Lhatse

Lhatse is a small modern town with only a few thousand people. It is in the valley of the Yarlung Zangbo River (aka Brahmaputra) 151 km southwest of Shigatse and some 30km west of the Sakya turn-off, where the main Tibetan road turns westwards towards Mt. Kailash and Lake Mansarovar.

Lhatse is a small modern town with only a few thousand people. It is in the valley of the Yarlung Zangbo River (aka Brahmaputra) 151 km southwest of Shigatse and some 30km west of the Sakya turn-off, where the main Tibetan road turns westwards towards Mt. Kailash and Lake Mansarovar. Therefore, the Lhatse town is a popular lunch stop for tour groups heading to Ngari. During the short summer season, the whole valley is covered with green barely fields and bright yellow mustard meadows.

About 10 km west of Lhatse town, there is a small Gelugpa monastery of Lhatse Chode. Above the monastery are the ruins of the old fort or Lhatse Dzong (Lha rtse rdong) or Drampa Lhatse (Gram pa Lha rtse) which are on a rock 150 m (492 ft) high at the opening of the Yarlung Tsangpo Canyon. Buddhist festivals are sometimes held at the monastery, drawing inhabitants from the surrounding region. At the western end of the town is another small monastery, the Changmoche Monastery. 10 km east of Lhatse are the Xiqian Hot Springs widely renowned for their healing properties.

There are another famous tourist attractions in Lhatse, like Phuntsoling Monastery situated at the bottom of a gargantuan sand dune and Jonang Kumbum which is two-hour walk south of the Phuntsoling Monastery.

Hotels in Lhatse are some limited in this remote town. Lhatse Shanghai Grand Hotel is the best accommodation there.