SCYTS-018: 6-DAY TOUR TO LHASA JIANGZI AND SHIGATSE
(EXPLORE THE FRONT AND REAR OF TIBET)

Day 1: (Flight) Chengdu/Lhasa: Rest in the hotel so as to get used to the high elevation. Lhasa has a history of more than 1300 years and it's been the center of politics, economy, culture and religion in
       Tibet since ancient times.             Overnight at Lhasa Hotel
Day 2: Patala Palace: The Potala, one of the most famous architectural works of our nation, is erected on top of the Red Hill in Lhasa. The word "Potala"
comes from Sanakrit. In the 7th century, after the Tibetan King Songtsen
Gampo's marriage with Princess Wencheng of the Tang Court, the Palace was
built for meditation. In the mid-17th century, it was rebuilt by the 5th
Dalai Lamato its present size, and ever since it became the Winter Palace
of the Dalai Lamas. The construction took fifty years from its beginning
to completion. The Potala is divided into two sections, namely ,the Red
Palace and the White Palace. The total height of the Potala is 117 meters
which is built in thirteen stories, the length of the Palace from east to
west has 400 meters and the breadth from south to north has 350 meters. The whole building is a structure of stone and timber. The top most flat
glistens with golden roofs. It is a majestic architectural work and the
cream of Tibetan culture and a complex of Tibetan and Han cultures.

Jokhang Temple: Situated in the center of the old section of Lhasa, Jokhang
Temple was built in the mid-7th century AD and later extended by succes-
sive rulers, it has now become a gigantic architecture complex.Located in
the east ,facing to the west, it is a four storied temple with splendid
golden roofs. It has architecture feature of Tang Dynasty and also
assimilated very much feature from both Nepalese and Indian Buddhist
temples. The murals in the temple mainly depict the life stories of
historic characters. The temple houses mainly historical relics since
Tang Dynasty and statues of King Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng,
Princess Bhrikuti Devi. "Princess Willow" (a tree),and "the Uncle Nephew
Alliance Tablet" can be seen at the front gate of the temple.
                                               Overnight at Lhasa Hotel
Sera Monastery: Situated at three km's distance to the northern suburb of
Lhasa, Sera Monastery was founded in 1419 by Jamchen Choje, a disciple of
Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelupa Sect. The monastery is erected grandly
at a mountain slope with a colourful architecture. Sera Monastery together
with Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa are known as the Three
Great Monasteries in Tibet.
Barkor.
                                              Overnight at Lhasa Hotel
Day 3:Lhasa/Yamddok Yumtso Lake/Gyantse:
Yamddok Yumtso, one of the three largest lakes of Tibet, lies about a
Hundred km's distance to the southwest of Lhasa. The surface of the
lake,with it's fathomless depth, covers some six hundred square
kilometers. To the interior of the lake ten or so hilly islands stand
independently one from the other which give homes to flocks of wild
ducks. Fish in the lake is plentiful and tasty for diet.
Visit Palcho Monastery.
Palcho Monastery: Located in Gyantse town and founded jointly by Kedup Je
Of the Gelupa Sect in 1418.Palcho Monastery has a special influence over
Tibet's Buddhism owing to its being a unity of three different sects, the
Gelugpa, the Sakyapa and Bhuton Sect in one single monastery. The famous
Knmbom pagoda stands nine stories with its 108 doors and 77 chapels
containing clay sculptures and various murals. The pagoda is said to have
100,000 images, either sculptured or painted, this also earns its name to
"100,000-Image Pagoda."
                                            Overnight at Gyantse Hotel
Day 4: Gyantse/ Shigatse: Tashilhunpo Monastery: It is the biggest Gelugpa
Monastery in the Tsang region of Tibet. It is located in the town of
Shigatse and was founded by Gedun Drup, a disciple of Tsongkapa, the
founder of the Gelupa Sect. Gedun Drup was later recognizes as the first
Dalai Lama.It was formerly built in 1447 and continuously expanded by the
successive Panchen Lamas. The Ngagpa College(Tantric College), one of its
four monastic colleges, was the residence of the Panchen Lamas. The most
amazing image in the monastery is the statue of the giant Maitreya (Future
Buddha)erected by the ninth Banchen Lama in 1914, and took four years for
its establishment. This giant statue stands 26 meters in height and 275kg
of solid gold, great quantity of precious things such a pearls, turquoises,
corals and amblers have absolved for its construction. The 4th Panchen Lama's funeral stupa was built in 1662 and it stands eleven meters high and is covered with gold and silver.  Overnight at Shigatse Hotel
Day 5: Shigatse/Lhasa:
                                            Overnight at Shigatse Hotel
Day 6: Lhasa/Chengdu          END OF TOUR