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Discover Lhasa Tibet

Lhasa, Tibet is a name that bears all mysteries and awe. Well, that's how people reacted when they hear the name Lhasa. The real reason for this is that when the city of Tibet was founded in 633 A.D under the leadership of Songtsan Gampo, the King of the Tubo Dynasty, the city was ruled by Tibetan Buddhism, which people thought as a mysterious religion ruled by Dalai Lamas. The name "Lhasa" means "Holy Place".

Lhasa, Tibet has been considered as the gateway to one of the most worth visiting places on earth -- Tibet. It is the center of Tibet and is populated by ethnic and local Chinese who, according to several researches, outnumbered the natives in Tibet by no less than five to one in the city particularly.

With the number of ethnic population present in Lhasa, Tibet and with lots of wonders that the place can offer, it's no wonder that Lhasa, Tibet is deemed by many as intriguing. Visitors of all sorts come to the city to know its people and to experience a feeling beyond imagination. It is interesting to know that most of the people in Lhasa, Tibet are religious in nature. This also holds true to the city's tourist sites.

Speaking of tourist sites, the main Lhasa, Tibet's attraction is the Potala Palace, which is the fortress monastery and palace that occupies much of the city's skyline. This place dominates at about 120 meters high. It has 13 stories with more than 1000 rooms and portions that boast of structural design from the 7th century. Today, the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet serves as the seat of the government and religion of the Tibetan Kingdom.

Aside from Potala Palace, there is also the Jokhang Temple, which is said to be the center of Tibetan culture and religion. According to several researches, this temple was built in 647 A.D. by King Songtsen Gampo for his wife, Tritsun, the princess of Nepal. It was Tritsun who bought and placed the religious relic of Jowo Sakyamuni to the temple. This relic is still kept at the perimeter of this notable place.

It is further interesting to know that the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, Tibet is now visited by pilgrims from different areas in the world. They come to crawl, walk, or roll along the street outside this place to circumambulate the temple, including the vestiges that it contains.

There are a lot more to be witnessed in Lhasa, Tibet aside from Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple. The other attractions may include the Tibetan School of Performing Arts, Tibetan Traditional Hospital, Drepung Monastery, Garden Monastery, and several other monasteries in the city. With all these wonders, Lhasa, Tibet is really worth a visit.

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Lhasa - Holy City of Tibet

Many people consider Tibet as the sacred land of legends and profound mystery occupied by hospitable inhabitants. For centuries now, the land continues to attract different types of people, from curious tourists, mystics, geographers and scholars from all races. Although extremely isolated, a lot of people gravitate to this place to witness its ageless beauty, rich heritage and magnificent landscapes.

The country's capital is Lhasa, which is also known as the holy city of Tibet. Lhasa which literally means "the land of the gods" or "holy place" is home to the world's most opulent religious relics. The majority of Buddhist monasteries of Tibet can be found in Lhasa. One of its famous landmarks is the13 storey Potola Palace that has 1000 rooms and was one of the Dalai Lama's winter residences. This architectural wonder actually took 50 years to build on top of Red Hill and rises 300 meters above the base of the valley. The beloved shrine is now a state museum that houses 35 monks.

Another tourist attraction of the holy city of Tibet is the Ganden Monastery, located in Tagtse County. It is mainly an assembly hall, and also serves as the lodging house for the monks. It is among the Three Great Temples of Gelugpa. The monastery houses many great relics, which dates back as far as the Ming Dynasty. Among the famous ancient pieces is an armor suit presented by the Emperor Qian Long. During the Cultural Revolution, Ganden Monastery was practically reduced to ruins but is now slowly rebuilt through the monks' private funds.

At the very heart of the holy city of Tibet is the old Barkhor Street that surrounds the temple of Jokhang. The streets are the market center that sells local wares which includes artifacts, silks and furs. Years ago, due to the incessant battle between two religions, Buddhism and Bon, the city's fortune fell soon after the death of King Songsten Gampo.

Today, the modern holy city of Tibet is yet to develop into a highly urbanized city, where a total of 474, 500 people coexist harmoniously under the religion of Buddhism. Aptly described as "The Last Pure Land of the World and the Extant Paradise", people from all over the world are in awe with the sheer beauty of the land. Walking along its antique streets and soaking in exotic customs can truly do wonders in relaxing a person's weary spirits. You can see pilgrims from the world over walking slowly around the Jokhang Temple. Many tourists are attracted to the peacefulness of the place.

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