D4 拉萨 - Jokhang Monastery, Potala Palace

西藏之旅13-22June2025

Our 3rd day in Lhasa.

I was feeling a lot better after taking Diamox. The only concern was the tingling felt on my left fingers starting that morning.

We met with our Tibet guide, Tenzin at 9am.

We were visiting the holy Jokhang Temple, 大昭寺.

Jokhang Temple is the oldest and holiest architecture in Lhasa with a long history of 1,400 years.

https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-travel-guide/jokhang-temple-history.html#:~:text=Lying%20at%20about%201%2C000%20meters,to%20worship%20and%20circumambulating%20around.

Alighted at Tangka Hotel to walk to the temple.

Bon religion hang flowers on roof of houses

Arriving..

Jokhang Temple is located near Barkhor Street.

Barkhor Street is a circular pathway surrounding the temple, which is a traditional pilgrimage route and a bustling marketplace.

We can actually take the offerings to eat

No more photos from here

We saw a $20 mil gold mandala in the temple.

Exiting at the 2nd level.

Decided to get a souvenir for the family from the holy temple.

We were given 1.5hrs to have lunch and walk around Barkhor Street before heading to next destination.

Decided our lunch place since google rating is not bad - local tibetan food

We bought some snacks for souvenirs after trying

Heading back to our bus

布达拉宫

The Potala Palace (3,700m) is the world’s highest and largest palace with a fortress-like structure.

In 1994, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in Lhasa and became the most popular museum, a pilgrimage site, and a treasure trove of Tibetan history and culture.

https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-travel-guide/851.html

Tickets: May to Oct: ￥200

Wearing hats and sunglasses are not allowed. Taking photo is forbidden inside the palace, such as chapels, stupas, etc.

We entered by the east gate

Beautiful flowers lining the path to the Palace

365 steps up to the Palace

Need to take breaks to catch back breath

We can see the Potala Square from here.

Our tour mate bought the Dzi ice cream

We made it!!

Arriving at the White Palace, which is mainly used for meetings.

And Red Palace is for religious activities. We had only 45 mins to visit both Palaces.

Local peddlers blocking the exit

Exiting by the West exit

Back to Barkhor Street for tea at a popular teahouse, 老光明岗琼甜茶馆

The tea is good. It actually tastes similar to our local milk tea.

Heading back to hotel to put our big bags - 10 yuan by taxi

Out again by 6pm, we wanted to visit the Potala Palace Square for day and night view.

We need to bring along our passports and permits as we need to enter a security check before entering the Square.

The locals working and chatting happily

Damask roses grow very well in the streets of Tibet.

Passing by 人工湖.

It took us 25 mins to walk to the Square.

We do not feel very breathless anymore.. and can walk quite fast.

Looking for a photographer with a mirror to take our reflection.

We were approached by a few, but not everyone has a mirror.

This photographer has one and he charged us 20 yuan per digital photo.

We bought 5 photos for 100 yuan.

Photo with the guard next

Wanted to go to the nearby White Pagoda for another view of Potala.

Found a highly-rated dinner place 9 mins walk away.

Level 3 of 城市百货

田村酸湯氂牛肉火锅(布达拉宫店) has a 4.9/5 rating on Amap.

The restaurant was full when we arrived. We were told to wait about 20 mins for a table.

The sweet tea in the afternoon was better.

Yak meat is tougher than beef.. but not too bad

There's even a performance.

We were curious about the oxygen cans.

Heading back to Potala Square for night view of the palace.

Very beautiful when lighted up at night

Can't bear to go, but we cannot stay too late as we need to wake early next morning.

Peddler

At night, my BP was 86, but arms were tingling.