Lhasa is not only the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region, but also the center of Tibetan politics, economy, culture and religion. It is located on the North Band of the Lhasa River, which is a tributary of the Yarlong Tsangpo, and stands at 3760 meters above sea level. In Tibetan, Lhasa means “The land of the Gods”, or “Holy Place”. It was founded in 633 A.D. under the leadership of King Songtsan Gampo.
Lhasa enjoys delightful weather, throughout all seasons. It has 3000 hours of sunshine annually – hence its popular name “The Sunshine City”. The temperatures vary greatly between night and day, but remain fairly uniform during the year. Winters are neither severely cold, nor Summers unbearably hot. The average annual rainfall is only 230–570 mm, and at least 2/3rds of the year are frost-free. The best time to visit Lhasa is from March to October. Lhasa is becoming a thriving and prosperous town, and many successful new business enterprises have been established. These include a hydro- electric power station, leather fanning plants, thermal power stations, cement works, an agricultural machinery plant, machine repair plant, food industry, a film dubbing studio, building industries, vehicle repair shops, grain and oil processing factories, hotels and guest houses for tourists and so on.
Cultural, educational and modern sanitation services and facilities are also being developed. As well as the Tibet University, Polytechnic schools, Hospitals, and cultural organizations have also opened. Lhasa is expanding and developing rapidly — not least in terms of tourism. In the following chapters we will look at the most popular tourist attractions.
January 7, 2010
Introduction of Lhasa
Tibetan Custom
Presenting Hada
Present hada is a common practice among the Tibetan people to express their best wishes on many occasions, such as wedding ceremonies, festivals, visiting the elders and the betters, and entertaining guests. The white hada, a long narrow scarf made of silk, embodies purity and good fortune.
Proposing a Toast and Tea
Proposing a Toast and Tea When you come to a Tibetan family, the host will propose a toast, usually barley wine. You should sip three times and then drink up. To entertain guests with tea is a daily etiquette. The guest has not to drink until the host presents the tea to you.
Greetings
Greetings Don’t forget to add “la”after saying hello to the Tibetan people to show respect . Make Way to others. Try not to make any sounds while eating and drinking.
Sky Burials
Sky burial is a common form in Tibet. There are many prohibitions. Strangers are not allowed to attend the ceremony. Visitors should respect this custom and keep away from such occasions.
Tibetan Buddhism
Also known as the Lamaism, the Tibetan Buddhism was introduced to Tibet from the mainland and India in the seventh century. The Tibetan Buddhism consists of four major sects, the Ge-lug-pa(Yellow) Sect, the Nying-ma-pa(Red)Sec, the Saturday-kya-pa(Variegated) Sect, and the Ka-gyu-pa(White) Sect.
Pilgrimage
The immediate motivations of pilgrimage are many, but for the ordinary Tibetan it amounts to a means of accumulating merit or good luck. The lay practitioner might go on pilgrimage in the hope of winning a better rebirth, cure an illness, end a spate of bad luck or simply because of a vow to take a pilgrimage if a bodhisattva granted a wish.
In Tibet there are countless sacred destinations, ranging from lakes and mountains to monasteries and caves that once served as meditation retreats for important yogin. Specific pilgrimages are often proscribed for specific ills; certain mountains for example expiate certain sins. A circumambulation of Mt. Kailash offers the possibility of liberation within three lifetimes, while a circuit of Lake Manasarovar can result in spontaneous Buddhahood.
