Destination

High on Mount Moburi of Lhasa, the Potala Palace has the honor of being the highest ancient palace in the world, with its highest point reaching to over 3,700 m above sea level. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was built in the Tang Dynasty of the 7th century BCE during the reign of King Songtsan Gampo of Tibet and is considered a sacred site for many Tibetans. Built as a present from King Songtsan Gampo to his bride to be, this 13-story palace covers over 130,000sqm.

Included on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2000 as part of the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple is located in central Lhasa. With an area of 25,100 square meters (about six acres), it is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Pilgrims.

Norbulingka, meaning 'Treasure Park' in Tibetan, is situated in the western suburb of Lhasa City, at the bank of the Kyichu River, about one km (about 0.6 mile) southwest of Potala Palace. The garden covers an area of 360,000 square meters (about 430,000 square yards), with 374 rooms inside. It is the biggest man-made garden in Tibet Autonomous Region.

Located at the foot of Tatipu Hill in the northern suburb of Lhasa, Sera Monastery is one of three monasteries with Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery. It covers an area of 114,946sqm. Main buildings are the Coqen Hall, Zhacang and Kamcun. Scriptures written in gold powder, fine statues, scent cloth and unparalleled murals can be found in these halls. Colorful debates on Buddhist doctrines are held here and these employ a style distinctive from those at Lhasa's other famous monasteries.

Situated at the foot of the Mountain Gambo Utse, 5km from the western suburb of Lhasa, it is known as the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. Considered one of the 'Three Great Monasteries' it covers an area of 250,000sqm. Iit held 7,700 monks, 141 fazendas and 540 pastures in its heyday, and is the largest-scale monastery. Seen from afar, its grand, white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice. Drepung means Collecting Rice in the Tibetan language.

Gandan 47.4 kilometres away from the Potala Palace, built in the altitude of 3,800 meters on top of the mount Wangguer and Gongba, it is a large scale and the grand temple complex.