Lonely Planet Review

Rave reviews - with good reason - come in for this place in a quiet location on the southern edge of the Old Town. The Tibetan staff are helpful, the decor blends in perfectly with the surrounding Tibetan-style architecture and the garden courtyard may well be Lhasa's best sanctuary from the crowds.

Unlike many of Lhasa's Chinese-built hotels, there's a distinctly Tibetan vibe to the Gorkha. Colourful monastery-style entry murals lead the way into a back courtyard of century-old trees and the historic maroon-walled back block. There's even a small rooftop chapel dedicated to the demon protectress Ekajati. Grainy B&W photos of the namesake 19th-century Gorkha royal family add a Nepali twist. The standard rooms are comfortable and clean, with colourful Tibetan bedspreads and clean modern bathrooms. A bit more hit and miss are the Nepali and Tibetan suites, some dark and gloomy and others quite stylish. Room heaters are a plus you'll appreciate in winter. Even if you're wheezing from the altitude, make sure you make it up to the top floor for the excellent Nepali-style rooftop restaurant, surrounded in summer by traditional blue and white Tibetan tents.