| Lhasa China isn't everybody's idea of a | | | | the stone walls and wooden floors. The |
| vacation destination although Lhasa remains | | | | pillows and lampshades have the eyes of |
| one of the most apparently remote mysterious, | | | | Buddha and all the nooks and crannies have |
| and even romantic places on earth. Once | | | | yak butter lamps throwing shadows and |
| completely inaccessible it still isn't easy | | | | emphasising the medieval feel to the place. |
| to get to, and then when you do, there is the | | | | The beds are raised onto a Chinese style |
| question of where do you find a decent Lhasa | | | | platform which just goes to emphasise the |
| Hotel. The House of Shambhala could well be | | | | whole traditional feel of the place. The |
| the perfect answer, and whilst it may not be | | | | ensuite bathrooms have stone walled showers, |
| the perfect example of a luxury boutique | | | | heat lamps which are needed and fragrant |
| hotel it nevertheless by anyone's standards | | | | Tibetan soaps. If you can, book an upper |
| it is a unique small boutique hotel only | | | | floor room because they get more of the sun, |
| recently opened in Lhasa Tibet, now of course | | | | or alternatively if you want privacy there |
| in China. It is certainly vastly preferable | | | | are two rooms which form their own courtyard, |
| to the faceless Chinese hotels to be found in | | | | with their own separate staircase. The view |
| Lhasa. The House of Shambala is quite unlike | | | | from the roof of the House of Shambhala, |
| anything that most people have ever seen in | | | | whilst sipping a local cocktail and watching |
| terms of it being an hotel. It is situated in | | | | some local dancers is absolutely |
| the Barkhor area in the historic heart of old | | | | breathtaking, and is just one of the things |
| Lhasa, and it looks like nothing at all as | | | | to make this a unique luxury boutique hotel. |
| you enter off the street. In fact you will | | | | The second of course is the position astride |
| wonder if your guide has brought you to the | | | | a lane deep in old Lhasa Tibet. Unexpectedly |
| right place as you pass a row of prayer | | | | the rooms are warm even with snow on the |
| wheels, then suddenly you find yourself in a | | | | ground, and there is unlimited hot water. The |
| traditional Tibetan Lhasa House which has | | | | restaurant has great food, a mixture of |
| quite obviously been lovingly restored, and | | | | Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and Oriental with |
| turned into a real funky boutique hotel The | | | | absolutely stunning tikka. Surprisingly the |
| House of Shambalha is the kind of house where | | | | yak meat is delicious and well worth trying. |
| a nobleman would have lived, and is three | | | | The Spa next door has a wonderful soaking |
| storeyed, built around a courtyard, with | | | | tub, and you can have a superb massage to |
| prayer wheels and a shrine in the lobby. | | | | round of a day spent wandering around Lhasa. |
| There are 10 bedrooms and each is different | | | | The staff are all friendly and very willing, |
| from the other in size and design, painted in | | | | although their understanding of English is |
| gold, saffron, crimson, or cinnamon, and | | | | less than perfect, but this is Lhasa after |
| filled with hand painted antiques, meditation | | | | all! If Lhasa Tibet China is somewhere you |
| chairs, yoga mats, furry white rugs, and | | | | want to go, then the House of Shambhala is |
| exquisite Buddhist paintings. The whole thing | | | | the best place to stay, very comfortable and |
| has a real sort of Medieval feel to it, with | | | | ideally situated to see old Lhasa. |