Why travellers should go to Lhasa?

 Lhasa, the remote abode of the Dalai Lamas, object of devout pilgrimage
and heart and soul of Tibet, is a city of wonders. Lhasa is so much more
accessible than it was years ago. While you will see a new airport, roads,
million-dollar condos, and monks with cell phones, you can still
appreciate the beauty of the Tibetan plateau, the shimmering blue sky
against the mountains, and the beautiful, soulful Tibetan people.
Changtang Grassland
Your first hint that Lhasa is close is the Potala, a vast white-and-ochre
fortress soaring over one of the world’s highest cities.
While the Potala dominates the skyline, the Jokhang, some 2km to the
east, is the real spiritual heart of the city. An otherworldly mix of flickering
butter lamps, wafting incense and prostrating pilgrims, the Jokhang is the
most sacred and alive of Tibet’s temples. It is here and the encircling
Barkhor pilgrim circuit that most visitors first fall in love with Tibet.
For all its modernization Lhasa remains a fantastic cultural hybrid, its
streets bustling with a diverse mix of people. As the gateway to the ‘real’
Tibet, out in the countryside, Lhasa deserves at least a week to see all
the sights, soak up the backstreets and organize the adventures that
beckon at the city limits.

Overland Route to Tibet

For those with a spirit of adventure, driving a four wheel vehicle to Tibet
may provide you with the experience of a lifetime! Such an expedition
is demanding and requires participants to be in good physical health,
time is required to make the journey and it's costly. Anyone considering
this journey should be advised that a lot of courage and determination
are required!
There are five major road routes to Lhasa. They are the Nepal-Tibet
Friendship highway, Sichuan-Tibet highway, Qinghai-Tibet highway,
Xinjiang-Tibet highway, Yunnan-Tibet highway.
Qinghai-Tibet Highway
Xining - 123 km - Daotang River - 196 km - Caka - 484 km - Golmud -
269 km - Wudaoliang- 150 km - Tuotuo Riverside - 91 km - Yanshiping
- 100 km - Tanggula Mountain - 89 km - Amdo - 138 km - Nagqu - 164
km - Damxung - 75 km - Yangbajain - 87 km – Lhasa, 1937 km in
length.
Sichuan-Tibet Highway
Northern Route: Chengdu – 394 km – Kangding – 267 km - Luhuo – 95
km – Garze – 207 km – Dege – 111 km – Gyamda – 228 km – Chamdo
– 480 km – Baqing – 256 km – Nagqu – 164 km – Damxung – 162 km
– Lhasa, 2121 km in length with the highest point at Queer Mt. of
4916m. also could via: Chengdu – Ya’an – Kangding – Xinduqiao –
Luhuo – Garze – Lhasa.
Southern Route: Chengdu – 147 km - Ya'an - 163 km – Luding – 62 km
– Kangding – 149 km – Yajiang – 308 km – Batang – 104 km – Markam
– 158 km – Zuogong – 107 km – Bongda – 94 km – Baxoi – 217 km –
Bomi – 233 km – Nyingtri – 127 km – Gongbo Gyamda – 206 km –
Mozhugongka – 73 km – Lhasa, 2140 km in length with the highest
point at Litang of 4700m.
Yunnan-Tibet Highway
Kunming - 353 km – Dali - 166 km – Lijiang - 145 km – Zhongdian - 152
km – Deqen - 103 km – Yanjing - 111 km – Markam - 359 km - Baxio -
450 km - Nyingchi - 420 km – Lhasa, 2300 km in length.
Xinjiang-Tibet Highway
Yecheng - 69km - Pusa - 88km – Kudidaban - 83km – Mazadaban -
339km - Sweet Water Sea - 110km – Jieshandaban - 177km –
Duomaping - 143km - Rutog County - 87km - Shiquanhe town - 331km
- Parga - 334km- Zhongba -145km – Saga - 293km - Lhaze -
157km – Xigaze - 337km – Lhasa, 2743 km in length