Lhasa Attractions

As the first tourist destination for most domestic and international travelers, Lhasa is the holiest center for Tibetan Buddhist believers. Lhasa is surrounded by lots of famous scenic spots. With thousands of years’ history, Lhasa is the ideal city for you to explore both natural scenery and traditional Tibetan culture. Here are some famous tourist attractions which are worthy of being recommended to you, such as the landmark of Lhasa city - Potala Palace, Tibetan shopping center - Barkhor Street, a holy site for Buddhists - Jokhang Temple, etc. If you are interested in Tibetan culture, you have no reason to miss the hot Buddhism debate in Sera Monastery, witness the grand Shoton Festival in Drepung Monastery, do kora around Jokhang Temple, and so on.

Besides those attractions mentioned before, Ganden Monastery - the 1st and primary monastery of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism as well as one of the Great Three Holy Monasteries of Lhasa, Drak Yerpa - the holiest meditation caves, Ramoche Temple - the second most important temple in Lhasa, and Norbulingka - a palace and surrounding park are also your priority destinations.

Canggu Nunnery

Canggu Nunnery

Canggu Nunnery is located in a small alley south of Jokhang Temple, and it's also the only nun temple in Lhasa downtown. It's well-known for the practicing cave of Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. For tourists, this nunnery is famous for its delicious sweet tea.

The memorial archway of "Birthplace of Songtsen Gampo"

Gyama Valley

Gyama Valley

Gyama Valley(甲玛乡), 60km east of Lhasa, is famed as the birthplace of Tibet’s greatest king, Songtsen Gampo, who lived here until he became king at the age of 15.

Have close contact with the locals and then you will find they are very kind and hospitable.

Lhasa Old Town

Lhasa Old Town

Lhasa Old Town shelters the soul of Lhasa. This walk takes in craft workshops, backstreet chapels and pilgrim paths, passing en route some of Lhasa’s traditional architecture.

Shugshep Nunnery

Shugshep Nunnery

Shugshep Nunnery

Trekkers and anyone who likes to get well off the beaten track will enjoy this excursion to Tibet's largest nunnery, Shugsheb Nunnery. Set in a large natural bowl, about 65km south of Lhasa and home to over 280 nuns, Shugsheb Nunnery is a favorite of bird-watchers.

Talung Monastery

Talung Monastery

Talung Monastery

Talung Monastery(达隆寺) is lying in the green fields of the Pak-chu Valley, the sprawling monastic complex of Talung Monastery is around 120km north of Lhasa by road.

Nyemo Tunba is the birthplace of Tibetan incense.

Nyemo Tunba

Nyemo Tunba

Nyemo Tunba Scenic Area is located in Tunba Township, Nyemo County, 120 kilometers away from Lhasa. It's the birthplace of the Tibetan incense, also famous for its traditional handicraft, commonly known as "the three treasures of Nyemo" – Tibetan Paper, Engraving & Incense.

Nalendra Monastery

Nalendra Monastery

Nalendra Monastery

with hundreds of years of history, Nalendra Monastery is the representative monastery for Cha Sect, which is a sect belongs to Saga Sect. There are numerous branch monasteries of Cha Sect in Tibet. And it is the lifetime practice center for the yogis.

The appearance of Tibet museum.

Tibet Museum

Tibet Museum

Tibet Museum, in the west of town just opposite Norbulingka, is worth a visit if you are interested in Tibetan culture and history as well as art. Tibet Museum covers an area of 23,508 square meters including an exhibition area of 10,451 square meters.

The entrance of Potala Palace

Potala Palace

Potala Palace

Potala Palace is Tibet's cardinal landmark and the highest ancient palace in the world. It's one of the world's cultural heritage sites and 5A tourism spot on a national level. Potala Palace is an awe-inspiring place to visit.

Three Tibetan women at the gate of Jokhang Temple.

Jokhang Temple

Jokhang Temple

Jokhang Temple, aka Jokhang Monastery, is considered the spiritual heart of Lhasa city and the most sacred monastery in Tibet. With the thick smell of yak butter, echoing with the murmur of mantras and bustling with awed pilgrims, visiting Jokhang Temple is an unrivaled travel experience.

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery is located on the hillside of the south slope of the Gambo Utse Mountain, about 10 kilometers western suburb of Lhasa. Drepung Monastery is one of the six major temples of the Yellow Sect, as well as the highest-ranking one. Its name means "Rice Heap Monastery".

Sera Monastery is reputed as the most beautiful Tibetan monastery.

