Potala Palace

Today, Potala Palace is a museum. The site was used as a meditation retreat by King Songtsen Gampp, who built the first palace in 637 to greet his bride Princess Wen Cheng of the ang Dynasty of China.

The Great fifth Dalai Lama- Lozang Gyatso started the construction of the modern Potala Palaace in 1645 after one of his spiritual advisers, Konchog Chophel pointed out that the site was ideal as a seat of government, positioned as it is between Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa.

The Potala Palace became the center of political and religious power for the Dalai Lamas measuring 400 metres east-west and 350 metres north-south, with inclined stone walls averaging 3m. thick, and 5m thick at the base, and with copper poured into the foundations to help proof it against earthquakes. Palace has thirteen stories with 1000 rooms, the living quarters of the Dalai Lamas and offices of the Government, a huge printing house, a seminary, hundreds of chapels, courtyards, treasuries, cells for monks and servants, granaries and store rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues which soar 117 metres on top of Marpo ri. 'the Red Hill', rising more than 300 m in total abouve the valley floor. The 5th Dalai Lama’s Tomb contains a ton of gold and priceless jewels. The East Chapel is dedicated to Tsong Khapa. The south Chapel centers on Padamasambhava

Ganden Monastery

The Ganden Monastery, full name Ganden Namgyal Ling is one of the great three Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet, located at the top of Wangbur Mountain, Tagtse Country 36 Km NE of Potala Palace in Lhasa at the altitude of 4300m. Literally, Gaden means 'joyful'and Namgyal Ling means 'victorious temple'
It was the original monastery of the Geluk order, founded by Je Tsongkhapa himself in 1409, and traditionally considered to be the seat of Geluk administrative and political power. The Ganden Tripa or 'throne-holder of Ganden' is the head of the Gelukpa school.

Tsongkhapa's preserved body was entombed there in a silver and gold encrusted tomb by his disciples in 1419. The main buildings comprise the Coqen hall, the chamber of Tsongkhapa and the college of Yangbajian. The highlight of the monastery is  the annual celebration of one of the grandest Buddhist activity - Buddha  Painting Unfolding Festival.                       

Sera Monastery

Sera is the main teaching monastery and one of the Great Gelukpa ‘Universities’. Once in its history 6000 monks house here. Sera Monastery is a renowned place of scholarly learning, training hundreds of scholars, many of whom have attained fame in the Buddhist nations. The monastery was one of the finest locations in Tibet to witness the “Monk Debates” on teachings of Buddha and the philosophy of Buddhism, which were held according to a fixed schedule. The monastery lies at 3 km north of Lhasa and was founded in 1419 A.D by Jamchen Chojey, a disciple of Tsongkhapa. It was also the birth place of Tibetan medicine.

Jokhang Temple

Jhokhang temple/Monastery was founded during the reign of the emperor Songsten Gampo in 7th Century and located in the heart of Lhasa at Barkhor Square. King built the temple for his two brides, Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang Dynasty and Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal. Both the Princesses are believed to have brought important Buddhist statues and images from China and Nepal to Tibet as part of their dowries which were dwelled here.

Jokhan has many chapels holding the statues of Jowo Shakyamuni, Amithabha Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, Avalokiteswara, Padmashambhawa and Tsongkhapa.
Its inner pilgrim circuit is roughly octagonal shaped lined with markets, shops and stalls of Barkhor Bazzar.
                       
Norbulingka

Norbulingka, literally “The Jewelled Park is a palace and surrounding park. It was first built from 1755 by the 7th Dalai Lama and served both as administrative centre and religious centre. It served as the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas from the 1780s up until the 14th Dalai Lama's exile in 1959. It is a unique representation of Tibetan palace architecture located at the banks of the Kyichi River. Norbulingka is filled with beautiful trees and flowers covering the area of 360,000 square meters in total.  
The whole park consists of two main parts – Norbulingka at the Eastern area and Jianselingka at the Western area.
The local people had no entry permission into the palace before 1959. Today’s, large number of locals enters during their festivals and holidays to enjoy their picnic day and night in the park.
                       
Drepung Monastery

Among the three great Gelukpa University Monasteries of Tibet, Drepung is one. It was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge Tashi Palden, one of Tsongkhapa's main disciples.  Drepung lies 11 km west of Lhasa at the foot of Mount Gephel in a steep mountain.

It housed about 7700 monks during 1930’s; at that time Drepung was the largest monastery in the world. It is the biggest and richest monastery in Tibet, housing over 1000 monks and governed 7000 subsidiary monasteries. The monastery was divided into four tantric colleges which at the highest level specialize in different branches of knowledge. The entire monastery community assembles only for special ceremonies and festivals.

Barkhor street

Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding Jokhang Temple. It is a symbol of Lhasa. After King Songtsen Gampo built the Jokhang Temple in 647 AD, thousands of Buddhist pilgrims attracted to see this magnificent temple. Consequently a trodden path appeared which later on developed as Barkhor Street. Till the date, as tradition, pilgrims walk clockwise holding the prayer wheels from dawn to dusk in the Barkhor Street. Also we can see some pilgrims walking or progressing body-lengths by body-lengths (Sastanga dandavat parikrama) along the street.

Tibet Museum

The Tibet Museum is the official museum of the Tibet Autonomous Region in Lhasa. Inaugurated on October 5, 1999, it is the first large-sized modern museum in the region. It has a permanent collection related to the cultural history of Tibet. The museum has a collection of around 1000 artifacts.  It is  located at the southeast corner of Norbulingka, Lhasa covering an area of 53,959 square meters. It has a floor space of 23,508 square meters with an exhibition area of 10,451 square meters. The museum demonstrates a splendid traditional Tibetan architecture. Also it reflects a significant feature of modern art and architecture.

The museum houses a rich collection of cultural relics including various kinds of cultural relics of pre-history, handwritten Tibetan classics, colorful Thangka pictures, music and ritual instruments, unique handicrafts and pottery. The History of Tibetan Culture Exhibition is divided into pre-history culture, indivisible history, culture and arts, and people's customs, exploring several thousand years of Tibetan history, politics, religion, cultural arts, and customs.

Outside the exhibition hall are green lawns and shadowy trees. Also there is a performance area for modern cultural and other activities, a garden of local customs and folk culture and manor houses. In addition, the museum has a cultural gallery, handicraft shop and other service facilities.