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Rooftop of the World - Tibet
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Tibet
(Autonomous Region of China), the "Rooftop of the World"
was opened to tourism in 1985. Before this it avoided
influence from the western world and developed its
unique culture and religion independently within the
country. The infrastructure of the tourist industry is
still very basic in the remote parts of this unique
country. However, every effort will be made under the
circumstance to ensure a smooth & pleasant trip.
Traveling overland between Kathmandu and Lhasa is an
incredible journey in which you can see the world’s
highest mountains, travel on the world’s highest plain,
meet nomadic Tibetan pilgrims and walk amidst the
burning butter lamps and chanting monks of Tibet's
ancient and legendary Buddhist monasteries. However
accommodations, amenities and facilities that may be far
from perfect and your expectation, but trip to Tibet is
well worth the effort providing you an opportunity to be
adventure lovers. |
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Season: the best
time to visit Tibet is April to October, and November to
March. July and August are considered as rainy months.
The best months are May, June, September or October.
Normally, we recommend warm clothing for the trip to
Tibet as nights and early mornings can be quite chilly
and windy cold in winter months, November to April. |
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Places of
interest in Tibet |
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Lhasa:
The capital of Tibet Autonomous region and situated at
the north bank of Kyichu river, a tributary of the
Yarlung Tsangpo river, Lhasa has history of more than
1300 years. Lhasa is the main politics, economy, culture
and religious center for the Tibet Autonomous region.
The attractions of this city (3650 meters) are the
magnificent Potala Palace, former seat of the Dalai
Lamas, presides over the city. Built in 1645 at the top
of a hill, the palace contains a thousand rooms, 10,000
shrines and 200,000 religious statues. Besides, the
famous Jhokhang temple, the Bhakor market, the Sera
Monastery, the Drepung Monastery (the largest in Tibet)
and the Norbulingkha are the major attractions of this
ancient city.
Potala Palace,
Jokhang Temple, Norbulinkha Palace, Drepung Monastery,
Bharkhor Market |
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Shigatse: Shigatse (altitude 3,900 meters) lies some
274 kilometers to the west of Lhasa and is Tibet’s
second largest city. The highway runs alongside the
Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river passing through
narrow gorges and broad river valleys. Farmers plowing
their fields with yaks, sheep grazing on the vast
plains, awesome sand dunes and rocky hills in the
distance are the scenic rewards of this journey. The
Tashilhunpo Monastery, built in 1447 by the first Dalai
Lama, is Shigatse’s most important cultural and
religious site. the main chapel here contain images of
Shakyamuni (the present Buddha), white and green taras
and embalmed bodies of past Panchain Lamas.
Tashilumpo
Monastery,
Shakya Monastery |
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Gyangtse:
This town is situated at an altitude of 3,800 meters.
About 94 kilometers from Shigatse. Gyangtse’s symbol is
the Kumbum Stupa which is 32 meters high and contains 77
rooms and 100,000 images of the Buddha. A prince of
Gyangtse had it built in 1427 by craftsmen from the
Kathmandu valley. It is the finest example of
15th-century Newar art extent in the world. Pelkor Chode
Monastery and Gyangtse fort (built atop a massive rock)
are other major sights here. The road from Lhasa to
Gyangtse (260 kilometers) takes you over three mountain
passes: Ghampa La (4,794 meters), Sima La (4,380 meters
high) and Karo La (5,045 meters) via Yamdrok Tso Lake.
The scenery and the adventure of traveling on the old
mule caravan route makes this excursion an unforgettable
trip.
Kumbum, Pelkor Chode
Monastery |
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Tsedang: Tsedang is
known as the cradle of Tibetan civilization, situated
170 kilometers southeast of Lhasa in the Yarlung Valley.
This ancient town offers a number of side trips that
illustrate Tibet’s early history. The valley of the
Kings (ancient capital of the Yarlung kings who
Established the Tibetan nation), the Yambu Lakhang
Palace (built for the first Yarlung king), and the
Tandruk Monastery (one of the three royal Buddhist
temples) are some of the important sightseeing points.
Yambhulakhang,
Samye Monastery,
Chonggye
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Mt. Kailash:
Pilgrimage to Mansarovar Lake and the Holy Mt. Kailash
claimed to be the apex of the Hindu religious axis is
also one of the highest mountains in Tibet at 22,022
feet, and Lake Mansarovar at 14,950 feet is said to be
the highest fresh water lake in the world. Certainly it
is difficult region to reach due to the variable and
extreme weather conditions.
We begin the tour by
traveling to Kathmandu and departing by road to the
Nepal/Tibet border town of Zhangmu where we initiate the
tour-trekking to Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar Lake.
Kailash |
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