What to do in Lhasa

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Day 11: What to do in Lhasa - Best images of the Potala Palace

Today is the last full day we will spend in the city on this trip to Tibet, after having almost all the things we had what to do in Lhasa the previous days, so we took it with some more peace of mind, although this means getting up a little earlier and that our idea is to spend the morning in the Potala Palace and the surrounding area, to enjoy all the perspectives possible early in the day, at which time the sky is usually clear and there are not as many people as the day begins to pass.
Although yesterday, when we arrived from Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa we looked at the weather forecast and saw that initially the day was going to be very cloudy and in the afternoon rain is expected, we met when we went up to breakfast at the terrace of the Tashitakge Hotel Lhasa with that the sky is quite clear, even with several clouds just above the Potala, which really give it a spectacular air.

Views of the Potala from the hotel terrace

We have quiet breakfast and when a few minutes past 8:30 in the morning, we set off towards the Potala Palace, where we follow the next itinerary to try to take the best images of the Potala.

What to do in Lhasa: Route to have the best images of the Potala

We believe that this is one of the routes to do in Lhasa that you should not miss, as it is the best way to enjoy the different perspectives of the Potala Palace, from various points of the city.
In addition to those indicated here, you should not forget, if you have the chance, the terrace of the Tashitakge Hotel Lhasa and the upper area of ​​Jokhang Monastery, from where you have spectacular views.

Details of the different points of the route to have the best images of the Potala

1- Lake in front of the Potala. Located on the corner between Beijing Middle Road and Kang'angduo Road we find a lake, not too big, from where we will get to have one of the famous perspectives of the Potala Palace reflected in the water.
This area is full of vegetation, so you should be patient and spend some time looking for the best snapshot. At night it is also one of the best photos of the Potala.

Potala's palace


Potala's palace

2- Grand Plaza, where the Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet is located. Although it is not the place we liked most of Lhasa, it is more, it is the one we like the least, it must be said that the views of the Potala Palace from here, are really spectacular.
Despite what we had read it was taken by the police and they didn't let us use a tripod, we had no problem.

Potala Palace from the Grand Plaza

Potala's palace

3- Yaowang Mountain. Just after passing the Grand Plaza, crossing the road, you will see 2 pagodas that you have to cross and on the left, in front of the Potala, you will see a viewpoint on the Yaowang Mountain, which is accessed through some stairs. Access is free and is from early in the morning until 22:30 at night.

Potala Palace from Yaowang Mountain

This viewpoint has several floors from where you have different perspectives of the Potala. It is worth taking it easy, because depending on the time there can be more or less people, enjoy the incredible views and take some of the best images of one of the most iconic places in Tibet.

Potala

Although this is not the typical postcard of the Potala Palace, from Yaowang Mountain you have a perfect perspective of how the city and this area have changed, with the construction of the road and the Grand Plaza.

Road in front of the Potala Palace. What to do in Lhasa

4- If you follow a few meters after Yaowang Mountain, following the same wax, after passing a row of shops, you just have to turn to have a different perspective of the Potala, half hidden behind a rock.

Potala's palace

5- Kora of the Potala Palace. In front of Yaowang Mountain, crossing the road, you can start the Potala Palace kora, which, crossing it, clockwise, will take you to have some beautiful images of the Potala, in addition to being able to cross the many pilgrims that the They run throughout the day.

Kora of the Potala Palace

Kora of the Potala Palace

6- Lake in the back of the Potala Palace. Following the Kora of the Potala Palace, you will reach an area where there is a small lake, where according to the time of day, you can enjoy the reflected image of the Potala.

Potala's palace

7- Beijing Middle Road corner with the Post Office. If you come from the Barkhor area, this will be the first image you have of the Potala Palace. Although it may not be the best, being the first, at least for us it is one of the ones we keep with more affection.

Potala's palace

8- The terrace of the Tashitakge Hotel Lhasa. If you can stay here, we assure you that you will not regret it. In addition to having perfect facilities, professional and close attention, being a traditional hotel and being in the middle of Barkhor, you will only have to go up to the terrace, where breakfast is served every day, to enjoy the best views.

