Luxury hotel opens on 'roof of the world' in Tibet
In a sign of things to come, the Shangri-La has become the latest hotel group to open a luxury property atop the highest plateau on the planet, in one of the most fabled, mythical destinations on Earth.
High in the clouds, surrounded by the Himalayan mountains, the Shangri-La Lhasa is set 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) above sea level in the administrative capital of Tibet -- an opening billed as the brand’s spiritual homecoming. The Hong Kong-based hotel brand was inspired by the paradisiacal Himalayan utopia in James Hilton’s novel “Lost Horizon.”
The mystical Buddhist heartland has become an increasingly popular destination landing on many a bucket list, particularly for intrepid globetrotters who’ve already ticked off conventional destinations like Paris and New York and are looking for the final frontier in travel.
In anticipation of this growing trend, the St. Regis Lhasa became the first five-star hotel to open in the region in 2011.
Like the St. Regis, which kits out every room with an oxygen tank to help guests acclimatize to their new altitude, the Shangri-La Lhasa also features an oxygen lounge that provides guests with the same O2 levels found at sea level.
Efforts are made to create an authentic Tibetan atmosphere: Guests are greeted with the offering of a hada -- a traditional ceremonial white silk scarf -- and barley is thrown on a wooden container used by Tibetans to pray for a bumper harvest.
Once in their room, guests are served yak butter tea in Tibetan pots. And upon departure, hotel staff sing traditional Tibetan songs to send off their guests.
All 289 guest rooms and suites are decorated in the bold colors and fabrics found in Tibetan culture. The hotel centerpiece, meanwhile, is a striking 6.5-meter-tall chandelier made from 61,000 pieces of crystal, draped in a flowing red fabric to evoke a prayer wheel.
The hotel is located within walking distance to historically significant Buddhist sites such as the Potala Palace, formerly the chief residence of the Dalai Lama, and Norbulingka Palace, which once served as the Dalai Lama's summer residence.
