City guide · ལྷ་ས། · 拉萨

Lhasa

'Place of the Gods': the Potala Palace, the Jokhang and the Barkhor circuit

Foto: Göran Höglund (Kartläsarn) · CC BY 2.0

In Tibetan, Lhasa means 'place of the gods'; it lies at about 3,650 m. The Potala Palace on Red Hill looks down over the city, pilgrims prostrate themselves all day in front of the Jokhang, and the stream of people walking the Barkhor circuit never stops from dawn to night.

History

Los orígenes de la ciudad

In the mid-7th century Songtsen Gampo unified the Tibetan plateau, founded the Tibetan Empire and moved his capital to Lhasa. Tradition says he married Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal and Princess Wencheng of Tang China, and in 641 built the Jokhang and Ramoche temples to house the Buddha images the two princesses brought; the city took its name, Lhasa, from this. From the mid-17th century Lhasa was Tibet's religious and administrative centre: in 1645 the Fifth Dalai Lama began building today's Potala Palace and moved into its White Palace in 1649.

7th centurySongtsen Gampo founded the Tibetan Empire with its capital at Lhasa
641The Jokhang and Ramoche temples were built
1645The Fifth Dalai Lama began building the Potala Palace
1649Moved into the White Palace of the Potala
1994The Potala Palace became a World Heritage Site

Stories

Historias de la ciudad

Leyenda · Butter tea

The princess and the Tea Horse Road

Tea in Tibet can be traced back to the Tang dynasty in the 7th century, but butter tea only became popular in the 13th century under the Phagmodrupa. Legend says a Tang princess married the king of Tibet, after which trade routes opened between the Han and Tibetans and tea was carried into Tibet; the Tibetans then added butter, indispensable in their daily diet, to the tea, and so butter tea was born.

Historia · Potala Palace

Two builders: Songtsen Gampo and the Fifth Dalai Lama

In the 7th century Songtsen Gampo unified the Tibetan Plateau and moved his capital to Lhasa, and the first palace is said to have been built on Marpo Ri (Red Hill). A thousand years later, in 1645, the 5th Dalai Lama — revered as 'the Great Fifth' — on his advisers' recommendation chose Red Hill, between Drepung and Sera monasteries, as the centre of religious and political power and began building today's Potala Palace, moving into the White Palace in 1649. From then until 1959 it was the winter palace of successive Dalai Lamas.

Lhasa de un vistazo

Mejor época: May–October is milder; July–August is the rainy season and also the busiest; winter has few visitors and plenty of sun, but mornings and evenings are very cold.
Cómo llegar: Lhasa Gonggar International Airport has flights to China's main cities, and the Qinghai–Tibet Railway runs from Xining to Lhasa. Entering Tibet requires the permits set out in the rules; follow the latest official requirements.
Moverse por la ciudad: The old city is walkable: the Barkhor, the Jokhang and the Potala Palace are all within walking distance. Take it slowly when you first arrive.
Dónde alojarse: The old city around the Barkhor and the Jokhang has the most atmosphere; for your first day or two, avoid showers that might chill you, and don't drink alcohol.
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