Lhasa

in China

Capital of the (possibly-not-quite-sufficiently) autonomous region of Tibet, Lhasa was like nowhere else I'd ever been. And I can't put the feeling into words in any other way than that - you're just going to have to go there yourself and discover it. There's usually incense billowing into the air from somewhere nearby, monks spontaneously fall flat on the street to pray and hundreds of pilgrims make there way around the temples, murmuring a constant buzz of prayers to every worshipable thing they pass.

The setting is incredible too, with the river running through part of the city, and mountains rising up all around. And yet somehow, it doesn't always feel like you're over 3,000m up (OK, the altitude sickness on the first day there maybe makes you feel that way) - the sun can be shining, it can be warm enough to not need a jacket at times and there can be no snow in sight. And of course, it's the gateway to exploring more of Tibet - a vast and almost stupidly beautiful place.

Top Picks

• Visit the Johkang Temple. It'll likely be thronging with pilgrims, which only adds to the atmosphere, and it's one of the most impressive temples I saw in Tibet. Don't miss going up to the roof, for a stunning view stretching over the square in front of the temple and to the mountains around the city.
• Look up at the Portola Palace from the park opposite it, and then (preferably after a day or two's getting used to the altitude) climb the many steps up to it and have a good look around inside. It's also a site for pilgrims, and there's a lot of history there too.
• Take a walk along the path by the river, which heads towards the outskirts of the city. I found it was one of the quieter, more peaceful places to pass some time.
• The best way into or out of Tibet, in my opinion, is by train. Sure, it's a long trip, but the views are stunning. If getting the train from Tibet, try and take one leaving early int he morning; if going to Tibet, try and get one that arrives in the evening. That way, you can make the most of the views on the Tibetan peninsula, which are the most impressive. One of the most epic train journeys I've ever done.

Photos

Crossing the Yellow River	Crossing the Yellow River	Crossing the Yellow River
A recently built tunnel through the mountains	Crossing the Lhasa River	By the Lhasa River
By the Lhasa River	By the Lhasa River	By the Lhasa River
By the Lhasa River	The guesthosue I stayed at	Large pot at the guesthouse
My room	The street my guesthouse was on	The square in front of Johkang Temple
The square in front of Johkang Temple	Lhasa by night	Lhasa by night
Lhasa by night	A bustling market street	Smoke from an incense burner
A bustling market street	Prayer flags along the shopping street	By the river Lhasa
By the river Lhasa	By the river Lhasa	By the river Lhasa
By the river Lhasa	By the river Lhasa	Me by the river Lhasa
By the river Lhasa	By the river Lhasa	By the river Lhasa
By the river Lhasa	By the river Lhasa	By the river Lhasa
By the river Lhasa	A Chinese monument	A Chinese monument
Park	Signs of modern life	By the river Lhasa
Prayer flags around a tree	Children heading home from school	In one of the courtyards
In one of the courtyards	Gold-plated carvings on the wall	In one of the courtyards
Bronze carving	In one of the courtyards	In one of the courtyards
In one of the courtyards	In one of the courtyards	In one of the courtyards
In one of the courtyards	In one of the courtyards	View from the roof
View from the roof	View from the roof	On the roof
On the roof	View over Lhasa	View over the square in front of the temple
On the roof	On the roof	View over the square in front of the temple
View over the square in front of the temple	The main temple	The monastery grounds
The monastery grounds	The monastery grounds	Living area
The main temple	Outbuildings	The Portola Palace from within the palace grounds
The Portola Palace from within the palace grounds	View climbing the front	View climbing the front
Entering the palace	Entering the palace	View at the back of the palace
The back of the palace	Back of the palace with view over Lhasa	The back of the palace
Back of the palace with view over Lhasa	View over Lhasa	Back of the palace
View over Lhasa	The pack of the palace	Stupa outside the palace (holds ash, scriptures, etc)
Portola Palace from the park opposite it	Monument in the park opposite the palace	Portola Palace from the park opposite it
Portola Palace from the park opposite it	Portola Palace from the park opposite it	Portola Palace from the park opposite it
Portola Palace from the park opposite it