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The drive from Katmandu to Lhasa , over spectacular Passes and revealing views of the majestic Himalayas , takes five-days over the “ Friendship Highway ”. The drive is well worth it as you encounter some enchanting Buddhist monasteries and remote villages untouched by modern civilization.
While approaching the city you will be able to notice the Potala Palace , a vast white and ochre fortress that dominates the Lhasa skyline. The historical seat of Tibetan power and the location of the tombs of previous Dalai Lamas, the Potala Palace has been reduced to serve as a symbolic feature for Tibetan aspirations. The Jokhang temple, 2 km to the east of the Palace, has become the spiritual hub of the country. Bustling with worshippers and redolent with mystery, the Jokhang is an unrivalled Tibetan experience. The medieval Barkhor Bazaar with crowds, street performers, hawker's stalls selling everything from prayer flags to jewel-encrusted yak skulls and the devout touching their foreheads to the ground at every step to Jokhang is an exotic brew that few newcomers can resist. A visit to Drepung monastery is well worth the effort and for some can be a very enlightening experience. The Norbulingka Palace (summer palace of the Dalai Lamas) along with a round of the Sera monastery is the other highlight of this package.
This fascinating journey ends with a Trans-Himalayan flight - one of the most spectacular flights in the world, flying over towering Himalayan Peaks such as Mt. Everest , Makalu and Kanchenjunga . |