Views of the Potala from Tashitakge Hotel Lhasa

Tips to get the best images of the Potala

- If you want to enjoy all these points with tranquility, it is best to go first thing in the morning, when the organized groups have not yet arrived.
- We have taken about 3 and a half hours to make the whole tour, taking it easy and making many stops to take pictures.
- We had read that at some points, such as in the Great Plaza, where the Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet is located, it was not allowed to use a tripod or leave backpacks on the ground. In our case we had no problem, quite the opposite. We used the tripod on many occasions, we walked with it open throughout the square and although there was a lot of police, nobody told us anything.
- One of the best perspectives of the Potala is obtained from the viewpoint that is in Yaowang Mountain, where you can climb for free from early in the morning until 22:30 at night. Here in general there are not many people, although as the morning progresses and especially at night, young people and photographers approach. Do not despair if you want to take a picture without people as it usually does not take long to clear.
In addition it can always be the perfect excuse to enjoy the incredible views of the Potala from here.

Potala's palace

- Don't forget to do the Potala kora. In addition to being an incredible experience, it is worth seeing the perspective from here of the Potala Palace.
- The route that we have proposed, in addition to doing it in the morning, we advise you to do it when it is at night, since the Potala Palace illuminate it until 22: 30h, approximately and you have incredible views from all points. It is certainly one of the things what to do in Lhasa more recommended

It's almost 1 noon when we return to the main street, Beijing Middle Road, to approach the Times Square shopping center where we were the other day and where Pasang told us that right down the street there is a supermarket.
Tomorrow will be the last day we sleep in Lhasa, but the route to travel to Tibet will begin, going to Namtso Lake. We will leave at 7 in the morning and from what we have been told, there is no place for breakfast on the way and also, once we reach the destination the very few places where you can eat are, as Pasang has told us, food so chinese, which we probably do not like, so he recommended that we buy something to have breakfast and lunch during the day and not have to go somewhere where we probably have trouble choosing something we like.
So that we do, taking advantage of having our first experience in a supermarket in Tibet, where after several laps of recognition to see if we could find what we were looking for, we found bread and the only sausage, something similar to sliced ​​cheese, also some cheeses, which we take at first to keep track of them, to which we add several packages of cookies and some snacks with which to end the day.

Beijing East Road

Being the time it is, we approach Danjielin Road, where we have eaten several times in the Tibetan Family Kitchen, approaching on this occasion the one considered the fourth best restaurant in Lhasa, the Tashi I, which is located at the beginning of the street, Something before the Shambala hotel.

Tashi I Restaurant

After looking at the menu several times, we ended up ordering a yak steak, some fried momos, a beer and a soda for 86RMB. We have to say that everything is very good, but being honest, we liked Tibetan Family Kitchen more.

Eating at Tashi I restaurant

After a good desktop, when a few minutes past three in the afternoon, we decided that today, being our last day in the city, we will take the opportunity to go to the hotel and rest for a while, taking into account what we still have left route and the altitude to which we are, the body also deserves it.
It's a little after 5 p.m. when we go out again to the streets of this city that has us in love, to enjoy again the unique atmosphere in Barkhor, where we get lost again in its streets, how could it be otherwise, taking advantage to also make some purchases.

Barkhor What to do in Lhasa

Barkhor What to do in Lhasa

After doing some shopping, when they give 7:30 and we decided to go to dinner at Dunya Restaurant, where we were the other day, and that is halfway to the Potala, which is our goal tonight, in which the idea is Repeat the entire route we have done during this morning, to once again have the incredible views of the Potala Palace that we have been able to enjoy, but this time in the shelter of the night.

On this occasion we ordered a nasi goreng, a dish that we remember from our trip to Indonesia and that we will try again in a few months when we return to Bali, plus a plate of pasta, water and two express for 178RMB. This time the account has risen a bit and that is that coffees are 24RMB each, which could be considered a luxury at these prices.

Nasi Goreng at Dunya Restaurant

A few minutes before 9 at night and after a good time of desktop, we put direction to the Potala when suddenly, it starts to rain. Touch shelter and see how the sky is, check the forecasts, confirming that the rain is expected until, nothing more and nothing less than two in the morning. Given this, we decided "Abort the mission", return to the Tashitakge Hotel Lhasa, leaving the photos of the Potala overnight and tomorrow to rest and be with the maximum energy to visit Lake Namtso tomorrow, one of the most incredible places in Tibet.

Day 12: Lhasa - Namtso Lake in Tibet

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