Lhasa is rightly one of the most featured and dreamt-about cities in the world. This is not only because of its remoteness, its high altitude at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) means limited accessibility, but also because of its impressive heritage of over a thousand years of cultural and spiritual history that has helped to create the romantic and mysterious Tibetan religion.Differing from the inland cities and other places in Tibet, Lhasa is unique with an allure all of its own. In the Tibetan language, Lhasa means the Holy Land or the Buddha Land. It is the center of Tibet's politics, economy and culture. The city has also been appointed as one of the 24 historical and cultural cities of China. The splendor and grandeur of the Potala Palace in Lhasa remains a world-famous symbol of the enigmatic power of politics and religion in this region. As the beautiful capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), Lhasa is situated in the South Central part of the region, on the North bank of the Kyichu River (Lhasa River) in a mountain-fringed valley. This ancient sprawling city, settled 1,300 years ago, covers 30,000 square kilometers (11,583 square miles), with a population of 400,000, of which 87 percent are Tibetans. The urban

The Potala was the winter palace of Dalai Lama, With its world-wide reputation, the Potala stands on the Red Hill overlooking the Tibetan city of Lhasa as a major national cultural monument under special protection by the government of the People's Republic of China. The name of the large sacred Buddhist building complex is a derivation from Samskrit Potalaka which is the mythical mountain abode of Avalokitesvara, one of the Bodhisattvas (Buddhist saints). In this connection Lhasa is popularly referred to as Second Mount Potalaka. It was originally built in the 7th century by King Songtsan Gampo and rebuilt to the present size by the 5th Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Situated atop a hill, it consists of 13 stories including some 1000rooms and is divided into the Red palaces(mainly for religious use) and the White palaces for govermental use).As a whole, however, the Potala is a com-prehensive work of Tibtan architecture, wood carving, painting, sculpture, etc.Barkhor

The golden-roofed Jokhang is 1300 years old and one of Tibet's holiest shrines. It was built to commemorate the marriage of the Tang Princess Wen Cheng to King Songtsan Gampo, and houses a pure gold statue of the Buddha Sakyamuni brought to Tibet by the princess. Here, too, pilgrims in their hundreds prostrate themselves in front of the temple entrance before continuing on their circuit. Follow the pilgrims through a labyinth of shrines, halls and galleries containing some of the finest and oldest treasures of Tibtan art. Take a torch if you want a closer look, and to avoid getting lost copy the nomad kids and hang onto the tresses of the pilgrim in front.

The Barkhor is essentially a pilgrim circuit which is followed clockwise round the periphery of the Jokhang. It is also a hive of market activity, an astounding jamboree,a Tibetan-style stock exchange. All round the circuit are shops, stalls, teahouses and hawkers. There is a wide variety of items to gladden a Tibetan heart-prayer flags, block prints of the holy scriptures, earrings, Tibetan boots, Nepalese biscuits, puffed rice, yak butter and incense.

It is a park formerly used as a bathing spot by the 7th Dalai Lama in mid-18th century and later expanded to be the summer palace for the Dalai Lama in the beginning and mid-20th century during the 14th Dalai Lama periods. The summer palace of the 14th Dalai Lama attracts most visiters by its well designed structure and surroundings comsed of green turves, colorful flowers, evergreen trees, bamboo and apple orchards.

Buddhism in China mainly includes Han Chinese language Buddhism,which spread into China in 2 B.C.; Tibetan language Buddhism, which spread into Tibet in the 7th century; and Pali language Buddhism, which spread into China in the 13th century. Tibetan Buddhism refers to Tibetan language Buddhism, and is also known as Lamaism. Buddhism spread into Tibet in the 7th century, and gradually infiltrate Tibet's history, politics, economics, culture, exchanges and habits and customs to become the most extensively worshipped religion of Tibetans. Buddhism has long been widely worshipped in China's Tibet Autonomous Region, as well as Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces, and the Xinjiang Uygur and Inner Mongolia autonomous regions. It has also made its way into Sikkim, Bhuttan, Nepal, the Mongolian People's Republic and Buryat in the Republic of Russia.

It is the seat of the Panchen Lama, founded in 1447 by Gedun-Drup, the first incarnation of the Dalai Lama and the disciple of Tsongkapa. It is the largest monastery in Shigatse proper, which once housed 3800 monks. Apart from a giant statue of the Maitreya Buddha(nearly 27 meters high) in the temple of the Maitreya, the monastery is also famed for its Grand hall with its opulent bomb(containing 85kg of gold and masses of jewels)of the 4th Panchen Lama.

Shigatse's market is a great place if you enjoy participating in wrestling matches, otherwise bewere. The vendors smile, but some of them grab your arm and won't let go untill you buy something. This has caused a few scuffles, and it might just be best to avoid wandering into the market together.

The trek to Everest Base Camp is without doubt one of the most famous in the world. It takes you into the heart of the Nepalese Himalaya,with awe-inspiring views of many of the world's highest and most beautiful mountains. Jagged Globe offer two variations to this classic trek (see also High Passes to Everest), both of which climb the famous Everest viewing point of Kala Patar (5,600m), as well as going to the actual site of base camp, below the tumbling Khumbu Icefall. Our itineraries are carefully designed to ensure you have adequate time to acclimatise comfortably, thereby enjoying the trekking experience to the full......

Built in 1427,this monastery is notable for its superb Kumbum (10000images) stupa, which has nine tiers and, according to Buddhist tradition,108 chapels.