Lhasa

Legendary King

The history of Lhasa is recorded from the 7th century, when it was ruled by the legendary king Songtsän Gampo. According to the folk legend, the Tibetan kings were of divine origin, and when their service on the earth ended, they climbed up on the sacred rope back to heaven. However, the seventh king, the father of Songtsän Gampo, died in a battle he provoked, and therefore could not return to heaven. This is the reason why Songtsän Gampo was considered the first human king. He ordered the construction of the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, which is still preserved, after it has undergone an extensive reconstruction. The statue of Buddha richly decorated with precious stones, corals and amulets is the most unique monument of the temple.

Religious Centre

During the city's history, several schools of Tibetan Buddhism used to meet here, most important of them were the Gelugpa and the Kagyupa. In 1576, the Kagyupa school won the battle for power, consequently its leader Songtsän Gampo, the 1st Dalai Lama, became Tibet's spiritual and political leader. Ever since, the title of Dalai Lama is reserved for Tibet's leaders. In the 17th century, the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, built the Potala Palace on the outskirts of Lhasa. The palace stands on the remains of Songtsän Gampo's residence, and it is one of the most beautiful buildings in Asia . Potala Palace was rightly added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Recent History

Not long ago, in the early 20th century, Lhasa was the "place of the gods", and one of the most isolated cities in the world. Only a few hardly accessible mountain trails led there, and foreigners were forbidden to enter the city under threat of death. In 1950, the Chinese troops invaded Lhasa and occupied Tibet. Soon after, the destruction and devastation of the Tibetan culture began. Many statues were destroyed, paintings were burned and whole monasteries were torn down. Today is Lhasa the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and one of the last places where at least a fraction of Tibetan history remained preserved. The Jokhang Temple was allowed to be restored, and an ethnographic museum was founded in the Potala Palace .

Useful Information

After a long time, Lhasa opened its doors to the public and to tourism. It offers very simple Tibetan hostels and middle class hotels. The best time to visit Lhasa is from April to June, and then September and October. Before visiting the city, please inquire about the visa requirements.

GPS: 29.6500000000, 91.1000000000  Edit

Altitude: 3654 m  Edit

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	Tibet Museum Museums, 1.9 km	Add to the plan
	Potala Palace Lhasa Castles , 1.9 km	Add to the plan

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