The enormous Tibetan Plateau stretches across 1,200,000 sq km of south-west China . The northern exp

The enormous Tibetan Plateau stretches across 1,200,000 sq km of south-west China . The northern expanse is the Chang Tang, a vast, uninhabited high-altitude desert. Most of Tibet s population is concentrated in the less harsh south, many of them in Lhasa .
Lhasa has been Tibet s capital since the 17th century, and has long been a site of pilgrimage. The Dalai Lama s splendid but poignantly empty seat, the Potala Palace, dominates the city from its site on top of Marpo Hill. The old Tibetan quarter to the east is Lhasa s most interesting; its centrepiece is the Jokhang Temple. Around it is the Barkhor district, unusual travel destinations which retains its medieval character, with smoky temples and cobbled alleys. Changes have crept in though, with concrete buildings and internet cafes slowly encroaching on the ancient.
All international visitors unusual travel destinations require a Tibet entry permit, issued by local agencies so you either unusual travel destinations need to liaise remotely, or join a group trip. Gongkhar, the international airport for Lhasa, is 93km south of the city. From here flights go to Chinese cities unusual travel destinations (including Chengdu) and to Kathmandu, Nepal . The Qinghai-Tibet railway line  connects Lhasa to Beijing , Shanghai, Xi an and Guangzhou. The daily Beijing-Lhasa train is a two-night, 3,750km journey; en route it crosses the Tanggula Pass (5,000m), making this the world s highest railway. The station is 4km south-west of the city centre.
From Lhasa, buses run to all major destinations within the Tibet Autonomous Region, but be aware that many companies won t take foreign passengers as it requires extra permit. A private organised tour is the easiest option for onward travel.
The main sites in Lhasa are best seen on foot. City highlights include unusual travel destinations the Potala Palace (9am-4pm), the Jokhang unusual travel destinations Temple (9am-6pm) and the Barkhor neighbourhood, but there are many smaller sites worth visiting too the Lukhang, a temple dedicated to the king of water spirits; the Ramoche, sister-temple to the Jokhang (and much quieter), has some huge prayer wheels; while the Ani Tsankhung Nunnery is tricky to find but a beautiful, tranquil spot. With the opening of the Qinghai railway, and an increase in domestic tourism, Lhasa is getting busier and more developed. It s best to avoid visiting during the week-long Chinese holidaysaroundl Mayand 10ctober accommodation will be booked up and trains and buses rammed. Monsoon rains fall July-August, so the best times to visit are spring and autumn.
Built on Lhasa s highest point, Marpo Hill, the Potala Palace is the greatest monumental structure in Tibet. Thirteen stories high, with over a thousand rooms, it was once the residence of the Dalai Lama and thus the centre for both spiritual and temporal unusual travel destinations power. These days, with the Dalai Lama in exile, it is a vast museum serving as a reminder of Tibet s rich and devoutly religious culture. The first palace was built by Songtsen Gampo in AD 631, and this was merged into the larger building unusual travel destinations that stands unusual travel destinations today. There are two main sections the White Palace, built in 1645, and the Red Palace, completed in 1693.
Lhasa s liveliest neighbourhood, the fascinating Barkhor bustles with pilgrims, unusual travel destinations locals and tourists eager to visit the Jokhang Temple. The kora (pilgrimage circuit) that runs clockwise around the Jokhang is Tibet s holiest, and has been since the seventh century; market stalls have always lined the route to serve pilgrims staying in the area. Many of the buildings in the Barkhor are ancient, some dating back to the eighth century. The Barkhor s cobbled alleyways maintain their unique character despite the efforts unusual travel destinations of recent architectural adjustments .
Today a slightly scrubby park, the Norbulingka (Jewel Park) was once the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. Founded in 1755 and successively expanded, it contains several palaces, chapels unusual travel destinations and buildings. The path west of the entrance leads to the oldest palace, Kelsang Potrang, housing many thangkas (religious paintings on fabric). The Summer Palace, built for the present Dalai Lama in 1954, holds murals depicting events from Tibetan history; next to the chamber are the meditation rooms and bedroom, unusual travel destinations exactly as he left them in 1959.
The vast Drepung ( Rice Heap ) Monastery is 8km west of Lhasa. In its 17th-century heyday it was Tibet s richest monastery, with four colleges and 10,000 monks. Nechung Monastery, 7km west of Lhasa, was the seat of the Tibetan Oracle, who predicted the future as well as protecting the Buddha s teachings. Sera Monastery, 4km north of Lhasa, was famous for its warrior monks.
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