The physical position of the beautiful land of Tibet is in the southwest region of China. It is also sharing a border with India, Nepal, Bhutan as well as Myanmar. Kham, U-Tsang, and Amdo are the three original provinces of Tibet. The people who belong to these regions find themselves Tibetan, even though they have independent identities different from each other and diverse dialects. Tibet has a good stream of visitors growing by the year and a wonderful tradition of spirituality.
The following are the 10 Most Beautiful Places in Tibet:
Here is an outline of the top ten places of Tibet to encourage you to take a trip to Tibet to enjoy the snow-covered mountains and magnificent old palaces and monuments enriched with a brilliant architecture.
1. The Potala Palace
The Potala Palace of Tibet is famed as the Palace of Art. Its position is on the side of Red Mountain – Marpo Ri – and along the northwest region of Lhasa City. It is a huge and magnificent building complex known for Tibetan architecture.
The original palace was constructed at AD 637 and was the Royal Seat of King Songstsan Gampo. The Great Fifth Dalai Lama rebuilt the palace in 1645 and chose it as the official residence of the Dalai Lama and the theocratic epicenter of Tibet.
This UNESCO-approved Cultural Heritage spot of Tibet has a vast collection of artworks and other various treasures for the appreciation of visitors from different parts of the world.
2. The Jokhang Temple
The Jokhang Temple is appreciated as the Spiritual center of Tibet. It was constructed around the seventh century and situated on Barkhor Square at Lhasa.
This seat of Tibetan Buddhism is considered as the most important and most sacred temple by the people of Tibet. The temple is constructed by King Songstan Gampo for his wives, Princess Wencheng and Princess Bhrikuti.
It has a brilliant architectural design, which is a combination of Chinese, Indian, and Nepalese. The statues of Sakyamuni brought by the princesses from their respective lands of China and Nepal were placed in the temple. Now, the statue brought by Princess Bhrikuti is placed in the Ramoche Temple.
3. Namtso Lake
Namtso Lake is the second-largest saltwater lake in China and one of the loveliest places in Tibet. It is situated in Baingo County and Damxung County in the autonomous region of Tibet. This beautiful lake is at 4,718 meters above the sea level and often described as a -lake in the sky.
It is a holy lake for all Tibetan Buddhists. Believers usually make a pilgrimage to Lake Namsto during the Sheep Year in the Tibetan Calendar.
The lake is surrounded by four temples and enough to evoke a connection to the spiritual universe whether you are a Buddhist or not.
4. The Base Camp of Mount Everest
The base camp of Mount Everest is a wonderful way to get a feel like you are close to the top of the world. It not possible for everyone to climb the heights of Mount Everest, the tallest peak in the World.
So, one can go for the alternate and reach the base camp of Mount Everest from the Tibetan Side and get a little experience of climbing Mount Everest. You can spend a night at the base camp and if the weather permitted, see the sky from a distance of three kilometers less than usual.
The sunrise one can view at the base camp is like a golden triangle at the top of the Mountain and an ever-memorable sight.
5. Mount Kailash
Mount Kailash is a beautiful pilgrimage site situated in the remote area of western Tibet. For many Tibetans, Hindus, Bons, Jains as well as Buddhists, Mount Kailash is the center of the world.
The mountain is always snow-capped and stands proudly and magnificently in the Valley of Himalayas. Though the mountain is beautiful and appears challenging, you won’t get permission to climb it.
One can walk around it as the sacred ritual followed by numerous pilgrims year after year.
6. Norbulingka Palace
Norbulingka or ‘Jeweled Park’ is the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. It is located in southwest of the Potala Palace. It is constructed in 1755. The Dalai Lamas would usually stay in this palace during the summer months. The palace and its campus are located over an area of 89 acres and have 374 rooms.
The architecture of the palace and its surrounding gardens are so beautiful and one of the prominent historical sites in Tibet.
The Shoton Festival is celebrated in the Norbulingka palace and anybody can visit the palace at this time without an entry fee and enjoy the numerous activities of the festival including Tibetan drama performances.
Also Read: 10 Best Things to Do in Nepal
7. Yamdrok Lake
Yamdrok Lake is a sacred lake and one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. It is at a distance of 70 kilometers from Lhasa and located in Nagarze County.
Since the glacial mud-rock flows blocked the path of the river from times unknown, this river is considered as a barrier lake. The surface area of the lake is about 70 times more than the size of the West Lake in Hangzhou. Because of the coral color of the lake, it is also termed coral lake.
The Samding Monastery, the only Tibetan Monastery headed by a female tulku is situated along the southwest coast of the Yamdrok lake.
Read: 10 Best Places to Visit in Nepal in Monsoon
8. The Grand Canyon of Yarlung Tsangpo
The Yarlung Tsangpo is the most beautiful canyon in China and the deepest canyon in the world. It started from the Daduka Village of Tibet and extended over 505 kilometers with an average depth of 2268 meters.
Its deepest point is 6006 meters. It is important as the biggest channel of aqueous vapor from the Indian Ocean to have access to the Tibet Plateau.
These vapors make the canyon very moist and appropriate to nourish dense forests and numerous wildlife.
9. Tashilhunpo Monastery
Tashilhunpo Monastery is famed as the largest monastery in Tibet. It is situated on the Nyima Mountain on the western side of the city of Shigatse. The monastery was constructed by Gendun Drup in the year 1447.
The major expansions of the monastery were done by the 4th Panchen Lama. The Tashilhunpo Monastery can accommodate 2,000 people for sutra chanting.
One can see a 26.2 meters high statue of Maitreya Buddha in this temple.
Read: Top 10 Famous Monasteries in Bhutan
10. Lulang Forest
Lulang Forest is considered as the Chinese ‘Swiss Alps’. The word meaning of Lulang is ‘Dragon King Valley’. The Lulang Forest is a plateau forest that spreads over the mountains with numerous bushes, dragon spruce, and pine trees. A region of the forest is rich with a cultivated meadow and one can see some scattered villages there.
Usually, the cloud and mist gather among the mountains and provide a wonderful backdrop to the forest and villages to create a visual treat.
Besides the locations mentioned above, Tibet is rich with many more tourist-oriented places like Sakya Monastery, Samya Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Manasarovar Lake, Basum Lake, Segrila mountain and Tibet Museum.
Tourists from all over the world visit this snow-adorned paradise every year to relish in its surreal natural charm and be inspired by the ancient spiritual heritage.
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