Trip Overview
Lhasa, the administrative capital of Tibet is a city of wonders! Its cultural richness and absolutely beguiling location and topography are beyond any words of description. Lhasa is the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining and, at an altitude of 3,490 meters (11,450 ft.), Lhasa is one of the highest located cities in the world. The city has been the religious and administrative capital of Tibet since the mid-17th century. Containing many culturally significant Tibetan Buddhist sites, Lhasa lies in the centre of the Tibetan Plateau with the surrounding mountains rising to 5,500 meters. The views of the mountains like Xixapangma, Makalu, Cho-Oyu, Everest, Lhotse and Langtang from this place are spectacular. The Tibet Everest Base Camp Tour offers art, architecture and craftworks manifested in the monasteries of the city. It takes us back in time and lets us endeavor the peace that the Buddhist culture preaches about. The Lhasa River, a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo River (Brahmaputra River), also runs through the southern part of the city. This river, known to local Tibetans as the “merry blue waves”, flows through the snow-covered peaks and gullies of the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains, extending 315 km and empties into the Yarlung Zangbo River at Qüxü. The area of this natural topography forms an acreage of great scenic beauty.
The literal meaning of Lhasa is “the Place of Gods”. The place is considered holy as it has many places of cultural significance like the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, the Norbulingka Palace, the Sera Monastery and the Drepung Monastery. The Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and the Norbulingka are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Placed upon the Red Hill, Potala Palace is an impressive palace that dominates the entire Lhasa city! This large palace is divided into two parts – the red palace and the white. The White palace, which was once the house of local Tibetan government, is now a living quarter of the Dalai Lama. It was constructed in the 17th century and features the Dalai Lama’s quarters and many vital chapels.
Jokhang Temple on the other hand, is the oldest temple in Lhasa and is well decorated with many Tibetan features. The temple is surrounded by the Bakhor Street. A visit to the Jokhang temple helps you get the unique taste of Tibetan culture. The Drepung Monastery is the largest monastery in Tibet and the Sera monastery has been able to preserve the Tibetan culture very well. The Norbulingka Palace is a palace of the Dalai Lama that is grand and artistically phenomenal.
The Tibet Everest Base Camp Tour takes you to these highlighted places and lets you experience the sites in close proximity. You would be encountering many local people and will be subjected to experience Tibet’s beautiful sites and historical and cultural destinations to their fullest extent.