by our Tibet expert Terry Emery
 Lhasa is now the capital of the Chinese ‘Autonomous Region of Tibet’ but still, in popular image and instinctive history, the home of the Dalai Llama, spiritual head of Tibet’s unique form of Buddhism. It is once again becoming open to western tourists and offers a remarkable blend of culture and great scenic beauty. Set high (12,000ft - you may need acclimatisation) in the spectacular Himalaya range, it is in a river valley (the Kiyichu) circled by mountains. Lhasa is only slowly coming to terms with the increasing flow of visitors - and is thus all the more attractive to many. It is dominated by the impressive grandeur of the 17th C. Potala Palace - a complex of White (‘Karpo’) and Red (‘Marpo’) palaces set on a central hill peak overlooking the sprawling town. Lhasa translates as Place of the Gods and there are many outstanding religious sites high on the must-see list; notably the golden-roofed Jokhang temple and the monasteries of Sera and Dreprung, the latter once home to10,000 monks. For those with time and strong nerves, Lhasa is also one end of perhaps the most spectacular road journey in the world, the ‘Friendship Highway’ across the Himalayas to Kathmandu.
360 Tour of Potala Palace
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