Tibet,
a verboten land not only by man but also by nature, attracted many
explorers, scholars, and pilgrims and adventure lovers, all in quest of "Real
Shangrila". It is not only its location and natural enthralls but also
a prolonged religion and culture that attracts the visitors from all over
the world to visit this tiny region at least once in a lifetime.
Lhasa is the spiritual and political capital of Tibet and is the best
starting point for visiting Tibet. The word Lhasa means in their native
language--" The land of gods".
Tibet is situated on the Border between China and India. In 1951, Tibet,
which was previously an independent country, was instituted into the Peoples
Republic of China. Tibet is often referred to as the Shangri- La of the
tourists.
A 5-hour ride from Lhasa takes you to Shigaste. The main attraction of the
region is the Tashilhunpo Monastery. Moving 180 km south of Lhasa, you will
arrive at Chonggye that is crowned by the elegant Tibetan royal tombs. From
Lhasa you can also take a day trip to Lake Yamdrok Yamsto.
Permit Required
One has to obtain a special permit for the visit and stay, due to the
adverse political situations prevailing in Tibet. Some areas are absolutely
a restricted zones where tourist are not allowed, one has to be aware about
these area to avoid any trouble later on.
Best Time to Visit
Tibet experiences hot and cold climate. In winters, the region faces
extremely cold climate, whereas in summers it is cool and pleasant,
altogether receiving only 18 inch of rain or snowfall. Sunlight is extremely
intense.
To enjoy Tibet’s rich cultural heritage, incredibly dramatic
landscapes and fascinating political history, the most pleasant months to
visit are from April to October.
Tibet Temptations
The Jokhang Temple
It is the most important among the Tibetan monasteries, as all the
religious ceremonies and customs are performed in the temple.
Jokhang Temple is spread on an area of 25,000sq.m and was constructed in
the 10th century. The main attraction of the lies in its 4-story hall
crowned with a golden cupola.
Potala Palace
Potala Palace is listed as a world Heritage sight by UNESCO, located in
Lhasa City of the Tibet Independent Region. The Potala Palace is the most
extensive art treasure house of cultural residue in Tibetan region of China.
Perched on the Moburi Mountain in the Lhasa valley, the Palace is world
acclaimed for its majesty and beauty.
Rival Kailas
The river is more renowned for its mystique, solitude, pulchritude and
repute. It is considered to be the 'Center of the Universe' by Buddhists and
Hindus and its lateral edges gave birth to some of the most divine rivers --
the Indus, Brahmaputra, Ganges and Sutlej. The devotees from all over Asia
thronged this hallowed path due to its mythological reputation.
Namtso Lake
Nestling at an altitude of 4718 m, above the sea level, Namtso Lake is
extended over and area of 70 km in length and 30 km in width. It is located
60-km northwest of Dangxiong County. It is both the highest and biggest
salts water lake in the world. The lake is full of islands and islets in
varied forms with birds sporting over the water surface.
Norbu Lingka Park
Norbu Lingka Park, or "Treasured Garden", is located in the west
of Lhasa and was also the summer resort for Dalai Lamas. The exotic range of
colorful flowers, the rows of elevated rare trees and golden structures
along the side of the lake add charisma to the garden. Other tourist
attractions in Lhasa include Gandan Monastery, Zhebung Monastery, and Tibet’s
largest temple covering an area of 250,000 sq.m.
Sagya Monastery
It is located in the Sagya County, 149 km from Xigaze. The Sagya Monastry
is acknowledged as the Second Dun-Huang, and houses numerous classical
books, relics, and precious paintings. The monastery stores more than 40,000
volumes of books on Buddhism in the wood book cabinet, which is 57.2 m long,
11 m high, 1.3 m wide and has about 464 book shelves. The most precious is
Buddhist scripture Burde Gyaimalung, which is 1.8 m long, 1.03 m wide and
0.67 m thick.
Tibet Wildlife Attraction
Qangtang Grasslands in North Tibet and Ngari Plateau in West Tibet are the
two main wildlife regions. At this height of 3,000 m above the sea level,
one is likely to find the great wild creatures --- one can encounter
thousands of wild asses or gazelles and monkeys. The most impressive of all
is the wild yak. Due to its stalwart structure, a wild yak may weigh more
than 1,000 kg with its whole body covered by long dark brown hair. Going for
a yak safari is another attraction of the region.
Mountaineering Tour in Tibet
Besides its Buddhist temples and monasteries, the mountains of Tibet are
also popular for adventure sports like mountaineering and climbing. The
region has sponsored programs such as multi-national joint climbing,
straight line approach, climbing without oxygen supplies, speed climb and
solitary climb to promote mountaineering adventure among its climber
enthusiast. Mountaineering, highland exploration and trekking in the Tibetan
Plateau has become increasingly popular, therefore in order to serve the
needs of mountaineers from around the world, a total of 44 mountain peaks
have been open to international climbers since 1980.
Mode of Transport
The main highways to Tibet are the Chengdu-Lhasa, 2,330 km long; the
Xining-Golmud-Lhasa, 1,907 km long. Daily two buses shuttle between Germu
and Lhasa. They start from Germu at 8 in the morning and arrive in Lhasa the
next afternoon.
Lhasa Gonga Airport is 100km from the Lhasa City, located in Gonga County
in South East of Lhasa. There are no air routes within Tibet.
Tibetan Festivals
Tibet is also known for its diverse and colorful festivals. There are many
traditional and exotic festivals in the region that spread throughout the
year with one or two coming in each month. The Festival of Banishing Evils
comes in December, on the Tibetan New Year's Day, The Butter Lamp Festival
falls on January 15 of the Tibetan calendar, Saga Dawa Festival falls on
April 15 marks the transcendence and death of Sakyamuni, Tsong Khapa's
Festival..... The list is endless. All festivals are celebrated with same
devotion and enthusiasm.
Eating Joints
The taste of Tibetan food is light and mild. Most of dishes season only by
salt, shallot and garlic and do not put into any other spicy flavoring.
Ghee, Zanba, Beef and Mutton are known as four treasures in Tibetan food,
besides Barley wine and varied of milk products. There are many restaurants
in Lhasa, Shigatse, and Tsetang normally bedecked and tailored in the
traditional Tibetan style.
