Lhasa, Tibet: Place of Gods (A Short Tour of the Spiritual Sites of the Legendary City)

Lhasa, the "Place of Gods" in Tibetan, is a mystical place. The spiritual home of Tibetan buddhism for thousands of years remains a difficult place for the traveller to get to - although these days bureaucracy and cost are the main obstacles. Once there, the traveller faces a further battle with the lack of oxygen. At an altitude higher than most of the mountains in the Alps, the Tibetan plateau can make even the shortest flight of steps daunting, let alone the climb to the majestic Potala Palace, former residence of the Dalai Lamas. This short visit covers the major sights: The circumambulation of the Jokhang temple through the streets of the Barkhor. The enormous monasteries of Drepung and Sera where thousands of monks once created some of the largest spiritual communities the world has ever seen. The debating monks at Sera are a remarkable sight. The summer and winter residences of the Dalai Lamas: the dominating Potala Palace and the more restrained Norbulingka. The abiding memory of any visit to Tibet is the warmth of the Tibetan people, the dazzling colours of the temples, and the crystal clear sky. Filmed in August 2018 Travel Obscurer Landscapes, Culture and Cafes www.travelobscurer.com