#18 - The Buddhist Temples of Tibet

The Potala Palace in Lhasa (above) was the Dalai Lama's 1,500 room winter palace prior to Tibet being invaded by the Chinese in 1959. While it is really tragic and sad to see the Chinese presence all over Tibet, it is still a very unique and beautiful place. You could spend weeks just visiting monasteries and other Buddhist sites, especially those like the renowned Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa. You can only imagine what Tibet must have looked like before the Chinese blew up over 6,000 Buddhist monasteries.

Novices undergo many years of rigorous training with aggressive verbal testing by more senior monks.

The people of Tibet are among the kindest you will ever meet, and their faces and lives are so photogenic. Buddhist countries are among our favorites because the cultures and people are so interesting, and they are always very safe.

People walk to Lhasa from all over Tibet for pilgrimages. This man above was a pilgrim from Amdo province and had walked hundreds of miles.


The old woman cooked for many years for the hundred monks at Gonkar Monastery, near the airport. It is an hour and a half from Lhasa and makes a great first stop after arriving. Soft window light like this is usually the best way to photograph people.

A grandfather prays with his grandson by spinning the Buddhist prayer wheel at Johkang Monastery. A forty foot long Buddhist text is wound up tightly inside the prayer wheel and each spin is like saying a prayer. The musky smell of a thousand yak butter candles burning permeated the air on the first floor.

Best Time to Go: Summer when it is warmer, as you can see your breath in some Lhasa hotels after October

How Long to Stay: 7-14 days as there is so much to do and see

General Costs: Medium to High

What To Do: Visit the Buddhist monasteries and sites, Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery, make sure you grab a yak burger at the Hard Yak Cafe while in Lhasa.
UNESCO World Heritage Site? Yes - The Potala Palace
Weather: Mild to cool in the summers and very cold for about 8 months of the year
Language: Tibetan