กก

Tibet

- Lhasa               
- The Potala Palace
- Jokhang Temple      
- Drepung Monastery
- Sera Monastery      
- Xigaze

An aura of mystery and mysticism envelopes Tibet, the -Roof of the World-. Here stand the mighty Himalayas, holding Tibet in splendid isolation from the rest of the world. Mt. Qomolongma -known to the outside world as Mt. Everest-, pierces the highest of clouds in the heavens. Halfway down the mountains, at about 12,000 feet, are the various man-made wonders of this Shangri-La.

LHASA: Lhasa, the capital of Tibet is 812 miles west of Chengdu or 100 miles north of the China/India border. In addition to its many historical and cultural treasures, Lhasa offers the traveler a view of the economic, cultural and religious lives of the Tibetan people as well as the progress they have made in recent decades.

THE POTALA PALACE - Draping the slopes of Red Hill in white, gold and red, the spectacular thousand-room Potala overlooks the Bharkor bazaars, but more importantly -as the center of Buddhist Lamaism- commands the respect and worship of most Tibetans.

JOKHANG TEMPLE - The -Holiest of Holies-, the Jokhang contains many of Buddhism's most sacred treasures, including the golden, jewel-encrusted Sakyamuni Buddha that was carried to Tibet in 652 AD.

DREPUNG MONASTERY - Built in 1416, the Drepung ranks as one of the most important monasteries in Tibet. At one time, more than 10,000 monks dwelled at Drepung, which looms on the horizon as a huge city fortress.

SERA MONASTERY - One of Tibet's four major monasteries, the Sera houses the 11-faced golden statue of Guan Yin, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy.

XIGAZE: Xigaze, also spelled Shigatse, is 304 miles southwest of Lhasa. A spectacular crossing of the surrounding high plateau leads to the city, former seat of the Panchen Lama and center of -Red Hat- sect of Lamaist Buddhism. Here, the magnificent golden-peaked Tsashilunpo Monastery dominates the landscape surrounding Tibet's second-largest city.