The Norbulingka is the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lamas and while truly run down, this garden still deserves a visit both for its historical and cultural significance. This area is especially interesting on festival days with lots to see.

The park was established by the 7th Dalai Lama in 1755. More than just a simple summer retreat, this is the headquarters from which the Dalai Lamas ruled Tibet during the summer months. As successive Dalai Lamas all used the Summer Palace for this purpose, the procession from the Potala to Norbulingka became a grand affair and a festive occasion of the Lhasa calendar.

In 1959, the current Dalai Lama (the 14th) made his escape from the Summer Palace disguised as a Tibetan soldier. Tibetan uprisings followed as the people of Lhasa swelled up to protect the Summer Palace and their spiritual leader, and the subsequent Chinese shelling of the area damaged all the buildings of the Norbulingka. Of special interest is the New Summer Palace, built by the 14th Dalai Lama and located in the center of the Norbulingka. This Palace is filled with interesting murals and is definitely the highlight of the Norbulingka.

The zoo is best avoided, containing very sorry-looking bears, monkeys and large birds of prey, chained to their concrete floors and [when they can rouse themselves from their apathy] ignobly scrabbling for scraps thrown to them by tourists.

How to get there:The Norbulingka is a ten minute walk south from the Lhasa Hotel in the western section of town.
Opening hours: 9am to noon and 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Sundays the tickets are cheaper, but only the gardens are open.
Cost: There is a RMB25 entry fee, but on Sundays, on the gardens are open and the fee is RMB1.

Related Information

1. China Tours

2. Lhasa Tours