We visited Tibet from September 3-7, 2011 with most of the time being spent in Lhasa. A special visa was required for this visit and we were fortunate that it was available to us when we asked for it. Our local Tibetian guide Baima was excellent and provided us with a very good tour and allowed us to optimize the limited time we had available.
Tibet, which is designated as a special region of China is being modernized rapidly. There is now a rail connection to Lhasa which is a major engineering feat. The traditional culture is based on Tibetian Buddhism which is similar to countries like Bhutan that we visited some years ago.
Since Lhasa is at 12,000 feet and has very high solar radiation a visitor needs to follow a relaxed schedule and be well protected from the sun. We visited the key sites in Lhasa and made a trip to lake Yamdrok Tso which is about 100 kilometers from the city. This gave us a look at the countryside and also one of the most spectacular lakes in the world which is considered sacred by the Tibetans. The lake's color has a delicate blue glacial hue which is particular to these high Tibetan lakes.
The collection of photos is split into sections with photographs of traditional doors indicating a change of location. The map below shows the location of Tibet, which is only one of four major regions we visited during this 5 week long trip.
China 2011: Tibet
Our first stop was in Lhasa which is the capital of Tibet and the main religious center.
Tibet
Early morning clouds over the city of Lhasa which is at 12,000 feet.
Tibet
Early morning in Lhasa with mountains as the backdrop and the Lhasa river in the foreground.
Lhasa
The Potala Palace with one of many pilgrims walking around it. It has 1,000 rooms and dates from the seventh century. Circumambulations of the palace are the common manner of prayer practice.
Lhasa
Potala Place. The red palace is for religious functions and contains the tombs of eight Dalai Lamas.
Lhasa
Full reflection of the Potala in the pond with the image reversed. The white palace was for secular use with living quarters and offices.
Lhasa
One of the many pilgrims with a prayer wheel making a visit to this most sacred place. Most likely from Eastern Tibet based on her dress.
Lhasa
The Potala Palace is a major religious shrine for the local people who are very devout. They pray wherever they can find the room to do so in the vicinity of this palace.
Lhasa
Ladies in local dress praying in front of the Potala Palace. Notice the prostration as part of this prayer practice.
Lhasa
The Potala Palace has 13 levels or floors and is accessed by steep stairs and ladders. It is a fortress with strong defenses.
Lhasa
Most of the interior is off limits for photography. We were pleased to be able to photograph this reception hall with window drapes of yak hair.
Lhasa
Potala Palace fresco of Buddist image.
Lhasa
Potala Place fresco of Buddist image.
Lhasa
White Palace which included the residence of the Dali Lama. Note the access ladders. The hangings are yak hair and protect the interior from the very strong solar radiation.
Lhasa
In a park near the Potala we found a festival celebration going on.
Lhasa
Festival performance with mostly local and some tourist spectators. Note the drummer on the lower right which was the only instrument used other than their voices.
Lhasa
The dance master who directed the preformance.
Lhasa
Dancers with an amazing headdress, traditional shoes and costumes.
Lhasa
Dancer in flight.
Lhasa
Dancers. Notice the fur hat!
Lhasa
Dancer. Note the long sleeves which date back to the 5th Century or earlier.
Lhasa
Tibet, which is designated as a special region of China is being modernized rapidly. There is now a rail connection to Lhasa which is a major engineering feat. The traditional culture is based on Tibetian Buddhism which is similar to countries like Bhutan that we visited some years ago.
Since Lhasa is at 12,000 feet and has very high solar radiation a visitor needs to follow a relaxed schedule and be well protected from the sun. We visited the key sites in Lhasa and made a trip to lake Yamdrok Tso which is about 100 kilometers from the city. This gave us a look at the countryside and also one of the most spectacular lakes in the world which is considered sacred by the Tibetans. The lake's color has a delicate blue glacial hue which is particular to these high Tibetan lakes.
The collection of photos is split into sections with photographs of traditional doors indicating a change of location. The map below shows the location of Tibet, which is only one of four major regions we visited during this 5 week long trip.
China 2011: Tibet
Our first stop was in Lhasa which is the capital of Tibet and the main religious center.
Tibet
Early morning clouds over the city of Lhasa which is at 12,000 feet.
