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Lhasa is one of the world most mysterious and remote cities. High up on the "roof of the world", 3,500 meters (11,500ft) above sea level, the capital of Tibet was isolated by geography and culture for centuries. In Tibetan, Lhasa means "ground of the gods" and as the home of Tibetan Buddhism it is the city religious shrines and palaces which fascinate visitors and draw pilgrims and devotees.
In the seventh century, King Songtsen Gampo merged the tribes in the Tibetan areas and formed the first Tibetan kingdom with Lhasa as the capital. Upon marriage, Songstan Gampo converted to Buddhism and initiated the building of two of Lhasa most important buildings. The Potala Palace was originally built as a fortress palace for his wives and the holiest temple, the Jokhang was built to house the Buddhist statues they brought as their dowries.
Today, Lhasa has a population of over 200,000 and many parts have taken on the look of a modern Chinese city with wide streets and large buildings. The old Lhasa can still be found in the streets around Jokhang in the Bakhor district.
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