Love Trekking? Mountains and Monasteries? If your answer is yes then Tibet is definitely a place for your visit. It offers you breathtaking treks, monasteries and a different culture to live on your trip. You can experience spiritual nature of Tibet in the prayer halls of chanting monks plus the aroma of juniper incense and yak butter.
Tibet is a holy land in the mind of travelers. No matter how much they love and admire the achievements of modern civilization, once they come here, people are engulfed by the majestic natural forces of heaven and earth and the eternal faith and piety of people in this land. Beside the magical scenes, you can also experience a very special monastery trip in Tibet. There are about 1,700 temples in Tibet, according to the official count.
Labuche Kang III is the fourth highest virgin peak. Its height is 7,250 meters. This peak is the highest unclimbed non-prohibited peak in the world. Karjiang is the sixth tallest virgin peak with 7,221 meters.
Combined with the choices of most people and personal experience of traveling in Tibetan areas, here's the must-see attractions in Tibet.
1. Potala Palace
Every day, the first place that is illuminated by the sun is probably the Potala Palace. The magnificent Potala Palace has 13 floors and is more than 170 meters high. Visit the Potala Palace, where you can perceive the importance of religion in Tibet in the daily life of the population. It is the Putuo in the hearts of local Tibetan Buddhism believers.
In Tibetan, it is called "zam lim gyangi", which means the value is equal to half the world. The whole building is mainly composed of the red palace in the center and the White House on both sides, as well as ancillary buildings such as Syracuse and Zongjiao Lukang Park. The highlight of the palace is the spiritual pagoda of the Dalai Lama in the red palace.
2. Jokhang Temple
With a history of more than 1,300 years, the Jokhang Temple, which holds the supreme position in Tibetan Buddhism, is a place every visitor to Tibet should visit. The temple is very beautiful and resplendent. Jokhang Temple is the oldest temple in Lhasa! Jokhang temple, called Qoikang in Tibetan, is as sacred as Potala Palace and this monastery together with the Potala Palace are part of the World Heritage declared by UNESCO.
3. Sera Monastery
Sera Monastery located about 5 km north of the Jokhang is famous for the debates that monks perform among them outdoors, their gestures and shapes are worthy of admiration. Sera monastery, one of the three largest monasteries in Tibet, is also well known among Tibetan monasteries and popular with tourists because it still keeps the tradition of debating scriptures starting at 3 pm every day.
4. Drepung Monastery
Drepung Monastery is the largest Buddhist Monastery in Tibet and one of the three pillars of the Tibetan State. In Tibet, people basically believe in Buddhism, and children are carried to the temple by their parents to receive blessing and dispel diseases and eliminate disasters when they are young.
5. Lhasa
Located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world. This breathtaking capital has retained much of its unique culture and its traditional Tibetan architecture. Lhasa provides tranquillity, a sight of many dedicated pilgrims and a unique glimpse into the life of Tibetan monks. Lhasa is known as the city of the sun. It has the warmest sunshine and the driest air. It always makes people feels like you're at the top of the sky.
Located in the old town of Lhasa, Barkhor Street is a gathering place of religious, economy, and culture in Lhasa. It is a famous holy road around Jokhang Temple with the original Lhasa street style. You can explore Tibet and gather lasting memories by having a bottle of Lhasa Beer in Lhasa Teahouse, and the yak-butter tea. The Tibetan people with a great heart will make your traveling safe and most memorable in Tibet.
You can even take part in the religious traditions yourself by joining the Barkhor kora, the most cherished pilgrimage route in Lhasa. Xiongse temple is an ancient temple of Ningma school, with a history of more than 900 years. It’s the largest Jemu monastery in Tibet (Tibetan area monk man called Trapa and woman called Jemu, is a respectful title).
Tips: After arriving in Lhasa and check-in at hotel, do not be too excited and do not rush towards activities. To get used to the highland climate, you should know that you are at an altitude of 3,700 meters. Therefore, on the first day you arrive must take rest. It's definitely not a waste of time, because you have to be physically fit to go the rest of the way.
6. Samye Monastery
Samye Monastery is very famous. It is the first Buddhist Monastery in Tibet, and the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet. The layout of the whole temple is designed according to the structure of the "world" in the Buddhist imagination.
7. Tsetang
As the earliest building in Tibet, Yumbu Lhakhang was not originally a temple but the palace of the early Yalong tribal leaders.
8. Shannan
When you come to Shannan, you must go to Tradruk Temple, which treasures two precious Thangkas. One is the pearl Thangka woven with 29,000 pearls, and the other is the Tang Dynasty embroidered by princess Wencheng 1300 years ago.
9. Gyantse County
Upon reaching Gyantse explore Kumbum Stupa and the Palkhor Choede Monastery, known for their ancient sculptures and paintings.
10. Tashilhunpo Monastery
Continue towards Shigatse. Visit the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and Sakya Monastery exploring the streets and the pilgrims. Tashilhunpo Monastery was built in 1447 by Gendun Drupa, who was the first Dalai Lama and disciple of Tsongkhapa. And it is one of the great six monasteries of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
Tashilhunpo Monastery is the largest temple in Shigatse, and is the place where the Panchen Lama lived after the fourth generation. Together with the "three major monasteries" in Lhasa, Gandan Monastery, Sera monastery and Drepung monastery, is known as the "four major monasteries" of Gelug sect.