Tibet
Early morning in Lhasa with mountains as the backdrop and the Lhasa river in the foreground.
Lhasa
The Potala Palace with one of many pilgrims walking around it. It has 1,000 rooms and dates from the seventh century. Circumambulations of the palace are the common manner of prayer practice.
Lhasa
Potala Place. The red palace is for religious functions and contains the tombs of eight Dalai Lamas.
Lhasa
Full reflection of the Potala in the pond with the image reversed. The white palace was for secular use with living quarters and offices.
Lhasa
One of the many pilgrims with a prayer wheel making a visit to this most sacred place. Most likely from Eastern Tibet based on her dress.
Lhasa
The Potala Palace is a major religious shrine for the local people who are very devout. They pray wherever they can find the room to do so in the vicinity of this palace.
Lhasa
Ladies in local dress praying in front of the Potala Palace. Notice the prostration as part of this prayer practice.
Lhasa
The Potala Palace has 13 levels or floors and is accessed by steep stairs and ladders. It is a fortress with strong defenses.
Lhasa
Most of the interior is off limits for photography. We were pleased to be able to photograph this reception hall with window drapes of yak hair.
Lhasa
Potala Palace fresco of Buddist image.
Lhasa
Potala Place fresco of Buddist image.
Lhasa
White Palace which included the residence of the Dali Lama. Note the access ladders. The hangings are yak hair and protect the interior from the very strong solar radiation.
Lhasa
In a park near the Potala we found a festival celebration going on.
Lhasa
Festival performance with mostly local and some tourist spectators. Note the drummer on the lower right which was the only instrument used other than their voices.
Lhasa
The dance master who directed the preformance.
Lhasa
Dancers with an amazing headdress, traditional shoes and costumes.
Lhasa
Dancer in flight.
Lhasa
Dancers. Notice the fur hat!
Lhasa
Dancer. Note the long sleeves which date back to the 5th Century or earlier.
Lhasa
Dancer. The hat is one of several versions worn by the early Tibetan and Mongolian tribes.
Lhasa
Dancer.
Lhasa
Beautiful lady dancer.
Lhasa
Colorful ladies celebrating in traditional long sleeved dresses.
Lhasa
Dancer flashes a great smile as he whirls with joy.
Lhasa
Views of the city and streets.
Lhasa
The city is surrounded by high mountains and has many modern buildings.
Lhasa
Taditional buildings with shops on the ground floor and apartments above. Note prayer flags on the top of the building.
Lhasa
Traditional cookware for sale.
Lhasa
Colorful scarves for sale.
Lhasa
Back alley with fruit vendor and traditional lady on a scooter along with modern ladies walking and modern cars parked throughout. The old and the new survive side by side.
Lhasa
We are now going to visit the Jokhang Temple which was built in the seventh century.
Lhasa
Jokhang temple built by Songstan Gambo with a combination of Tibetian, Indian, Han and Nepalese styles. This is the spiritual center of Tibet.
Lhasa
Prayer pole with flags in front of the Jokhang Temple. Ladies in traditonal dress having a chat.
Lhasa
The Jokhang Temple is the holy of holies and visited by thousands of Tibetian pilgrims who come to worship. The temple contains the orignal statue of Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha which was brought to Lhasa by a Chinese Princess in the seventh century.
Lhasa
Important symbols of Buddism. The wheel or Dharma representing the spirit teaching.
Lhasa
Jokhang Temple interior coutyard with yak hair hangings and gold roof.
Lhasa
Ancient fresco of the Buddha.
Lhasa
Ancient gong to call the monks to prayer.
Lhasa
The roof of the Jokhang Temple showing its unique design.
Lhasa
A magnificent view of the Potala Palace from the roof of the Jokhang Temple shows off it's placement in the area.
Lhasa
We are now going to visit a small Tibetian Nunnery.
Lhasa
Prayer wheels at the enterence to the Nunnery.
Lhasa
Nunnery cat.
Lhasa
Nunnery flower garden.
Lhasa
Nunnery flower garden.
Lhasa
Alter with offerings to the Buddha in the small temple of the nunnery.
Lhasa
Detail of the altar with votive candels.
Lhasa
Votive candels. Most use vegetable fat from rapeseed but yak butter is also used.
Lhasa
Nunnery flower garden.
