The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet has played a central role in Tibetan Buddhist administration since the 7th century and was formerly home to the Dalai Lama. Monks at the Sera Monastery debate and feed flames with yak butter as offerings. Most physical labor seems to be done by females, who sing while working at religious sites. The Jokhang Temple in Lhasa dates to the 7th century and sees a large number of devotees come to pray, especially on weekends. Norbulinka was the former summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. Some Tibetan pilgrims walk long distances while prostrating themselves in prayer along the way.

1. Tibet
Photographed by Jair (Yair) Moreshet 2006

2. The Potala Palace has played a central role in the traditional (Buddhist) administration of Tibet
since the 7th century, and was the home of the Dalai Lama before going on exile.

3. In a country at an altitude of 12,000 feet and thin atmosphere you won’t have enough oxygen
but for spirituality… never mind after climbing all the steps up…

11. A monument to the Yak, an animal exclusive to Tibet. The Potala Palace is in the back and a
bicycle Rickshaw in front (they are regulated by the authorities).

12. A wing of the Sera Monastery.

13. In the Sera Monastery: Feeding the flames by Yak butter, the most typical donation of the
visiting pilgrims.

21. Tibetan monks debate at the Sera Monastery.

22. Tibetan monks debate (and a Chinese monk watching them).

23. A wing of the Sera Monastery.

24. Residence by the Sera Monastery. (Notice the metal parabolic reflectors used for cooking by solar
energy, made in China.)

25. Hand-rotating drums filled by prayer scripts, built around a religious monument at the Sera
Monastery.

26. It seems that most of the physical work is done by females, in particular young and relatively
small. (It may take the strength of a female to endure and continue functioning with limited oxygen…) (While
working on religious sites they even sing…)

27. The holy Jokhang Temple of the 7th century and the eternal fire in front of it. A high traffic of
devoted believers, in particular during the weekend (which is the secular time off of the week).

28. Deep believers prostrate themselves in prayer in front of the Jokhang Temple of the 7th century.

29. Weekend time: Apparently available Tibetan beauties gather in front of
the Jokhang Temple.

30. The Jokhang Temple: Beautifying herself just before entering to the
prayer areas in preparation.

31. The Jokhang Temple: The line in the entrance to the prayer areas.

32. The Jokhang Temple: The superstructure.

33. The Jokhang Temple: The superstructure.

34. The Jokhang Temple: Apparent harmony between an opponent of the Chinese ruling
regime, a Tibetan serving in the Chinese Army, and a monk.

37. At the Jokhang Temple.

38. The lively Barkhor Market just outside the walls of the Jokhang Temple.

39. Norbulinka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas.

41. Norbulinka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas: A gate to the gardens.

44. Norbulinka: Another gate to the gardens.

45. Norbulinka, just the typical front of a minor house.

46. The Yamdrok Yumtso Lake is a pilgrimage site, high in the mountains (above the 12,000
feet of the country’s plateau).

47. And this is the Yak, exclusive to Tibet

48. In a remote village.

49. In a remote village: An allocated prayer room at home.

52. In a village close to the capital, where allegedly the population was
intimidated to renovate the exteriors of their homes to improve the
image of the ruling Chinese regime.

53. Tibetan pilgrims walking on their feet a distance of 900 kilometers in 10 months from their
village to Lhasa, while repeatedly prostrating themselves in prayer every few steps !

54. The Ganda Monastery is isolated in the mountains at an altitude of 14,000 feet.