Lhasa,
the
forbidden
city,
is
the
heart
&
soul
of
Tibet
for
centuries
&
is
still
a
city
of
wonders.
The
majestic
Potala
palace
dominates
the
Lhasa
skyline
&
is
the
residence
of
the
Dalai
Lamas.
Jokhang,
the
central
cathedral
is
the
spiritual
heart
of
Lhasa
&
is
its
most
sacred
temple.
Encircling
the
Jokhang
Temple
is
the
bustling
&
fascinating
Barkhor
market
&
the
devotional
pilgrim
circumambulation
circuit.
Other
attractions
include
visits
to
Sera
&
Drepung
Monastery,
Tibet's
great
monastic
universities
&
Norbulinka,
the
Summer
Palace
of
the
Dalai
Lama.
Fly
in,
fly
out. |
|
Day
1:
Transfer to your Hotel in Lhasa. We start off with
a walking tour of Jokhang Monastery and the bustling
Barkhor market. The Jokhang Monastery is the home
of the statutes of the revered Buddha, Shakyamuni.
While all Buddhist statutes are magnificently robed
in colorful brocade adorned with pearls, turquoise,
coral, and silver, solid gold bowls of holy water
rest before Shakyamuni as well as offerings of yuen
(money) and khatas (scarves) left by pilgrims.
Day
2:
Guided
sightseeing
tour
of
Potala,
the
winter
palace
of
the
Dalai
Lama.
Stunningly
dominating
the
skyline
of
Lhasa
atop
the
crest
of
Marpo
Ri
hill,
the
seventh-century
Potala
is
considered
Lhasa’s
most
holy
destination
for
a
pilgrimage.
Winding
up
the
hill,
a
stone
path
leads
to
the
14-story,
1000-room,
23,000
square-foot
palace.
Each
day,
thousands
of
pilgrims
give
the
prayer
wheels
lining
the
path
a
clockwise
spin
as
they
make
their
way
up
to
the
entrance.
The
Potala
is
a
holy
place,
but
it
is
also
an
administrative
and
political
complex.
It
is
comprised
of
the
Red
and
White
Palaces;
inside
the
White
Palace
are
two
small
sacred
chapels,
the
Phakpa
Lhakhang
and
the
Chogyal
Drubphuk.
The
Potala's
most
venerated
Buddha
statue,
the
Bodhisattva
of
Compassion,
is
housed
inside
the
Phapka
Lhakhang
Drepung,
the
biggest
monastic
university.
After
a
guided
tour
of
the
Potala
Palace,
we
take
you
to
see
the
Nechung
Monastery
the
seat
of
Nechung,
Tibet's
State
Oracle.
The
oracle
is
the
medium
through
which
Dorje
Drakden
(Nechung),
the
principal
protector
of
the
Dalai
Lama
and
the
Tibetan
government,
communicates
with
His
Holiness
and
the
Kashag
(cabinet).
Major
decisions
of
the
state
are
also
made
in
consultation
with
the
Nechung
Oracle.
A
guided
tour
of
Drepung,
the
biggest
monastic
university
of
Tibet
is
also
included.
Day
3:
Guided
tour
of
the
Norbulinka,
the
summer
palace
of
the
Dalai
Lama
and
a
tour
of
the
Sera
Monastery.
The
Sera
monastery,
home
to
400
monks,
fels
more
intimate
than
the
Potala,
and
visitors
are
invited
see
the
day-to-day
living
and
working
spaces.
In
a
kitchen
blackened
by
dung
fire,
large
pots
and
copper
ladles
hang
on
the
wall;
a
monk
offers
visitors
cups
of
yak
butter
tea,
a
staple
of
the
Tibetan
diet.
Also
see
map
of
Lhasa.
Day
4:
LHASA-KATHMANDU. Early morning breakfast at hotel
and transfer to Gongar Airport.
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your Flight to Lhasa
