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Lhasa vacations

◆Lhasa is unquestionably one of the most featured and amazing cities in the world. This is not only because of its remoteness and awe-inspiring high altitude at 11,975 feet, but also because of the visual and spirit impact created by its impressive cultural heritage of over a thousand years and the romantic and mysterious religious atmosphere. To Tibetans, Lhasa is what Mecca is to the Muslims. Each year, more than 1.5 million worshipers, both at home and abroad, make the pilgrimage to Lhasa. Lhasa vacations elaborately designed by TimeInChina.com will give you the most enjoyable and memorable encounter with the fabulous mountain scenery, mystical Buddhist monasteries, fantastic Tibetan customs as well as unforgettable spirit experience.

Llasa

1. Attractions:

★ Potala Palace

Originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century, Potala Palace is the architectural wonder in the center of Lhasa as well as the symbol of Tibet. It is famous for its grand buildings, complicated constructions, devotional atmosphere and splendid artworks. It once was the religious and political center of old Tibet and the winter palace of Dalai Lamas.

★ Jokhang Temple

Built in 7th century, Jokhang Temple is the spiritual center of Tibet as well as the most revered religious structure in Tibet. Everyday pilgrims from every corner of Tibet trek a long distance to the temple. In and outside the temple, the scenes of countless pilgrims prostrate themselves on the ground while saying their prayers could be seen. No one will visit Lhasa without visiting this temple!

★ Barkhor Street

Located in the center of old Lhasa, Barkhor Street is the oldest as well as the most representative street in Lhasa. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble and a place to which a visit must be paid. Here, visitors can buy many beautiful articles such as prayer flags, prayer wheels, thangkas, sutras, prayer beads, jewelry, Tibetan knives, food, costume, and so on.

★ Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery is another of the six great Gelukpa monasteries of Tibet. Founded by Jamyang Chojey in 1416, Drepung was once the largest monastery in the world with a monk population of over 10,000. It has been one of the most politically influential monasteries in Tibet throughout its existence. Many of Tibet's most renowned leaders have studied there. Today, Drepung Monastery remains an active monastery and attracts pilgrims and visitors from around the world.

★ Ganden Monastery

Founded in 1409 by Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelugpa Sect, Ganden Monastery is one of the earliest and largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet, and stands atop of the six famous temples of Gelugpa - a branch of Tibetan Buddhism.

★ Norbulingka

Norbulingka, Originally built by the Seventh Dalai Lama in the 18th century, means Jewel Park and was the Summer Palace of Dalai Lamas. The Norbulingka is well worth a visit at festival times and public holidays.

★ Sera Monastery

The monastery was built by Sagya Yexei, one of the disciples of Tsongkhapa who was the founder of Gelugpa of the Tibet Buddhism in 1419. It is one of the six main monasteries of the Gelugpa of the Tibetan Buddhism. As one of the three main monasteries (the other two are Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery) of Lhasa, it is here that the monks “famous daily debates” take place.

2. Climate and Clothes

Lhasa is located in the center of Tibet. The climate of the city is mild, without severely cold winters or extremely hot summer. The time difference within a day is huge. The yearly highest temperature is 29 ℃ and the lowest minus 16.5 ℃ with the yearly average temperature is 7.4℃. The annual sunshine time in Lhasa is over 3000 hours, hence the name “Sunshine City”. The annual rainfall ranges from 200 to 500 mms and the rainy months are July, August and September. “Night rain” is a unique phenomenon in Lhasa because rain usually falls at night..

Summer and autumn are the best time to Lhasa. Casual clothing and comfortable walking shoes are the must. Make sure to take warm clothing as it is quite chilly and cold during the nights and early morning, even in the summer. If you travel to Lhasa in the period from November to April, heavy jacket, warm sweater, woolen shirt, gloves, hat, scarves and warm socks are necessary. And travel during the May to October, overcoat, raincoat, light jacket, light sweater, sunglass, sunbonnet, suntan oil are needed.

Lhasa Temperature - Average Temperature ( ºF )
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.
27.8 33.4 39.7 46.9 54.6 59.9 58.8 57.3 55.0 46.5 35.4 28.5
3. Lhasa Impression

Different people may have different impression of Lhasa, but the common opinions always include bright, solemn and dignified. Yes, it is Lhasa, a city enjoying the lofty and romantic sides simultaneously.

Unparalleled Devotion in Full-Body Prostration

In Lhasa, nothing could be more astonished than the prostrating pilgrims in the squares and along the road. Each day and each year, countless Buddhist pilgrims from every corner of Tibet, India, Nepal and other countries make their way toward Lhasa, the holy site, through their full-body prostrations. The practice of full body prostrations, involving kneeling down, sliding the forearms along the ground, touching the forehead to the ground and then standing up. The same course is repeated again and again till they reached the destination.

A pilgrimage to Lhasa is a lifelong dream for all Tibetans. While the hardship in the trekking are far beyond imagination. Due to the hardship and slow progression, a pilgrim to Lhasa will lasted for several months, years or even decades. During the period, pilgrims have to bear the bother of illness, bad weather, loneness, homesickness and also the suffering of the body. Even so, these never dampened pilgrims’ enthusiasm for getting to the sacred destination. Actually, not all pilgrims could realize their dream. Some of them might die from exhaustion during the long pilgrimage!

