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Lhasa - capital city of Tibet
Covering
an area of 27,335 square kilometres, Lhasa has a population of 400,000.
Lhasa (the Roof of the World) is situated in the middle of Tibet
Autonomous Region and middle reaches of the Lhasa River. It is the
political, economic, and cultural centre of the region. Its industries
include electrical power, cement, hide processing, mechanical and
electrical equipment, weaved carpet, and flour. There is no fog
(pea soup) all the year round and with plenty of sunshine. Therefore,
it is called "the Sunlight City. " Of interest to visitors
include Potala Palace, Jokhong Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Gandan
Monastery, Norbulingka Park (the Summer Palace), and Parknor Street.
The
Potala, which in Tibetan means "High Heavenly Realm,"
is named after a stone cliff on Cape Comorin at the southern tip
of India. It was sacred to the Buddha of Compassion, whom the Indians
worshipped as Avalokitesvara and the Tibetans believed to be Chenresik,
who passed his spirit into the Dalai Lamas. |
