Summer Palace

When arriving onto the high altitude Tibetan plateau, it is important to take things at a gentle pace as your body acclimatises to its new and elevated surroundings. A great way to gain an introduction to the city and enjoy a leisurely walk is to visit the Summer Palace (Norbulingka), on the edge of the city.

The palace served as the summer residence of the Dalai Lama between the late eighteenth century, right up until the exile of the incumbent Lama in 1959. It is a delightful area of peaceful gardens, brightly coloured walls and highly decorative interiors, which put you in a calm and cheerful frame of mind. However, there is also a highly poignant side to the visit, as you gain a sense of the great loss experienced by the Tibetan people as their spiritual leader was forced to flee across the border to India. His vacated seats and living quarters leave behind a touching and thought-provoking legacy.