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