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 and Tibet tour.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.

Perched upon Marpo Ri hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa valley, the Potala Palace rises a further 170 meters and is the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet. Early legends concerning the rocky hill tell of a sacred cave, considered to be the dwelling place of the Bodhisattva Chenresi (Avilokiteshvara), that was used as a meditation retreat by Emperor Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century AD. In 637 Songtsen Gampo built a palace on the hill. This structure stood until the seventeenth century, when it was incorporated into the foundations of the greater buildings still standing today. Construction of the present palace began in 1645 during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama and by 1648 the Potrang Karpo, or White Palace, was completed. The Potrang Marpo, or Red Palace, was added between 1690 and 1694; its construction required the labors of more than 7000 workers and 1500 artists and craftsman. In 1922 the 13th Dalai Lama renovated many chapels and assembly halls in the White Palace and added two stories to the Red Palace. The Potala Palace was only slightly damaged during the Tibetan uprising against the invading Chinese in 1959. Unlike most other Tibetan religious structures, it was not sacked by the Red Guards during the 1960s and 1970s, apparently through the personal intervention of Chou En Lai. As a result, all the chapels and their artifacts are very well preserved.

The Jokhang is the most celebrated temple in Tibet. Because the temple is not controlled by a particular sect of Tibetan Buddhism it attracts adherents of all the sects as well as followers of Bon-Po, Tibet's indigenous religion. Three pilgrimage circuits exist in Lhasa, each directing pilgrims to the Jowo Sakyamuni statue: the Lingkhor, which encircles the city’s sacred district; the Barkhor, which encloses the Jokhang temple; and the Nangkhor, a ritual corridor inside the Jokhang. Every day throughout the year hundreds of pilgrims circumambulate each of these three circuits. Some pilgrims will cover the entire distance by prostrating every few feet, and others will walk slowly, chanting sacred mantras and spinning hand-held prayer wheels. For more than a thousand years millions of pilgrims have trod these sacred paths with devotion in their hearts; this cumulative focusing of intention and love has charged the Jokhang with an enormously powerful field of sanctity. 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.

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.

The Drepung dates back to the early 15th century and lies about 7km west of Lhasa. In its time it was the largest of Tibet's monastic towns and, some maintain, the largest monastery in the world. Today, the total number of monks in residence here has dwindled from 7000 to around 400..

About 45km east of Lhasa, this monastery was founded in 1409 by Tsong Khapa and himself became the first Abbot of the monastery. At Tsong Khapa's death, his body was kept in a funerary stupa considered as the relic of the monastery. Ganden is the heart of the Gelugpa sect and famous for its studies.Ganden Monastery consisted of two principal original colleges, Jangtse and Shartse, meaning North Peak and East Peak respectively. The three main sights in the Ganden Monastery are the Serdung, which contains the tomb of Tsongkhapa, the Tsokchen Assembly Hall and the Ngam Cho Khang the chapel where Tsongkhapa traditionally taught. The monastery houses artifacts which belonged to Tsongkhapa. It contained more than two dozen major chapels with large Buddha statues. The largest chapel was capable of seating 3,500 monks. Tenzin Gyatso, the present Dalai Lama (born 1935), took his final degree examination in Ganden in 1958 and he feels he has a particularly close connection with Tsongkhapa.

About 170km south-east of Lhasa, this valley is considered to be the birthplace of Tibtan culture. Near the town of Tsetang, which forms the administrative centre of the region, are several sites of religious importance. Yarlung valley Situated in a remote part of Tibet, the Yarlung Valley stretches 72km long. It is often referred to as the Cradle of Tibetan civilization, and stone wares and other artifacts unearthed in this region seems to confirm this belief. It is here in the 7th century that Nyetri Tsenpo, the first Tibetan King was thought to have descended from the heavens. Today, the Yarlung people have a unique culture practicing traditional ceremonies and rites.

This lies about 30km west of Testang, on the opposite bank of the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra River).It was founded in 775 AD by King Trisong Destsen and was the first monastery in Tibet. Getting there is complicated, but the monastery commands a beautiful, secluded position.

To reach Samye, take a bus from Lhasa, you will be dropped off close to a ferry which functions sporadically and will take you across the river. From there, a truck or cart will carry you the 5km to Samye.

About 12km south-west of Tsetang, Yumbulagang is the legendary first building in Tibet. Although small in scale, it soars in recently renovated splendour above the valley. It takes 1 or 1.5 hour-drive to get there from Tsetang.

One of the earliest and the “Demoness Subduing” Buddhist monasteries in Tibet having been founded at the same time as the Jorkhang & Ramoche in Lhasa. Most of the valuable images and murals have been replaced, This is a lively place and well worth a brief visit en route to Yumbulagang.

Shigatse was previously known as Samdruptse and the once-imposing Shigatse Dzong, or fort, (dismantled during the popular uprising of 1959), was the seat of the kings of Ü-Tsang and the capital of the province of Ü-Tsang or Tsang.In the 19th century the "Tashi" or Panchen Lama had temporal power over Tashilhunpo Monastery and three small districts, though not over the town of Shigatse itself, which was administered by two Dzongpön (Prefects) appointed from Lhasa.There were two Dzongpöns for every Dzong - a lama (Tse-dung) and a layman. They were entrusted with both civil and military powers and are equal in all respects, though subordinate to the generals and the Chinese Amban in military matters.

founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama,is a historic and culturally important monastery next to Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet. It was sacked when the Gurkhas invaded Tibet and captured Shigatse in 1791 before a combined Tibetan and Chinese army drove them back as far as the outskirts of Kathmandu, when they were forced to agree to keep the peace in future, pay tribute every five years, and return what they had looted from Tashilhunpo.The monastery is the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas, the second highest ranking tulku lineage in the Gelukpa tradition. The "Tashi" or Panchen Lama had temporal power over three small districts, though not over the town of Shigatse itself, which was administered by a dzongpön (prefect) appointed from Lhasa.