Tibet cities a country of dream lands with its fascinating cultures and age old traditions where you can immerse in its modern days to medieval period times, truly a fascinating tour to explore its immense culture and traditions of past glory days.
As the flight lands you in near Lhasa at Gonggar airport or with overland drive from Kathmandu also reaches you at Lhasa, the other route from Beijing, Chengdu, Xian by train journey.
Whichever route you take to Tibet all roads leads to Lhasa, the fabled and capital city and roof of the world.
Tibet Cultural tour | Dream Tibet Travel.
Most of our tour in Tibet begins from Lhasa the largest cities and capital of Tibet, during your holiday in Tibet for few days where our interesting tour leads you around fabled City of Lhasa.
Once it was a forbidden city until very recent times, Lhasa was Holy Grail for many central Asian explorers of past generations. The City has been altered by the Chinese occupation and the flow of foreign visitors. However much of the original character remains and whilst jostling through the Potala with crowds of ethnic Tibetans, it is hard not to be captivated by this magnificent civilization. Visit of great monasteries of Sera and Drepung, both of which were extensively destroyed Cultural Revolution but are now being rebuilt. Tour includes visit of Jokhang and of magnificent Potala Palace. Lhasa is at above 3,600m /12,000ft and an ideal height for acclimatization before heading to other higher areas of great heights.
Gyantse & Shigatse with Yamdrok Tsho Lake:
The second largest city in Tibet is Shigatse after Lhasa located south east close to Gyantse city Gyantse, an important town almost a city during past early years it stood as third largest settlement in Tibet. As the drive from Lhasa leads over Khamba-la 4,800 m and downhill towards beautiful Yamdrok Tsho (Lake) known as the Turquoise Lake and then heading high towards Karo-la at 5,050 m high with close views of Nzongkhan peak glaciers and then reaching at Gyantse.
In Gyantse visit the Kumbum stupa built in early 15th century and contains thousands of frescoes, at Gyantse with time to walk around its monastery and local markets.
Gyantse with an altitude of 3,990 meter high located on route Lhasa-Shigatse-Nepal and as well to Sikkim and Bhutan further beyond east directions.
From Gyantse a short drive of few hours brings you at Tibet’s second largest city at Shigatse home of His Holiness Panchen Lama, which is also 2nd to Dalai Lama (who is in exile).
In Shigatse visit the very large complex of Tashilumpo monastery. This is the traditional residence of the Panchen Lama and contains a 27m high gold plated Buddha known as Matria (the future Buddha), and at afternoon visit the local market.
Namtsho Lake:
With time in Lhasa another interesting visit is tour of Namtsho Lake which is 113 k.ms, wide in lengths considered a salt lake, from Lhasa drive passes the Lhasa River and Golmud highway turning north towards Largaen-La at 5,180m to reach town of Nam Tsho at Qu on the plains to the right east of the lake. The caravan route skirts this end of the lake, on reaching Tashiy Dorje which flat and arid at the shore of lake Namtsho,
A full day for holy circuit around Tashiy Dorje, Chhungchhung which is about two hour lakeside walk under the sculpted limestone cliffs. The climb to the summit 4,720m takes less than 30 minutes and is best approached from the east side near the mani wall. Piles of carved prayer stones decorate the summit and the views outstanding in all directions.
Namtso Lake in Tibet | Dream Tibet Travel
LHASA CITY AND SURROUNDING:
Lhasa the capital and main largest city of Tibet, a holy grail to Tibetans stands at 3,600 m high as one of the world highest city, at present Lhasa a mixture of modern and old where its past glorious, history and culture is still preserved by faithful and devoted Tibetans.
Lhasa located on Kyachu River valley and in central Tibet where you can reach by air-overland or by train from Beijing.
Lhasa, an interesting city where you can visit interesting places beginning with famous and magnificent Potala Palace the winter palace of many former Dalai Lama the head of state, the Potala Palace the pride and masterpiece of Tibet stands as a landmark of the country.
Other places of interest are Drepung means heaps of rice due to whitewashed paints located on a hill top west of Lhasa valley, earlier it was a resident of many Dalai Lama before Potala Palace was built a monastery and a intuitions of Buddhism teaching and learning in good old days 30,000 monks resided to learn and educate Lamaism, at present 500-800 monks and priest resides.
Sera another important monastery although all monasteries looks the same but this one is quite interesting in afternoon time where you can witness young monks in great debates around monastery complex in full active swing very impressive to watch.
Norbulinkha a summer palace with immaculate and well tended garden and lawns, quite modern than other historical places, as it was built during the beginning of 1900’s where former Dali Lama from 12th to 14th resided, an interesting place for a visit.
Jorkhang Temple and Barkhor Market Square:
A great place located on the old and eastern side of Lhasa an active hub of Tibetans, where you can observe devotees-pilgrims and traders from all parts of Tibet in this interesting place, the busy market surrounds the ancient and holy Jhorkhang Temple, where queen Bhirkuti (wife of king Songsen Gampo) brought the first Buddhist idol from Nepal in early 7th C and placed at Jhorkang for worship, this was the first Buddhist temple and shrine ever built before many similar monasteries and shrine flourished in Tibet.
Tashilompu Monastery in Shigatse
Ganden Monastery:
Ganden is at approx 45 k.m. away on the eastern suburb from Lhasa along the road that follows the south bank of the Kyi Chu to Medro Gongkar. From Lhasa drive leads east on the main Tibet-Sichuan highway drive from farm village turnoffs at a junction the main road leads to a climb all the way to Ganden Valley.
The monastery is 18 km more up a winding road, near the top of the sacred ridge of Wangku Ri. Ganden is the foremost monastery of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect. Of all the Great Six monasteries (Ganden, Sera, Drepung,Tashilumpo, Labrang, Kumbum) of the Yellow Sect, none suffered as disastrously as Ganden, the ruins here, a result of the Cultural Revolution when artillery and vast quantities of dynamite where deployed, are the most extensive in Tibet. Over the last decade, Herculean efforts have gone into rebuilding. Before the ruins, over 2,000 monks lived here; now there are hardly 300.