Tibet's spiritual and governmental nexus was the Potala Palace. The palace of the Dalai Lama, in every respect, the celebrity which it enjoys throughout the world. It is powerful yet inviting, secure and stabile, yet fantastic and delightful. We'll visit the Potala and explore the grandest of its myriad rooms, its audience halls, the immense, jeweled burial chortens of past Dalai Lama. Tibet's holiest temple, the Jokhang Temple, was often referred to by early Western visitors as Lhasa's cathedral. "An endless, three-story high flight of chapels surrounds [the statue]," the pioneering Tibetologist Guissepe Tucci wrote, "decorated with the smiling and sneering Buddhist pantheon. Jokhang Temple was built by King Songsten Gampo in 647 A.D. no place in Tibet than the Johkang can attract so many pilgrims, so much spiritual longing. The Jokhang is circled by the Barkhor, Lhasa's old market. In today's Barkhor we can bargain goodnaturedly for dorjes, phurbas, thangkas, and other religious implements, for Tibetan hats and boots, books, turquoise jewelry, everyday exotica, wall hangings, and maybe even some yak butter.
Meals: Breakfast Provided by the hotel
Accommodation: Lhasa Economic / Comfortable Standard Hotel (Twin sharing)