Located on Marpo Ri Hill, northwest of Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China, it is a magnificent structure that combines a palace, a fortress, and a monastery at the highest altitude in the world. It is also the largest and most complete ancient palace-fortress complex in Tibet.
Located in the center of the old town of Lhasa, it is a Tibetan Buddhist temple built by King Songtsen Gampo. The reason why Lhasa is known as the 'Holy Land' is related to this Buddha statue. The temple was originally called 'Rasa', which later became the name of the city and evolved into the current 'Lhasa'. After the Jokhang Temple was built, it underwent several modifications and expansions during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties to form its current scale.
Barkhor Street, also known as Bakhor Street, is located in the old town of Lhasa, surrounding the Jokhang Temple. It is a kora route for Lhasa residents and a commercial center. From household appliances to daily utensils, everything is available. It has relatively well-preserved the traditional appearance and living style of the ancient city.
Namtso
Namtso, Yamdrok Yumtso, and Mapam Yumtso are known as the three sacred lakes of Tibet. Among these, Namtso is particularly attractive to tourists because it is considered a sacred lake in the ancient Bon religion of Zhang Zhung and is one of the famous Buddhist holy sites. It is also known as Tengri Nor and is a must-visit destination for tourists coming to Tibet. Namtso is surrounded by beautiful legends: 'Namtso is the daughter of Indra and the wife of Nyenchen Tanglha.' Namtso and Nyenchen Tanglha are deeply in love and dependent on each other. The Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains appear more majestic because of Namtso, and Namtso becomes more enchanting due to the reflection of the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains.
Yamdrok Lake
Yamdrok Lake is the short name for Yamdrok Yumtso, which means 'Jade Lake' in Tibetan. It is one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet and is also known as the 'Coral Lake on the Top' due to its coral-like shape. Yamdrok Lake is located in Langkazi County, Shannan City, Tibet, about 70 kilometers southwest of Lhasa. Together with Namtso and Mapam Yumtso, it is one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet and is the largest inland lake on the northern slopes of the Himalayas. The beauty of the lake and the surrounding mountains is unparalleled in southern Tibet. Yamdrok Yumtso covers an area of 675 km² and has an elevation of 4,441 meters above sea level. To reach Yamdrok Lake from Lhasa, one must cross the 5,030-meter-high Gampa La Pass. The lake's surface is calm and a deep blue, resembling a sapphire on the southern Tibetan plateau.