Lhasa
Window in the old city. The following are images of people in the city.
Lhasa
Paulette with a lovely student of Traditional Tibetian Medicine who walked with us to practice her English.
Lhasa
Mother with a shy boy who did not want his photo taken... but his proud Mother was delighted to show off her child!
Lhasa
All the babies are carried on the back since there are no baby strollers.
Lhasa
Ladies in traditional dress with a baby and modern shopping bags. Notice how the boy is tied onto the grandmother's back.
Lhasa
Attractive lady in traditional dress and thermos for making tea was on her way home when we met her.
Lhasa
Paulette with a Tibetian lady.
Lhasa
Lady in traditional dress working on yarn while sitting with friends beside the Lhasa river on a nice Autumn evening.
Lhasa
The scene of kites lying over Lhasa in the evening is a popular activity and an iconic sight.
Lhasa
Evening at the Lhasa river with a bridge covered in prayer flags.
Lhasa
We are now going to visit the Drepung Monestry which had 10,000 monks at one time.
Lhasa
The Drepung monestry is at the foot of a mountain about 6 kilometers West from Lhasa.
Lhasa
The mountain side is covered by prayer flags which catch the morning sunlight.
Lhasa
The day we visited was a special visitation day "Lubum Gelka" which occurs once per year. This monastery was the home of the 2nd to 5th Dali Lamas and contains their tombs which can be visited only on this special day. The crowds were extensive and we were lucky to happen upon it as even our tour guide was not aware that it was such a special day.
Lhasa
Paulette turning prayer whells at the enterance to the monestry.
Lhasa
Monestry tea shop with monks having tea and the tourists having a rest.
Lhasa
The residential section of the monestry where the Dali Lamas lived. Note the prayer scarves on the steps.
Lhasa
Images of the Dali Lamas on the mountain side above the monastery.
Lhasa
Prayer flag pole with the line of local people waiting to enter the monestry for the special visitation. The line extended 2 kilometers which lasted all day long.
Lhasa
Local people waitng patiently in line to visit the tombs of the Dali Lamas.
Lhasa
Devout ladies waiting to enter the monestry.
Lhasa
An old lady being assisted by one of the monks. We loved the contrasts in shoes, clothing, buildings and all aspects of life in Tibet.
Lhasa
Roof of the Drepung Monastry.
Lhasa
Prayer scarves and drum in the temple.
Lhasa
Brazier with votive candels in the temple.
Lhasa
Votive candels in the brazier.
Lhasa
A monk at the Drepung Monastry.
Lhasa
Shrine to Tsongkapa the 5th Dali Lama and founder of the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat sect of Tibetian Buddism. This is the sect of the current Dali Lama.
Lhasa
Fresco with a lama of the Red Hat sect.
Lhasa
500 year old frescos of Buddist images.
Lhasa
500 year old frescos of Buddist images.
Lhasa
Buddist god.
Lhasa
Image of the Buddah.
Lhasa
1,000 buddhas in a case. These are new since the time of the Cultrural Revolution.
Lhasa
A monk of the Drepung Monastry.
Lhasa
Monk reading his texts.
Lhasa
The monk on the right ageed to have his photo taken and the monk on the left hid under his robe. So they are laughing after the official photo was taken!
Lhasa
View across the valley from the Drepung Monastry with prayer scarve holders on the roof.
Lhasa
A monk placing prayer scarves into the holders. Notice that he is being held so he does not fall.
Lhasa
The monks of the community participating in the examination of a monk who is being considered for advancement. This exam is conducted as a debate about the Buddist Spiritual texts.
Lhasa
The monk who is being examined in oral argument seems to have won his argument.
Lhasa
The Abbots are in the yellow and orange hats who are conducting the examination.
Lhasa
The kitchens of the Drepung Monastery which are filled with smoke from the ovens. The light beams appear to be artifically created but the smoke and the sunlight create this fantasy.
Lhasa
The kitchens of the Drepung Monastery which are filled with smoke from the ovens are quite dark inside and must be difficult to work in all day.
Lhase
The kitchens of the Drepung Monastery. Cooking utensils in the smokey haze from the ovens.
Lhasa
Pots for the butter tea.
Lhasa
Churns to make butter from Yak milk.
Lhasa
Utensils for cooking.
