Whether
you are drawn to Tibet for its natural surroundings
or culture you will have a diverse experience with lots
of extremes. Treks and expeditions encounter mountains,
lakes, plains, glaciers, grasslands and more. Tibet's
cultural philosophy, religion, and spiritualism can
be found in contact with native people and their arts.
Architecture, rug weaving, Thangka painting, metal work,
butter sculpture, sand mandalas, textiles and jewelry
are just few things to be sampled.
The Himalayas
The mighty Himalayas, like a silver screen, zigzag along
Tibet¡¯s southern horizon adjacent to Nepal. Mount Everest,
known locally has Qomolangma, needs no introduction,
as it is the world¡¯s highest peak ( 8,848m). The optimal
weather season is from April to June for adventurers
set on mountaineering. Lhotse (8,516m), the world¡¯s
fourth highest peak, Makalu (8,463m), the fifth highest,
Cho Oyu (8,201m), the sixth highest and Shisha Pangma
(8,012m), the 14th highest, also reside Tibet
The landscape at the northern side of the Himalayas
is as attractive as it is in the south. The world¡¯s
highest glaciers are found on these slopes, which are
mysteriously in wait for man¡¯s exploration. A pilgrimage
to Kailas can take you through the northern grasslands
with many beautiful lakes to experience Tibetan nomadic
life of long ago. Also, Kailas may be approached from
another direction that offers a rich view of bird life.
Any trip to the Himalayas promises lots of unforgettable
memories!
Lhasa : The Land of Gods
Lhasa is the capital of Tibet. Bordered by the north
bank of the Kyichu River, Lhasa is at an altitude of
3,650m above sea level. Its 1,300 year history has put
it at the center of politics, economy, culture and religion
in Tibet since ancient times.
There are numerous scenic spots and famous historical
attractions among which Potala Palace, Norbulingka,
Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Ramoche Temple, Jorkhang
Temple and Barkhor Street Market.
EVEREST BASE CAMP
The northern Everest Base Camp is one of the highlights
for adventure travellers in Tibet and it provides stunning
views of the Everest massif, as well as Makalu and Shishapangma.
The spectacular Rongbuk glacier forms part of the amazing
panorama you will be able to enjoy from your tent. Rongbuk
monastery, which was founded in 1902 around a series
of meditation caves which had been in use for over 400
years, is the last hint of civilization in this area.
The lama here traditionally blesses all expeditions
aiming for the summit of Mt. Everest. The trek to Advance
Base Camp provides even more incredible views and a
real sense of the awesome grandeur of this mountain.
KAILASH
Mount Kailash is 6,714m high and with its four sheer
walls and snow capped peak it is an awe-inspiring sight.
Shaped like a diamond it is venerated among peaks like
an eight-pedalled lotus. It also has geographical significance
as four great rivers flow from it: the Karnali, the
Indus, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra, which drain the
vast Tibetan Plateau. However, it is most famous for
its religious significance; Kailash is an object of
devout pilgrimage for Buddhists and Hindus, who believe
it is the abode of the Gods.
LAKE MANSAROVAR
Lake Manasarovar is situated approximately 30km from
Mt. Kailash and is one of the highest freshwater lakes
in the world. This beautiful and sacred lake is an important
pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus, as it is believed
that bathing in the holy (and cold) waters will cleanse
one's sins. With views to Gurla Mandhata (7,728m) this
is a place of serene beauty. On the northwest shore
of the lake is the picturesque Chiu Monastery.Shigatse
: The Estate that Fulfills One Wishes
Shigatse, is Tibet¡¯s second biggest city and it is
the center of transportation and a distribution center
for agriculture and husbandry products into the southeast.
Monasteries such as Tashilhunpo and Shalu are its major
historic attractions.
Yamdrok Yumtso : The Sacred Lake
One of the three largest lakes of Tibet, lies about
a hundred kilometers southwest of Lhasa. The surface
of the lake covers some six hundred square kilometers.
Interior hills form islands that provide homes to flocks
of wild ducks. Fish are plentiful and supply a tasty
for diet for the locals.
Terrestrial Heat in Tibet
Northern grasslands, called Changthang, bear an extremely
cold climate. Eight or nine months a year is the freezing
season. Boiling hot springs send cloudy vapors into
the air and provide a picturesque landscape. This Terrestrial
Heat is eighty¨Cseven km northwest of Lhasa and covers
some forty km. You can see underground steams shooting
up a hundred meters into the air and can be seen from
ten kilometers away.
Ganden Monastery
Founded in 1409 by Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelugpa
Sect, this monastery is the earliest of the Three Great
Monasteries of Tibet.
Jorkhang Temple
Four storied temple of Golden Splendor featuring architecture
of the Tang Dynasty from the 7th century AD. Murals
and historical relics depict famous figures and stories
from the past.
The Karo Ruins
These four to five thousand year old ruins include house
architecture, stone paved roads, stone built walls,
cave dwellings, and many different kings of chipped
stone implements. Their discovery provides new threads
for the study of migration and exchange between people
of the Neolithic Age.
Ruins of Guge Kingdom
Originally built in the 10th century, historical records
show sixteen hereditary kings that dominated this kingdom.
The extensive ruins are found on a hillside about 300
meters in height and cover an area of 180,000 square
meters. They include more than 300 chapels, 300 caves,
3 stupas and five magnificent temple palaces. In the
temples many lively murals and clay sculptures can be
still seen.
Tumuli of Ancient Kings
The tombs are massive knolls of earth with flat top-like
platforms. There are eight or nine tombs among which
some have been identified with Kings Songtsen Gampo,
Tride Tsukten and Trisong Detsen.
Tramdruk Temple
Established by King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century
and belonging to the Gelugpa Sect (Order of Excellence),
the main building is the Assembly Hall. The images enshrined
here are all bronze and the corridors are full of murals.
Sera Monastery
Situated at three kilometers to the north of Lhasa.
Jamchen Choje, a disciple of Tsongkapa, the founder
of Gelugpa Sect founded sera Monastery in 1419. The
Monastery is erected grandly at a mountain slope with
a colorful architecture. Sera Monastery together with
Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa are
known as the Three Great.
Samye Monastery
Known as the first monastery ever built in Tibet. It
was founded by the Tibetan King Trisiong Detsen and
belongs to the Nyingmapa and Sakyapa sects. The construction
consists of three styles, namely, the Han, the Tibetan
and the Indian. It is said that the monastery was destroyed
by fire and was rebuilt for three hundred years as the
residence of the 6th Dalai Lama. Finally, Rating Rimpoche
completed it.
Sakya Monastery
This monastery is the center of the Sakyapa Sect (White
Earth Order). The northern part of the monastery was
built in the year 1079 and the southern founded in 1268
by a famous abbot of Sakya named Pagpa. The monastery
has great influence over the Tibetan history and cultural
development. Owing to its valuable and voluminous amount
of Buddhist sutras and cultural remains, the monastery
is often considered as the "Tunhuang the Second".
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