Lhasa

Lhasa, the traditional capital of Tibet and the capital of the autonomous region of Tibet, lies at 3700 metres a.s.l. in southeastern Tibet. According to the legend the second Tibetan emperor Songtsen Gampo made Lhasa his capital. But contemporary documents show that the empire was actually ruled from a moving capital. Tourism is nowadays a main source of income for Lhasa, as the city has a number of attractions including the Potala Palace, the Jokhang temple and a number of monasteries and temples. Lhasa is the base from which to explore the surrounding region.