweled Garden", a fitting
title for this 200 years old park, stretching over 360,000
sq. m. The 370 rooms summer palace of the Dalai Lama is
located inside the park in Lhasa about four km west of the
Potala. It was here that the dalai Lamas handled political
affairs, and practiced religious activities. The whole park
has more than 370 rooms of different sizes, and lawns,
shaded by green trees and embraced by various flowers. With
the clear water, and the flowers and trees around, it is
truly known as the "park within the park".
The gardens are the favorite picnic spot. Performances of
Tibetan dances and opera are held here during the "Xuedun
festival".
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| Jokhang Temple +
Barkhor Bazaar |
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The foremost monastery in Tibet, built in
the 7th century AD and now housing the most prized Buddhist
relic, a 1300 year old Sakyamuni Buddha statue. The main
section of the temple is topped with golden roofs found
nowhere else except in Tibet. Watch the many worshippers pay
their respects and prostrating themselves at the main gate.
The monastery is encircled with the Barkhor Bazaar a sacred
pilgrim path, but also a lively & colourful market where you
can bargain over such treasures a ornate long-bladed knives,
prayer wheels and exquisite jewelry.
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| Sera Monastery |
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Sera is more like a small town on the
outskirts of Lhasa at the base of Tatipu hill. It is the
main teaching monastery and one of the three great Gelukpa
'Universities'- once housing more than 5500 monks. Here one
can see the young novices learning scriptures in the
Debating Garden and being rewarded for a correct answer with
a resounding hand-clap from their Master, Sera is also the
birthplace of Tibetan medicine. |
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| Drepung
Monastery |
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Drepung monastery is situated in the west
suburbs of Lhasa city. Formerly the largest and richest
monastery in the world with 10,000 manks (now 400). It is
the size of a small town and lies sprawled over the size of
a small town and lies sprawled over the side of a mountain 8
km from Lhasa. Of particular interest is the medieval monk's
kitchen with its great cauldrons of steaming barley 'stamp'
sitting on top of huge earthen stoves and tented by
saffron-robed monks wielding massive ladles…
From the roof of the monastery one can enjoy the natural
beauty of the Lhasa valley to one's heart content. |
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| Tsurpu |
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Tsurpu monastery I built on the north side
of the river in the Dowo Lung Valley. This is the home of
Karmapa, Karmapa is the true 'living little Buddha' – the
new reincarnated leader of the black hat sect. He is the
only spiritual leader actually living in Tibet. The recent
recognised 17th Karmapa can be visited by all visitors.
Tsurpu monastery was built in 12th century. Tsurpu is the
riches monastery in Tibet.
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| Gyantse |
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Once Tibet's third most important city,
lying in the Nyangchu valley along the main routes from
India and Nepal to Lhasa. In former times it was a fort, the
centre of Tiber's wool trade and a gateway to the outside
world. Other spots of interest: Palcho monastery and the
Kumbum Pagoda.
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| Shigatse |
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Shigaste is Tibet's second largest
city. It is the administrative centre for 18countries in
southern and western Tibet. Besides its fiche cultural
heritage, Shigatse has and abundance of native fruits and
products. At the bazaar, there are more than 300 stalls
selling local produce as well as colourful and elaborate
handicraft, accessories, antiques and porcelains.
In Shigatse one can also find Tashilumpo monastery, the seat
of the Panchen Lama. The Monastery, built in 1447 by a
nephew of Tsong Khapa once housed over 4000 Monks, but now
there are only 600.
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| Sakya Monastery |
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In 1073 Gongjue Jiebu of the Kun family
built a monastery on the north bank of Zongqu River to teach
his new esoteric theory of Buddhism. He was convinced that
the monastery built on such a site would light the mundane
world. Because the monastery was built by a chalky hill, it
was named Sakya, meaning chalky earth in Tibetan. The Sakya
Monastery built by (popular known as the North Temple)
became inadequate for rising and evermore powerful Sakya
establishment. A larger monastery, which is still standing
today, was built on the south bank of Zongqu River by the
Kun house and Pagpa, a well-known Tibetan in the Mongolian
imperial court of the 13th century. This monastery, now
popularly known as the South Sakya, sits against the
backdrop of snow-capped mountains 165 kilometers west of
Shigatse. In 1260 Pagpa was appointed the imperial tutor and
later placed in charge of Buddhist affairs. Kublai Khan then
appointed him ruler of Tibet.
When the visitor approaches this massive
structure, he will see a great monastery in an imposing
square citadel. The outer wall is painted red, white and
black, each representing the different manifestations of
Buddha, a unique feature of Sakya. The Lakang Qinmu Hall,
the main structure in the complex, occupies an area of 5,500
square meters with a height of over 10 meters. According to
monastery records, the hall had 108 giant columns. Now there
are only 40 left, with many anecdotes about them. The entire
complex gives a feeling of solemnity laden with the weight
of history.
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| Samye |
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Built in the mid-8th century, Samye is the
first formal Buddhist Monastery with the Buddha Dharma and
Sangha in Tibet. The whole construction of the monastery,
for the stupas forest-like, the building high and expansive,
the scale grand and broad, is designed in accordance with
the shape of "mandala" layout, and furthermore, the
monastery is well-known to the whole world for the
highlighted and mixed perfection of Han, Tibetan and Indian
architecture style in the main hall and the numerous relics
such as wood and stone carvings, frescos and statues kept in
the monastery. As described in a historical book, this
monastery is considered "an unimaginable construction and
incomparable monastery". Over the centuries it has come
under the influence of the Nyingma, Sakya and Geluk schools
and is thus considered a symbol of Tibet’s national
identity.
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| Tsetang (Zetang) |
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Tsetang (Zetang), the birthplace of
earliest Tibetans, sits on the south bank in the middle
section of the Yarlung Tsangbo River Traduk Monastery is one
of the earliest Buddhist temples in Tibetan history. Built
in 641 A.D., it is said that King Songtsan Gampo established
the temple to suppress the ogress in order to prosper his
kingdom. And later it became the winter palace of King
Songtsan Gampo and Princess Wencheng in Shannan. Of all the
treasures and relics kept in this monastery, the pearled
Tangka -- "Avalokitesvara at his rest" is the most
remarkable
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