Overview

6 Days Tibet Tour Package- Lhasa, Gyangtse & Shigatse.

Explore the mystic beauty of Tibet on a 6-day tour package. Visit Lhasa, Gyangtse, and Shigatse including breathtaking Himalayan landscapes.

Tibet autonomous region, the mystic Shangri-la, roof of the world, has captured man’s imagination for centuries. Great explorers and adventures of the country have ventured into this holy land rendered inaccessible by the hostile natural conditions and bandits that waylaid them across through the Himalayas. Tibet’s past grandeur, majesty, magic and mystery still remain undiminished. One can still see today nomads herding their yaks, pilgrims worshiping at sacred shrines, as well as the expansive, striking and enduring Himalayan topography.

Tibet is the best place to experience the true Buddhism and Culture. It has taken many years to come to today’s shape. When in Tibet one gets a feeling of being in a different part of the world. The monasteries built centuries back, the open grasslands, the unique and unspoiled lakes, the snow carved mountains are always worth visiting. Its like being addicted; the more you visit the more you want to go further and want to know more about this beautiful land.

Highlights:

• Potala Palace: Winter palace of the Dalai Lama
• Temple: Spiritual Center for Buddhists in Tibet
• Sera Monastery: Another one of the “great three” Gelug monasteries of Tibet, the hot attraction is monks debate.
• Drepung Monstery: Drepung used to be a seat of central government until the 5th Dalai Lama built Potala Palace.
• Ganden Monastery-One of Tibet’s largest and earliest Buddhist monastery.
• Yamdrok Lake , Gyangtse and Shigatse City

Lhasa
Lhasa the capital city of Tibet at an altitude of 3,650 meters, is situated on the northern banks of the Kyichu River. Lhasa in Tibetan means “Palace of Gods”, the residence of Dalai Lama. Lhasa has always remained the cultural, political and economic centre of Tibet. It is the heart and soul of Tibet, the abode of the Dalai Lamas and an object of devout pilgrimage. The places of interest in Lhasa include the Potala palace, Norbulinka palace, Jokhang temple, Sera and Drepung monasteries etc. The JOkhang temple and Bharkhhor circumambulation circuit , full of pilgrims from all over Tibet ,innumerable shops and wayside peddlers selling everything from prayer flags to yak skulls is the most amazing of the experience of being in Tibet.

Potala Palace: Potala dominates the Lhasa skyline from every corner. Originally there were buildings from 640 AD but the present Potala palace was built in 17th century by the fifth Dalai Lama. It has served as the residence of the Dalai Lamas .It is 117 m high, 13 storied and has 1000 rooms. Different sections of the palace houses a great wealth of cultural and art objects of Tibet. Many parts of the palace, now turned to a museum is open for the visitors.
Potala Palace is an architectural marvel that has stood as a symbol of Tibetan culture and history for centuries. Set atop Marpo Ri, known as “Red Hill”, the palace overlooks the city of Lhasa.
It was initially built in the 7th century, but the present structure with the two main sections, the Red Palace and the White Palace, was reconstructed by the 5th Dalai Lama in 1645. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, the palace wows thousands of visitors every year with its preservation of the rich cultural heritage of Tibet. As a symbol of Tibet, Potala Palace is a must-see for tourists.

Jokhang temple and Bharkhor bazzar: Jokhang Temple in Tibet is known as the Tsuk-La-Khang in Tibetan, which means the central cathedral. This is the most important and most sacred temple in Tibet and Inner Himalayas. To Tibetan, the temple is known as the central and heart of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Temple was built in the seventh century after the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo shifted his capital to Lhasa. Songtsen Gampo married the princess from neighbouring kingdom like Nepal, Hor and Tang dynasty.

The temple was originally built by Nepalese craftsmen to house the Buddha statue brought to Tibet by the Nepalese princess as a dowry when marrying Songtsan Gampo. After the death of Songtsan Gampo, the statue was swapped by the Chinese Queen Wencheng the statue she brought (Jowo Sakyamuni) from the Ramoche Temple to Jokhang to hide it from the intruder. Now the Jowo Sakyamuni is the prime object of veneration in the Temple.

Unlike many other temples, this temple doesn’t belong to any particular sect of Tibetan Buddhism. You will see the different statues of Master of different sects from Milarepa to Je Tsongkhapa. The most interesting for the nonbelievers is the blend of Nepalese architectural with the Tibetan architectural if you observe the door and the pillar you can clearly see the visibility of Nepalese architectural.

Norbulinka Palace
Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama, lies in a quiet and beautiful garden in the west part of Lhasa . The well preserved murals, superb mandalas and frescoes are fascinating sights not to miss.
One particular mural inside depicts the history of Tibet and all the Dalai Lamas. The Dalai Lama was living here during his last days in Tibet The rooms have remained as they were when the Dalai Lama left in 1959. Here you can also see the cars which the Great 13th Dalai Lama imported to Tibet.

