Photogallery of Lhasa, China

Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Besides its official name, Lhasa is often referred to as the “roof of the world” or “the place of gods”. This city was not available for tourists for many years. Lhasa opened its doors for foreign guests only twenty years ago. Hundreds of pilgrims from all regions of China visit Lhasa in order to pray in the sacred place of this settlement – the Jokhang Temple. When taking a stroll in the city’s streets, it is not rare to see monks holding prayer wheels. These wheels are a part of an old ritual. West Lhasa is a more active and populated part of the city. The major infrastructure is also located here. According to local legends, Songtsen Gampo, the Tibetan emperor, was the founder of Lhasa. The king, who ruled in the first half of the 7th century, chose Lhasa the capital of his empire. However, historic records prove that the center of the Tibetan Empire was changed several times to different Chinese cities. When Lhasa became the capital of Tibet, it started growing in size and developing quickly. This is when the first large monasteries appeared in the city. Numerous students of Je Tsongkhapa studied here. In the 17th century, the 5th Dalai Lama decided to make Tibet his own. He also made Lhasa the region’s administrative center. In 1705, Lha-bzang Khan, the ruler of the Khoshut tribe, conquered the Tibetan capital. After that, the city’s residents asked the Choros clan to help them. The … Read further