11. Palcho Monastery
Palcho Monastery, also known in Tibetan as "bankuqude", means "jiolun dale temple", is located in Shigatse. The mural paintings in Pelkhor Tsode Temple are very famous. They cover a wide range of subjects, including the two sects of Buddhism, the legend of Buddha and the story of Bunsen, etc. In terms of painting methods, they are more unique than many other monasteries in Tibet.
12. Namtso
Namtso Lake which is one of the top three holy lakes in Tibet should not be missed by any tourists who travel in Tibet. In Tibetan, Namtso means Heavenly Lake. It's a holy lake for pilgrims. The color of the Namtso Lake is particularly rich. The blue color of the sky, the clear water, and the unique blue color of Tibet are one integrated mass. No one can resist such holy beauty!
13. Yamdrok Lake
Leave Lhasa in a westerly direction towards the Kampala Pass at 4700 meters of altitude. From here you will be able to observe the views of the Yamdrok Lake of a beautiful turquoise blue and the snowy mountain Nyenchen Khangsar. Cross Tibetan villages and beautiful valleys to reach the Karola Glacier (5150 m) to see the glacier of the sacred mountain Nyenchen Kangsar.
Gonbara Pass overlooks the Yamdrok Lake, which is illuminated at different times to reveal layers of extremely rich blue. The water comes from the snow water of the surrounding Nianqing Tanggula Mountains. The water of the lake changes with the light, evolving into a kaleidoscopic blue. There is a stretch of lakeside road not far from the snow mountain, where walking or camping on the lakeside is the best way to experience Yamdrok Lake.
14. Saga County
Spend the day driving from Saga to the Brahmaputra Valley. See spectacular views from the vehicle of the Himalayas to the south and the transhimalayas to the north. In this part of Tibet, the majority of inhabitants are still nomads who live following the same customs as hundreds of years ago.
15. Ngari Prefecture
Located in the western part of Tibet, the ancient Guge kingdom is a surprising place where a few visitors reach experience. It was established in the late 10th century and close to the modern town of Zanda country. Seven hundred years ago, Guge kingdom was a Buddhist religious center and an important trade hub between Tibet and Central Asia.
16. Lake Manasarovar
Cross sand dunes, mountains and sandy valleys before reaching Lake Manasarovar. This is one of the four sacred lakes of Tibet that receives thousands of pilgrims from Tibet, Russia and India.
From here move towards Darchen, a small nomadic town that is the departure point of the pilgrims. Leave from Darchen to begin the trekking in a clockwise direction around Mount Kailash at an average height of 4700 meters above sea level. Walk with the pilgrims who follow the same route.
After about 4 hours arrive at Tamdin (4780 m), and the Dirakpuk Monastery. Go through the controls of Dikpala (5000 m) and Dormala (5600 m) to get to see Mount Kailash and continue to Zultul Puk.
The visit to Mt Kailash is an essential part that attracts many tourists worldwide. The views of the spectacular mountains will surely win your heart.
Mount Kailash is one of the most famous Sacred Mountain and known as "Treasure or Saint on Snow Mountain" in Tibetan. It's located in far western Tibet's Ngari prefecture, more than 1200 kilometers from the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa. As it only rises to 6,714 meters, it is not particularly high as far as peaks in the Himalaya, but there are no other mountains in Tibet that are as holy as Kailash.
Interesting Reads: Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
17. Sagarmatha National Park
Mount Everest, along the border of Nepal and Tibet, is the highest peak in the world. As the highest point of the world, Mount Everest is covered with snow throughout the year. When the glaring sun comes out, the peak becomes very pure and beautiful.
There is a road all the way to Base Camp at over 5,000 m. If not in possession of the 19,000 USD climbing permit, a bus will bring a person to just below Base Camp. At that location, and if the skies are clear, there are perfect views of Mount Everest all the way to the summit at 8,848 m. EBC is one of the best places to view and photograph Mount Everest.
So as to avoid potentially fatal altitude illness, it’s advisable to spend a night at each of the villages en route, and enjoy several days moving up from 2,000 m to 5,000 m. This is a part of the traveling and exploring, and should not be seen as a hindrance. Costs are quite modest for such overnight stays, with facilities becoming more basic as one travels higher.
The only substantial cost is getting to Tibet in the first place. Many people fly into Kathmandu in Nepal, and then travel by road over a high mountain pass to Tibet. This naturally delivers acclimatization if not rushed.
18. Nyingchi
Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is the deepest and longest canyon in the world. Suosong village in Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon scenic spot is the best place to enjoy flowers in Mainling County. The peach blossom under the snow mountain is in full bloom, just like the cherry blossom of Mount Fuji. It is the most famous Tibet paradise.
In the vast territory, most of the time will be spent on the road in your Tibet tour but the scenery on the road is infinitely good. In Conclusion, if you are a travel lover then Tibet is a great place for spending your holidays.