Lhasa
Well used containers to serve the butter tea.
Lhasa
Image of the Buddah in the main temple.
Lhasa
Votive candels in the main temple.
Lhasa
The main temple of the Derepung Monestry with the monks in positon for chanting and prayer. They were being served butter tea during a break in their day long ceremony.
Lhasa
Monks waiting to start their chanting.
Lhasa
For the speical festive day trumpets are blown on the roof of the monastery.
Lhasa
Shrine where candles have been burned and money donated.
Lhasa
We now go to the Sera Monastery which is North of the city.
Lhasa
The Sera Monastry was founded in 1419 and is one of the great monasteries of the Galugpa Sect of Tibetian Buddhism.
Lhasa
The upper monastery with dramatic red rocks on the side of the mountain.
Lhasa
Happy monks carrying bowls of rice for lunch.
Lhasa
A senior monk with his yellow hat and a student chatting on their way home from a prayer service.
Lhasa
The monks like to use mobile phones. We saw them everywhere... even in the temples... and even during chanting!
Lhasa
Sera monastery door way and window with the standard design.
Lhasa
Student monks practicing Buddism Scripture debate for which the Sera Monastery is famous.
Lhasa
Practicing debating style.
Lhasa
Making a key debating point.
Lhasa
Young student observing the proceedings.
Lhasa
The Master with his prayer beads manages to keep watch over the practice debate with attention.
Lhasa
We now visit Norbulingka which is the Summer Palace for the Dali Lama and is West of the city.
Lhasa
Tibetian visitors walking to the Norbulingka through the gardens.
Lhasa
Palace entry with its impressive doorway and beautiful garden.
Lhasa
The Norbulingka Palace which was the final residence of the current Dali Lama in Tibet was surprisingly modern in the interior furnishings including radio and other modern furnishings.
Near Lhasa
We now drive to Yamdrok Tso Lake which is considered sacred. It is located about 100 km from Lhasa.
Near Lhasa
The Sakyamuni Buddha called Wie Tank Buddha which is the largest carved Buddha in Tibet at 9.83 meters high was located on the road side as we traveled along the valley to the mountain lake.
Near Lhasa
Hand harvested barley crop drying in the fields.
Near Lhasa
There is some mechanization with a modern tractor.
Near Lhasa
This is a lovely farm house in Wam village where we visited a Tibetian famlly.
Near Lhasa
The Grandmother who received us and served butter tea was welcoming and kind. She eagerly showed us all of her home and was particularly proud of her textiles.
Near Lhasa
Sitting room with religious decorations and traditional funiture.
Near Lhasa
Our guide Baima showing us the childrens bedroom. Note all of the blankets for the very cold winter nights.
Near Lhasa
The farmhouse kitchen which was in a separate building was quite dark and reminded us of the dark kitchens in the temples.
Lhasa valley
View from the Kampola Pass which is 16,000 feet at its high point.
Lake Yamdrok Tso
The lake is 72 KM long and is located at 15,000 feet. Considered one of the sacred lakes of Tibet it is an amazing color derived from glacial runoff and enhanced by the clarity of the atmosphere.
Lake Yamdrok Tso
The lake is dominated by the Nyanchen Kangsang snow mountain which rises to 23,700 feet but is hidden in the monsoon clouds.
Lake Yamdrok Tso
The color of the lake with clouds reflected.
Lake Yamdrok Tso
Farming is carried out on both sides of the lake and fishing is allowed but not often done as the Tibetans cosider these waters to be too sacred to fish.
Near Lhasa
A flock of sheep on the side of the mountain and the roadway cut into the mountain.
Near Lhasa
Yak cattle on the side of the mountain.
Near Lhasa
Terraced grain fields at the foot of the mountain.
Near Lhasa
Small fields of grain manage to grow in the arid climate.
Near Lhasa
Harvested grain drying in the fields. I wonder if the hats worn for ceremonial dress are inspired by these shapes.
Near Lhasa
A small village with houses that have been abandoned.
Near Lhasa
We passed this typical farmhouse with the family outside in the front yard as we drove back to Lhasa.
Near Lhasa
An afternoon rain storm in the mountains above Lhasa.
Lhasa valley
Paulette and John in front of the Potala Palace. Thank you!
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