ZHANGMU (7000 FT.)
For Nepali, this place is called Khasa. For Tibitan. better known by the name of Dram. Zhangmu is a small settlement clinging to a hillside 10 Kms,from the friendship Brudge that crosses the Bhotekoshi River . Zhangum has become the major trading point between Tibet and Nepal. The climate is quite different from the hinterland. The hills around Zhangum are heavily wooded with many wa I terfalls in summer and impressive ice formations in winter It has a bank, a post office, a government store, and is presently undergoing a construction boom to meet the demands of trade and tourism.
NYALAMU (12200 FT.)
Known as -'Kuti' to Nepalese traders, Nyalamu used to bean important trade center. Now -a-days, barrack style Chinese communes surround the typical old flat roofed, mud-brick houses. Although vegetation is spares, one can see an abui. dance of alpine fauna on the hillside during the summer months.
TUNGRI (OLD) (14100 FT.)
Tingriis an old Tibetain settlement with typical clustered Tibetan styled housing at the foot of small hillock. A short exploration in the settlement can expose you to a typical remote Tibetan lifestyle. Right from the roadside of Tingri, you can see the MT. EVEREST towards the southern direction.
XEGAR (NEW TUNGRI) (13800 FT.)
A new Chinese commune built at the ruins of Zegar Dzong, 7 Kms. from the main road. With a population of 3000" it is the center of this large and remote area and a base from which expeditions to Mt. Everest and other peaks are launched.
LHATSE (13100 FT.)
Lhaze is situated where a main Tibetan road turns westwards towards Mt. Lailash and Manasarovar Lake. During the short summer season, the whole valley is covered with green barely fields and bright yellow mustard meadows. It is a welcome change after the barren lands of the Tibetan plateau. There is also a small. hot spring located a few kilometers away.
XIGATSE (12600 FT.)
It is situated between 29o 02'N and 880o 08'E in the ao uthewest of the Tibet Autonomous Region where Nyangchu Rib\ver joins the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Shigatse is the second biggest town in Tibet and it is the center of transportation and distribution of agriculature and husbandry producs from the southeastern part of Tibet. "Shigatse" in Tibietan means the "Estate that fulfills one's Wishes."
TASHILHUNPO MONASTERY
Tashillhunpo Monastery is the biggest Gelugpa monastery in the Tsang region of tibet . It is located in the town of Sigate\se ans was founded by Gedun Drup,a disciple of Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelungpa Sect. Gedun Drup is recognized as the first Dalai Lama. It was first built in 1447 and continuously expanded by the successi9ve panchen lamas. The Ngagpa College ( Tantric College ), one of its four monastic colleges, is the residence of the panchen 9 th Panchen Lama in 1914. It took four years to build this monumental statue which stands twenty six meters high and is composed of 275 kg. of solid gold, and a great quality of precious things such as perals, turquoise, coral and amber. The 4 th Panchen Lama's funeral stupa was built in 1662 and it stands eleven meters high and is covered in solid gold and silver.
GYANTSE (13050 FT.)
A small agricultural town famous for its wool carpets and the Phalkor Chorten, Gyantse lies between a monassstery and fort. This unique structure, built in 1414, consists of five stories representing the five steps to enlightenment, and is toppeeed by thirteen rings which symbolize the stages of advancement to wards Buddhahood. There are 108 halls inside, each with frescoes and Buddha Shrines.
PHALKOR MONASTERY
Located in Gyantse and founded jointly by Kedup Je of te Gelugpa Sect and Rabten Kunsang of the Sakyapa Sect in 1418, the Phalkor Monastery has a special influence-over Tibet 's Buddhaism owing to its unification of three different sects, the Gelugpa, the Sakyapa and Bhuton Sects, In a single monastery. The famous Kumbum pagoda, built in collaboration with Newari artists from Nepal & Tibetan artists, also stands in the same courtyard with nine storeys, 108 doors and 77, chapels containing clay sculptures and various murals. The pagoda is said to have 10,000 images, either sculptured or painted, this is the reason for its name ˇ§100,000 Image Pagodaˇ¨.