Eternal Belief Lit by Yak Butter Lamp

Yak Butter Lamp occupy an impottant position in Tibetan daily life. They can be found in Tibetan Buddhist temples, shrines and monasteries, sometimes in ordinary tibetan families. Buddhist followers believe that the twinkling butter lamps can help to focus the mind and aid meditation and deliver their piety to Jin.

The Yak Butter Lamps in Jokhang Temple are most famous. Now, in order to strengthen fire prevention, these lamps have been moved into the square in front of Jokhang Temple.

Butter Lamp Festival is one of the most important festivals in Tibet. It is celebrated on the 15th of the first month every year. It is also the best time to see Yak Butter Lamps.

Spiritual Blessings Brought by Prayer Wheel

In Lhasa, you will find that nearly all the older Tibetan men and women have a prayer wheel in one hand and a string of prayer beads in the other. The handheld prayer wheel is a hollow wooden or metal cylinder attached to a handle. It is an exclusively Tibetan Buddhist praying instrument which always bears the mystical word 'OM MANI PADME HUM' numbering six syllables in the mantra of Avalokitesvara.

The Prayer wheel must be rotate clockwise. Tibetans spin it day and night to spread spiritual blessings to all sentient beings and invoke good karma in their next life. They believe that each rotation of the prayer wheel equals one recitation of the mantra, thus their merits will accrue.

Prayer wheel can be easily found in Barkhor Street or some shops. The price varies with the materials.

4. Dining

With the development of tourism, cuisines and snacks from other parts of China could be found in Lhasa. And food from Nepal, India, Italy and western countries are also served. Following are some recommendations for your reference

Tibet Lhasa Kitchen

Lhasa Snowland Restaurant

Makye Ame

Xue Shen Gong (Snow Deity Palace)

5. Accommodation

Although comparing with other cities in China, Lhasa appears a little, just a little lagged, but accommodation is still convenient here. Various lodging ranges from the cheap Youth Hostel to nice guesthouse, and to luxurious five-star hotel all can be found here. The room in top-grade hotel, such as Lhasa Hotel is about RMB 900, but room in the mid-class hostel is merely around RMB 40. Backpackers mostly concentrate in the hostels in East Beijing Road and West Beijing Road, where each bed is about RMB 20 to RMB 20.

Since accommodation is a very important element in a tour. So you’d better ask for other’s suggestions or make an on-the-spot investigation before you make final decision.

Recommendations:

Lhasa Hotel ★ ★ ★ ★

Tibet International Grand Hotel ★ ★ ★ ★

Kirey Hotel ★ ★ ★ ★

Banak Shol Hotel

6. Etiquette & Taboos

Please respect the life and belief of the local minority. Do not conflict with the local habitants.

Prayer wheels and Dharma Wheel must be rotated clockwise.

Never touch other people’s heads.

When calling someone, you will add “La” behind his or her name to show respect.

When you are asked by the host to take a seat, you should sit cross-legged and don’t stretch your legs with your feet pointing to the other.

If someone gives you gifts, you should receive with both hands.

When presenting gifts to someone, you'll bend your waist and lift up the gifts in both hands over your head to show respect.

Vultures are considered holy birds by Tibetans. Don’t drive them away and hurt them.

Do not drive or disturb the sheep or cows with red, green or yellow cloth strips on.

Sky burial is a ritual of great religious meaning. Only the funeral party will be present at the ritual. You had better not to watch it. If you encounter it by accident, remember to stand far away from the site and never take photos, since the Tibetans believe photographing might negatively affect the ascent of the soul.

It is offensive to clap your hand or spit behind Tibetans.

It is impolite to take photos in solemn religious ceremonies. Ask for permission before photographing.

Never touch the Buddha figures, sutra, and other religious articles in the temples.

Do not step on the threshold when you are entering the tents or houses of Tibetans.

Touching, walking over or sitting on any religious texts, objects or prayer flags in a monastery are offensive.

Smoke is forbidden in temples.

Remember to walk around a temple in clockwise with the exception of Bon monasteries.

It is considered proper etiquette to offer some money or butter fuel while visiting a monastery.

7. Travel Tips

Tibet Travel Permit should be acquired before your travel to Lhasa or other areas in Tibet.

Owing to the high elevation in Lhasa, most people will develop some degrees of some symptoms, which include: headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, insomnia, loss of appetite, etc. Please don't worry. Drink water and sleep as much as you can. The symptoms will ease in a few days. And you can ask your doctor about medication that can help ease the symptoms. If the condition gradually worsens and symptoms such as high-altitude pulmonary edema, high-altitude cerebral edema and heavy cold occur, stop your tour at once and go to hospital as soon as possible.

Make sure that you are in good physical condition and have no tendency to catch a cold.

You are not recommended to buy expensive articles, such as antique, jewelry, Chinese traditional medicine, etc in the vendors around the scenic spot. The quality of these goods is not guaranteed.

Never buy the skin of wild animals, horn of Tibetan antelope, skull of wild yak and etc. they are forbidden to trade and can not be exported legally.


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