Lhasa - Tibet - page 122

This walk follows the most interesting section of the city's main pilgrimage circuit, the
Lingkhor. It's best walked in the morning, when you'll be joined by hundreds of Tibetan
pilgrims.
To start the walk, take a taxi to Deji Zhonglu (Dickey Lam in Tibetan). An alley branches
east of here to reach one of the city's real gems: the painted 1 Chagpo Ri rock carvings,
centred on a huge image of Tsepame.
From here, return along the alley back to Deji Zhonglu and head north. Just before you
hit Beijing Zhonglu (the second crossroads) follow the alleyway to the right to visit the
friendly 2 Kunde Ling . Back at the intersection with Beijing Zhonglu, watch the pilgrims
as they rub their backs, shoulders and hips against a series of polished 3 holy s oly stones.

Head east along Beijing Zhonglu to the yellow walls of the Chinese-style 4 Gesar Ling .
Continue east to the 5 Golde s statuue, erected for the 40th anniversary of the 'lib-

eration' of Tibet, before reaching the former western 6 ciity g

olden Y n Yaaks s

y gate (Daggo Kani), in the
shape of a large white chörten. B&W photos displayed in the Brahmaputra Grand Hotel
show British Army troops entering the city through the original gate during the invasion
of 1903-04.
Climb up to the 7 viiewpoiint just above the white chörten for one of Lhasa's classic
photo-ops. The hilltop behind you is Chagpo Ri (Iron Mountain), the site of Lhasa's prin-
cipal Tibetan medical college from 1413 until its destruction in the 1959 uprising.
Head down the nearby alley, past 8 Drubthub Nunnery , to visit 9 Palha Lu-puk , the
site of Lhasa's earliest religious icons. If you have the energy, finish with a quick circuit of
the Potala kora, stopping in at the a Lukhang Temple . Finish up with a well-deserved
thermos of sweet tea at either of two nearby b teahouses in the pleasant park.

Other Old Town Sights
Down the alleys off Beijing Donglu is an active nunnery and five obscure temples which
can be visited if you've seen everything else.

Ani Sangkhung Nunnery BUDDHIST, NUNNERY
(, Cānggū Sì MAP GOOGLE MAP ; 29 Linkuo Nanlu; admission ¥40; 8am-6pm)
This small and politically active nunnery is the only one within the precincts of the old
Tibetan quarter. The site of the nunnery probably dates back to the 7th century, but it
housed a monastery until at least the 15th century. The principal image, upstairs on the 2nd