YAMADROKE LAKE ˇV THE SACRED LAKE (14300 FT.)
Yamadroke Lake is one of the biggest and beautiful lakes in Tibet . We pass by this lake with about 2 hours drive Alongits bank. Yamadroke means torquise in Tibetan language. In fact , the lake looks exactly as beautiful as torquise blue during the good weather days. This freshwater lake, unlike other Tibetan lakes , is sweet and nonsaline, extending for 624 sq. km., in the shape of two pinces of a large scorpion. You can have short stop on its bank and energy photography here.
LHASA ˇV THE LAND OF GODS (11850 FT.)
Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region is located between 29o 36N and 19o E at the north bank of Kyichu river, a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpa River, at altitude of 3650 meters above sea level. Lhasa has a history of more than 1300 years ans and benn the center of politics, economy, culture and religion in Tibet since ancient time.ˇ¨ Lhasa ˇ¨ in Tibetan means the land of gods. In Lasa three ins a plentiful of scenic sports and historical attractions, among which Potala palace a thirteen story, 1000 room palace of the Dalai Lama, Norbulingka, the simmer palace of the Dalai Lama, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple, the holiest shrine of Tibet, and the famous Ramoche Temple.
DREPUNG MONASTERY
Situated five Kilometers distance to the wstern side of Lhasa at the foot of Mt. Ganpoi Uze Monastery was founded in 1416 by Jamyung Choje, a disciple of Tsongkapa, the founder of Gelugpa Sect. The monastery, occupying an area of 250,000 square meters with a fixed number of 7700 morks , is the largest monastery in Tibet . The monastery keeps many historical relics, Buddhist scriptures arts, and crafts.
SERA MONASTERY
Sera means 'hailstone' in Tibetan. Set at the foot of the Wudu Hill to the north of Lhasa City, Sera is comprised of a great sutra chanting hall and a college. Situated at three kilometers dictance to a mnorthern suburb of Lhasa, Sera Monastery was founded in 1419 by jamchen Choje a disciple of Tsongkapa, the founder of Gelugpa Sect. The monastery was erected on a mountain slope. Sera Monastery together with Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa are known as the Three Great Monasteries of Tibet.
JOKHANG TEMPLE
Jokhang Temple , situated in the center of the old section of Lhasa called Barkhor, was built in the mid-7th century A.D. It was later extended by successive rules, and has now become a gigantic architecture complex. Located in the east and facting the west , Jokhang is is a four storeyed Temple with splendid golden roofs. Its architecture fratures art from the Tang Dynasty but but also assimilated many features from both Nepalese, and Indian Buddhist Temples. The murals in the temple depict the life stories of histric and religious characters. The temple houses many historical relics, including starues of King Songtsen Gompo, Princess Wencheng, Princess Bhrikuti Devi (Nepalese). ""Princess Willow (a tree), and "The Uncle-Nephew Alliance Tablet." Kokhang is Tibet 's spiritual center, and - the holiest destination for tibetan Buddhist pilgrims, It houses a sitting of status of Sakyamuni when he was 12 years old. The circleBarkhor Street has innumerable shops, and wayside peddlers intermingle with devotees walking clockwise around the Kokhang An evening walk (Kora) around the Jokhang Temple together with the Tibetan pilgrim is a lifetime experience.
POTALA PALACE
The potala one of the most famous architectural woks of the world, sits on top of the Red Hill in Lhasa , In the 7th century, after the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo's married aPrincess Wencheng of the Tang Court , the Place was built to provide the Tibetan court with a place of worship and meditation. In the mid-17th century, it was re-built by the 5th Dalai Lama to its present size, and became the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lamas. The construction took fifty years from beginning to completion.
The Potala is divided into two sections, namely, the Red palace and White Palace. The total height of the Potalal is 117 meters spanning thirteen storey. The length of the Palace from east to west is 400 meters and the breadth from south to north is 350 meters. the building was constructed of stone timber with golden roofs. It is a majestic architectural masterpiece.
