Lhasa History

Lhasa, as the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region has a history of over 13 centuries.

Before the mid-seventh century when Lhasa, later a central town of Tibetan region, was yet to come into being, the area called Wotang was a marshy land of wildness, frequented by antelopes. During that period of time, Songtsän Gampo became the leader of the Tubo tribe that had risen to power in the Yarlung River Valley. After he had conquered the whole Tibetan region, this ambitious Tibetan king moved the center of his rule to Wotang and ordered the construction of his residence on the hilltop of Potala.

In 641, he wedded Princess Wen Cheng of the imperial Tang court. Around 650 AD, Lhasa became the territory of Tang Dynasty. After that, the centre of political power in the Tibetan region was not situated in Lhasa. It became a very important religion site. With the foundation of the Jokhang Temple in the center of Lhasa, it also became the centre of Tibet.

By the 15th century, there were large monasteries built in Lhasa. They are Ganden, Sera and Drepung monasteries. Their establishments eventually pushed Lhasa to center of Tibet again. In 1617, Tibet was conquered by the fifth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso and Lhasa became his new capital. During his reining time, the Potala Place was ordered to construct and the Jokhang Temple was greatly expanded.

Over the centuries, Lhasa became a political and religious center of Tibet.

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