Sera Monastery

Sera Monastery

Sera Monastery is one of the "great three" Gelug university monasteries in Tibet. The origin of its name is attributed to a fact that where the monastery was built was surrounded by wild roses in bloom. In Tibetan language, wild rose can be read as "Salad".

Kelsang Potrang, as the first palace in Norbulingka, it is named after the 7th Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso

Norbulingka

Norbulingka

Norbulingka is commonly known as the Summer Palace in Lhasa, which means "Treasure Park" in Tibetan. It's the largest man-made garden in Tibet. Norbulingka Palace is situated in the west of Lhasa, and it was the summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas.

One of the top three Monasteries in Tibet - Ganden Monastery.

Ganden Monastery

Ganden Monastery

Ganden Monastery is one of the "great three" Gelug university monasteries of Tibet. It is in Dagzê County, Lhasa. The other two are Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery. Ganden Monastery was founded in 1409 by Je Tsongkhapa Lozang-dragpa, founder of the Gelug order.

Known as the shrine of Lhasa, Drak Yerpa has monasteries and famous ancient meditation caves.

Drak Yerpa

Drak Yerpa

Drak Yerpa is only a short drive to the east of Lhasa, Tibet, and consists of a monastery and a number of ancient meditation caves that used to house about 300 monks.

Many pilgrims kora in Barkhor Street clockwise around Jokhang Temple, with a prayer wheels spinning in their hands.

Barkhor Street

Barkhor Street

Located in the old city of Lhasa, Barkhor Street is famous for its pilgrim circuit and lively market. With a history of more than 1300 years, the historical site now is the most prosperous shopping street around the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa and the most popular bazaar among travelers.

You will not only see an attraction by visiting Ramoche Temple, but also feel the sense of the history of precipitation.

Ramoche Temple

Ramoche Temple

Ramoche Temple is located about 500 meters north of Barkhor street in Lhasa, the sister temple of the Jokhang temple, constructed around the same time but in Chinese style. It is said that it was set up to house an 8-year-old life-sized statue of Jowo Sakyamuni.

There are many rare and historical relics in Tsurphu Monastery.

Tsurphu Monastery

Tsurphu Monastery

Tsurphu Monastery is a gompa which serves as the traditional seat of the Karmapa, the head of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

Reting Monastery has a history of more than 900 years.

Reting Monastery

Reting Monastery

Reting Monastery(热振寺) is located in Tanggu township, Linzhou county, 240 kilometers north of Lhasa. It's the seat of Reting Rinpoche. As the first monastery of the Kadam Sect in Tibetan Buddhism, Reting Monastery was founded in 1057 by Dromtön.

Drigung Til Monastery once had a very brilliant position in the history of Tibet.

Drigung Til Monastery

Drigung Til Monastery

First established in 1167, Drigung Til Monastery(直贡梯寺) is the head monastery of the Drigongpa school of the Kagyupa order and the most famous sky burial site in central Tibet.

Tidrum Nunnery

Tidrum Nunnery

Around 3hr-walk or 1hr-drive from the main valley, northwest of Drigung Til Monastery and a 13km up a side valley, is Tidrum Nunnery(德仲寺). Tidrum Nunnery with its medicinal hot springs, has a great location in a narrow gorge at the confluence of two streams.

Entrance gate of Drolma Lhakhang Monastery

Drolma Lhakhang Monastery

Drolma Lhakhang Monastery

Drolma Lhakhang is associated with the Bengali scholar Atisha (982~1054). Atisha came to Tibet at the age of 53 at the invitation of the Guge kingdom in western Tibet and his teachings were instrumental in the so-called second diffusion of Buddhism in the 11th century.

Dorje Drak Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Dorje Drak Monastery

Dorje Drak Monastery

Along with Mindroling Monastery, Dorje Drak Monastery is one of the six most important Nyingmapa monasteries. With a remote and romantic location, it is less accessible than Mindroling Monastery and consequently gets few western visitors.

Here're maps of Lhasa attractions. Click to view a bigger image.

Major tourist attractions inside Lhasa city

Major tourist attractions inside Lhasa city.

Nearby tourist attractions outside of Lhasa city.

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This itinerary will show you one of the grandest festivals in Tibetan - Shoton Festival. It starts on August 22 of Tibetan calendar. You will never miss a good chance to see giant "Thanka" of Buddha in Drepung Monastery and watch wonderful Tibetan operas in Norbulingka.

TIBET PRIVIATE TOUR

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Family Tibet tour will surely be an enriching and enlivening experience for your family.

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Family Tour of the Holy Land of Lhasa

This tour in Lhasa will surely be an enriching and enlivening experience for your family. It is also a good chance to enjoy the culture of Tibetan Buddhism and real Tibetan life.

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