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Lhasa
Lhasa, or the "ground of
the gods', has been the capital city of Tibet
Autonomous Region since the 7th century when Sron-btsan
Gam-po built his palace where the Potala now stands
and attempted to unify the various clans in the
area. This is the first stop for most visitors
to Tibet and, although the journey here is not
as exciting as it once was, a tip here is still
an essential part of any visit to Tibet. Lhasa
is famous for being one of the highest cities
in the world, towering 3,600 meters above the
banks of the Lhasa River, but what really knocks
you out here is the full scale impact on your
senses of the breathtaking beauty, unique landscape
and the holy atmosphere of this religious center.
Most of the historical sights here
date back to the 1600s when the magnificent Potala
Palace was built. The Potala dominates the skyline
but Jokhang is considered the spiritual center
of the city and there are numerous other small
active temples dotted about. Pilgrims still flock
to Lhasa to see and experience the remaining enclaves
of tradition. Despite the important religious
and historical legacy of the city, Lhasa has changed
a lot in the past 40 years than ever before. Although
pilgrims still visit here, they are now joined
and compete for space with western tourists and
numerous Chinese.
The "renovating" and
"modernizing" influence is fast changing
the unique flavor that makes Tibet and Lhasa so
special. Before the Han people moved in to the
city in 1951, only about 20,000 people inhabited
this small area. Today, there are some 160,000
inhabitants here, including many businessmen,
here to utilize the modernization and development
of Lhasa. In some aspects this is changing the
face of Lhasa for the worse. For the adventurous
travelers, however, this remains a city of intrigue
and there is more than enough to hold you here
for a few days. Modernization too, means that
facilities are better in the capital city than
they are elsewhere in the province. 80% of the
population of Tibet lives in the countryside.
Outside Lhasa is where the more authentic and
traditional aspects of the region can be enjoyed
and experienced.
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