Lhasa - Kathmandu Overland Tour

This overland tour connects two old capital cities,Jokhang' s oldest and most precious object-a sitting
Lhasa in Tibet and Kathmandu in Nepal. The tourstatue of Sakyamuni Buddha ,when he was 12 years
begins in Lhasa and ends in Kathmandu. En route, youold. It is a gilded statue adorned with many jewels, in an
cross over several high mountain passes withelaborate setting. Pilgrims have prostrated themselves
spectacular mountain views, including those of thein front of this statue for centuries.
majestic Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu andDrepung Monastery lies in the west of Lhasa under Mt.
Shishapangma.Gambo Utse. Built in 1416, it is considered as one of the
This tour gives you an insight into the rich culture andlargest monasteries in the six principle monasteries of
history of Lhasa. Most popularly known as 'SunlightGelu Sect. Drepung Monastery used to be the living
City', Lhasa is regarded as the heart and soul of Tibet.palace of Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of
It is the most sought after tourist destination in Tibet.Potala palace. This magnificent monastery resembles
As you drive across the Tibetan plateau, you can visita huge walled city. From its roofs, one can enjoy the
all the Tibetan monasteries, temples, monuments andscenic view of Lhasa city. As the most powerful of
important tourist sites. In Lhasa you can explore thethe "Gelukpa" monasteries, Drepung had seven
Potala Palace, Sera Monastery, Norbulingka, Jokhangcolleges and, at its height, housed over 10,000 monks. It
Temple, Drepung Monastery and the busy Barkhorowns many splendid murals, elaborate statues and
Square.other rich treasures. A giant golden statue of Buddha
This tour gives you an opportunity to discover the real"Jiangba Tongzhenma" sits near the precious conch
Tibet and introduces you to the rich Tibetan culture, artshell. During the building of the foundation of Drepung,
and history. From the bustling old cities to the ancientTsong Khapa discovered a magical white conch shell
villages and settlements, you get to observe Tibetanwith counter clockwise swirls, believed to be buried by
lifestyle at close quarters.the Sakyamuni Buddha. Tsong Khapa bestowed this
Lhasa's Main Attractionsreligious treasure to Drepung, and it can still be seen
Potala Palace is situated at the west of old Lhasa,today in the "Great Sutra Chanting Hall".
atop the "Moburi (Red) Mountain". In 1994, the PotalaNorbulingka is the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama.
Palace was declared the United Nations World CulturalLocated in the west of Lhasa, Norbulingka was built in
Heritage site. It was originally built in the 640's, during1755.It covers an area of 46 acres, with 370 rooms of
the reign of King Songstan Gampo. The 13-storydifferent sizes.
palace stands 117 meters high and has over 1,000Barkhor Street is found in the heart of Lhasa. It means
rooms. Covering an area of 130,000 sq meters, the"a pilgrim's inner circuit", and is the oldest street in
entire building is made of stone and wood. The palaceLhasa. Barkhor Street is an essential pilgrim route. It
is widely known for its treasures, which includesbustles with activity and is always jam-packed with
sculptures, murals, ancient Tibetan Buddhist scriptures,trades people. The market is "a must visit site" for
Buddha figures, antiques, and jewelry. These are ofsouvenir-hunting tourists. Many people call the Barkhor
great cultural and artistic value. The Red Palace"the window of Tibet" as it offers a typical reflection of
contains various chapels and mausoleums for previousTibetan life. The old circumambulation circuit is always
Dalai Lamas. The White Palace contains the livingcrowded with pilgrims. Here you will find people from all
quarters of successive Dalai Lamas and their tutors.over Tibet.
The offices of the old Tibetan government and theirSera Monastery - Sera means "Hailstone" in Tibetan.
assembly halls are also located here. The originalLegend has it that hail stones rained while laying the
Potala was destroyed in the 9th century, during thefoundation of this famous monastery. Sera was the
breakdown of the Tubo Kingship era. It was rebuiltlast of the three principal Yellow Sect monasteries to
during the reign of the 5th Dalai Lama and completedbe built in Lhasa. It was completed in 1419, under the
in the late 17th century.supervision of Shaka Yeshe. Shaka Yeshe traveled to
Jokhang Temple is located in the centre of old LhasaBeijing and as far as Mongolia to preach Buddhism. He
city. It was original built in 647 AD. It is said the site waswas given the title "The Tutor of the Empire", by the
chosen personally by the wife of King SongstanMing Emperor, Xuan De. Many precious gifts were
Gampo, the Tang Princess Wen Cheng. It was built bysent to Sera by the Chinese Emperors, many of which
craftsmen from Tibet, China and Nepal and thusare kept well preserved and can be seen at Sera to
features different architectural styles. The Jokhang isthis day. Sera comprises a great sutra chanting hall, a
the spiritual centre of Tibet and the holiest destinationcollege and 32 sections. It once housed nearly 10,000
for all Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims. In the central hall is themonks.