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