Lhasa
Potala Palace
The Potala Palace, one of the most famous architectural works of the world, the construction of the world famous Potala Palace was started in the 7th century during the time of the Tubo King Srontsan Gampo. On the top of Mt. Putup, it is looming over the whole Lhasa city. As high as 110m, the Potala Palace consists of two palaces - the Red Palace and the White Place. With over 1000 rooms, the 1 storeyed palace covers an area of 10,000 square metres. It witnessed the life of the Dalai Lamas and the important political and religious activities in the past centuries. There are grand palaces within palaces. The palace stands up so high that it resembles a magnificent castle in the heaven. It makes itself a good example of the ancient Tibetan culture and architecture. The statues of the Tubo King Srongtsan gamoi and his wife Princess Wen Cheng are being worshipped in the Palace. Among the 8 tomb pagodas of the Dalai Lamas, the 5th tomb is the most extravagant.It stands as high as 14m and used 11,000 ounces of gold in its gold plating, and the designs and decorations on them all are inlaid with diamonds, peals, turquoises, agates, corals etc. There also stored the world treasure - the gold hand-written Buddhist scriptures, valuable gifts from the Chinese emperors and a lot of priceless antiques. You will be amazed by the colorful sculptures and paintings. The top most flat glistens with golden roofs. The Potala Palace deserves the title of art gallery and museum. It is a symbol of the wisdom and power of the Tibetan people.
Jokhang Monastery
Situated in the centre of the old section ofLhasa, Jokhang Temple was built in the mid-7th century A.D. and later extended by successive rulers, it has now become a gigantic architectural complex.Located in the east, facing to the west, it is a four storeyed temple with splendid golden roofs. It has architectural feature of Tang Dynasty and also assimilated very much features from both Nepalese and Indian Buddhist temples. The murals in the temple mainly depict the life stories of historic characters. The temple houses many historical relics since Tang Dynasty and statues of King Songtesn Gampo, Princess Wencheng, Princess Bhrikuti Devi. "Princess Willow" (a tree), and "The Uncle-Nephew Alliance Tablet" can be seen at the front gate of the temple.
Tibet Museum
As Tibet's first museum in the modem sense, the museum of Tibet,situated at the southeastern comer of the Buddhist religious garden Norbulingka in Lhasa, was inaugurated in October 1999 on occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding the People's Republic of China and the 40th anniversary of the Democratic Reforms in Tibet as the product of one of 62 Chinese government funded projects launched in July 1994 in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Autonomous Region of Tibet. Coveting 53,959 square metres, the museum is an enormous and magnificent building complex with a total floor area of 23,508 square metres, including exhibition halls with 10,451 square metres. In plan, strictly arranged along the axis of the com pound stand one after the other introductory hall, the main exhibition hall and the storehouse for culture relics. The architecture design, while bearing conspicuous signs of Tibetan ethnical tradition, obviously reveals the modernist emphasis on practical function and the post-modernist artistic features. It represents a harmonious application of those three distance elements. The whole treasure of cultural relics houses in the museum include a wide range of prehistoric cultural remains, statues of Buddha and Bodhisattvas made of different materials, ancient Tibetan scriptural texts written in inks of gold, silver and coral, delicate Tanghka paintings, various musical instruments and ritual articles.To these are added handicrafts characteristic of Tibet, pottery of unique styles etc. The inaugural show was exclusively dedicated to the general theme of "the history and culture of and art; and the folk culture". The museum performs the concurrent functions of preservation, academic research and social education. Furnished with air-conditional devices, multi-functional saccousto-optic equipment, sophisticated.
Norbulingka
There is a beautiful park in the western suburbs of Lhasa. It used to be the Summer Palace for the Dalai Lamas where they handled political affairs, and practiced religious activities. The construction started in 40s of the 18th century, covering a floor space of 46ha. The whole park has more than 370 rooms of different sizes,and lawns,shaded by green trees and embrided by various flowers.With the clear water, and the flowers and trees around, it is known as the "park within the park"
Drepung Monastery
It is situated 5km's distance to the western suburb of Lhasa at the foot Mt. Ganpoi Uze. Drepung Monastery was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje, a disciple of Tsongkapa, the founder of Gelugpa Sect. The monastery, occupying an area of 250,000 square metres with a fixed number of 7,700 monks, is the largest monastery in Tibet. The monastery keeps plentiful historical relics ,Buddhist scriptures, arts and crafts.
Sera Monastery
Lies at the foot of a mountain in the northem outskirts of Lhasa. It was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje, one of the eight disciples of Tsongkhapa, the founder of Gelugpa Sect, covering an area of 114,964 square metres. The structure is imposing, picturesque in disorder, and splendid in green and gold. It is a typical Tibetan architecture. Sera Monastery, together with Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, is reputed as the Three Great Monasteries of Tibet.
Gandan Monastery
Located in Taktse County, founded in 1409 by Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelugpa Sect, it is the earliest of the Three Great Monasteries of Tibet. |
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