Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Month by Month
TOP EVENTS
Saga Dawa
, May/June
Losar
, February
Shötun
, August
Gyantse's Dhama Festival
, June
Tashilhunpo Festival,
June
February
The depths of winter are very cold but still sunny, and are not a bad time to
visit Lhasa and central Tibet. Lhasa sees few tourists but lots of visiting
nomads. Ensure your hotel has heating!
Year End Festival
On the 29th day of the 12th lunar month monks perform spectacular
cham
dances (ritual
dances performed by costumed
monks) at Tsurphu, Mindroling and Tashilhunpo Monasteries to dispel the evil of the old
year and auspiciously usher in the new one. A huge thangka is unveiled the following day at
Tsurphu Monastery.
Losar (New Year Festival)
The first week of the first lunar month is a particularly colourful time to be in Lhasa.
Tibetan opera is performed and streets are thronged with Tibetans in their finest cloaks.
Prayer ceremonies take place at the Jokhang and Nechung Monastery and new prayer flags
are hung.