Drepung Monastery
About 8 km to the west of central Lhasa , Drepung was once Tibet’s largest monastery , with a population of around 10,000 monks. Built in 1416 this is one of the important Gelukpa monasteries .It houses different colleges for the study of buddhist philosophy and the interesting sight is to see is the debating monks. The Ganden Palace also located in the Drepung complex , is where the Dalai Lamas used to live before the Potala was built. The Nearby Nechung monastery at a five minutes distance from here is also worth a visit.

Sera Monastery
Though not as big as Drepung it is another big and important Gelukpa monastery in Lhasa which has served as ” university monastery ” . It is about five km north of central Lhasa. Built in 1419 it was the home for 5000 monks in the days of its highest glory, though the number now is reduced to few hundreds. Like Drepung it houses different colleges to teach buddhist Philosophy. In the debating courtyard you can see the monks debating from 3 to 4 pm.
Ganden Monastery: A Tranquil Haven with Scenic Trekking Routes
Ganden Monastery is a serene haven for spiritual seekers and outdoor enthusiasts. Located on Wangbur Mountain, around 45 km northeast of Lhasa, it is known for its historical significance and surrounding natural beauty.

Ganden Monastery lies in a hilly natural amphitheater.
It is also home to one of the most popular trekking routes in Tibet. The Ganden to Samye trek is a multi-day trek that passes through a diverse landscape of alpine meadows, mountain passes, and river valleys. The trekking routes around Ganden Monastery involve challenging terrain and high altitudes. It’s best to spend a few days in Lhasa or a nearby area to acclimatize before starting the trek. April to October is the best time to visit the area with more trails accessible, and more stable weather.

Lake Yamdrok: A Turquoise Gem Nestled in the Himalayas. Lake Yamdrok is renowned for its stunning color, the vibrant turquoise hues a perfect accent to the picturesque landscape of snow-capped mountains, and lush green valleys that surround it. Lake Yamdrok is like a turquoise gem on the plateau. Located around 100 km southwest of Lhasa, and at an altitude of around 4,441 meters, where the crisp, clean air adds to the natural beauty. It is also a sacred site to Tibetans, with the surrounding region home to numerous monasteries. Pilgrims travel to Lake Yamdrok to walk the kora route around the lake, the full route taking several days to complete.

The high altitude of Lake Yamdrok means altitude sickness is an important concern. Visitors are advised to acclimatize properly, spending a few days in Lhasa or a similar location before going. While there you need to be prepared for rapid weather changes. Dress in layers and be ready for strong sun, wind, and potential rain or snowfall.

Gyantse (3950m)
Situated 254 km south-west of Lhasa, Gyantse is the least Chinese influenced towns in Tibet. Here, we’ll visit the Gyantse Dzong and Gyantse Kumbum. The Dzong is a fort dating back to the 14th century and the views of both Gyantse itself and the surrounding Nyang Chu Valley. It was here that the Tibetans bravely fought the British invasion by Colonel Younghusband in 1904, at the height of British colonial aspirations in Asia. The Mandala-shaped Kumbum is a large gold-domed stupa and its many small chapels house an impressive array of Tibetan Buddhist murals.
Kumbum Monastery: This building in Gyantse is one of the most unique and magnificent in Tibet consisting of 6 Stories complete with a Buddhist Hall and a prayer hall. It has 112 chapels and its walls are adorned with religious paintings. Built in the 15th Century, it has since then withstood all the ravages of battles and revolutions.

Pelkhor Chode Monastery: Located next to Gyantse’s Kumbum, it was founded in the 15th century. It has been remarkably well preserved and many of the statues and paintings inside date back to the time of its founding.

Shigatse (3900m)
Situated around 250 km south west of Lhasa via the new highway , Shigatse is the second largest city in Lhasa.It has long been an important trading town and administrative centre and the traditional capital of Tsang province .Mostly interesting here for tourists is the famous Tashilhunpo monastery and the traditional market.

Tashilhunpo Monastery: Founded in AD 1447 by Genden Drup, the First Dalai lama. It is the seat of the Panchen Lama who is second to the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy. The 5th Dalai Lama declared that his teacher, then the Abbot of Tashilhunpo, was a manifestation of the Buddha Amitabha and the fourth in line of incarnate Lamas who would henceforth be referred to by the title of Panchen Rinpoche. Tashilhunpo has one of the world’s largest statues, a 9 storied gilded bronze statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha.

Shalu Monastery: Shalu is 19 kilometers southwest of Shigatse. It was famous as a Tantric school where yogic practices were taught and perfected. The architecture outside, especially the roof, is uniquely Chinese.

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