Last Day in Lhasa

Today was interesting.  We thought it would be just another monastery, but there was more.

We were driven some distance east of the city and waaaay up a very winding road nearly to the top of the mountain.

Technical note: the valley floor is at about 3600 m and the monastery is at 4300 m.  At least this time we felt OK, no wheezing lungs, no burning legs.  The picture looks down to the valley below.

This is the Ganden Monastery nestled into an amphitheatre near the top of Mt Wangburi.  This monastery was nearly completely destroyed by the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution and has since been rebuilt.

We wandered through some of the buildings and then did an hour-long walk around the mountain.  This is a traditional, religious walk called a "kora", done by Buddhists, clockwise, around many of their sacred temples.   We've done several here in Lhasa as well as one in Shigatse.  This particular one was on a narrow trail overlooking the valley.

Along the way, we passed a place on the mountainside where they perform " sky burials".

We also had a quick look inside a "cave" where monks may stay for extended periods meditating.

Back in Lhasa, we did the kora around the Potala Palace, found some French fries (spiced) to eat and settled down for a rest.  We have a couple more things to see before the day's end.

Tomorrow, a short flight will take us over the Himalayas to Nepal.