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,
Jorkhang Temple and Barkhor
Street Market.
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.
Tirthapuri is considered the
third most holy pilgrimage site
in west Tibet. Tirthapuri is
situated on the right bank of
the Satlej River. The
circumambulation of Tirthapuri
takes about 1 hour, however its
worth taking extra time to
explore the sacred monastery
caves.
Tholing, at the center of Zanda
xian, was the most historical
and important monastery of west
Tibet, and its influence
extended all the way from
Kashmir. It was built in the
11th century. Tholing is, in all
likelihood, the only place in
Tibet with a meaningful
collection of this distinctive
art form. Tholing architecture
was strongly influenced by
designs from Yarlung era
(7th-9th century). Tholing also
provides you many low passes,
many others artistic monasteries
and wonderful landscape.
Nagarje is the settlement by the
shires of Yamdrok Lake. This
fresh water lake, unlike other
Tibetan lake, is sweet and
noon-saline, extending for
624sq.km.in the shape of the two
pincers of the large scorpion.
During summer; it is turquoise
green in color.
West Tibet, home to the premier
pilgrimage site of Mt Kailash
and Lake Manasarovar, also has
some of Tibet's most significant
art and architecture. Within the
royal chapels of Tsaparang,
capital of the ancient Guge
kingdom, are sumptuous Kashmiri
inspired paintings and statues.
The ruins themselves are
stunning: the castles and
troglodytic communities provide
an archeological chronicle of
the region since 10th century.
Mt. Kailash, one of Asia's most
sacred mountains, is located in
a high and isolated enclave of
west Tibet. To the Buddhist
believers, it is the abode of
Demchok, the wrathful
manifestation of Buddha. For
Hindus, Kailash is the dwelling
of Shiva the destroyer and
according to Sanskrit tradition
of Vishnu Puran (The Hindu
pilgrimage books 200 BC), it is
a representation of Mt Sumeru,
cosmic mountain at the center of
the universe. Four major rivers
of Tibet , India and Nepal have
their source near Mt Kailash.
Leaving aside the mythological
and devotional aspect; Mt
Kailash is a stunningly
beautiful mountain that stands
completely alone in all its
glory, with other peaks nearby.
Its rounded cone is symmetrical.
The sacred lake of Manasarovar
(4588m) is located in west Tibet
between Mt. Kailash and Gurla
mandhata mountain range. For
Hindus, Manasarovar floats
beneath the shadow of holy
Kailash as the lake formed in
the mind of God. It was created
to show the omnipotence of
Brahma's (The Hindus God) mind,
manas. Tibetans know it as
Maphan Tso, `the unconquerable
lake`. In any language, this is
the holiest, most famous lake in
Asia. Manasarovar ritual
circumambulation of Mt Kailash
holy lake. West of Manasarovar
is Raksas lake. The lakes
provide you many monasteries and
Tibetan life style and them
culture. The spectacular
environment of Manasarovar,
sandwiched between two high snow
ranges, is one of the most
dramatic in Tibet..
The Tashilhunpo Monastery is the
largest, most vibrant in Tibet
and truly, the only one that
does justice to the term
monastic city. It was founded in
1447 by Tsong Khapa's nephew and
disciple, Gendundrub, who was
the first Dalai Lama. Under the
fourth Panchen Lama, it was
substantially enlarged and
became an important cultural and
religious site. The main chapel
contains a huge, 26 meter-high
statute of the future Buddha.
The monastery is grandly
decorated with arts, ancient
scriptures and scroll paintings
The Sakya monastery originally
consisted of two large complexes
on either side of the Trum
River. Both the north monastery,
founded in the 11th century and
Sakya south, founded in 1268 by
Phagpa, have uniquely
significant status with Tibetan
pilgrims. Architectural elements
first pioneered at Sakya were
soon adopted by other central
Tibetan monasteries. The
construction materials used were
mainly stone and unbaked brick.
Its woodwork, especially in the
oldest part of the chapels, is
typically Indian influenced. The
monastery offers you libraries
of spiritual books as well as
artwork and a chance to see the
grand residence of the monks.
Gyantse, lying 264 km southwest
of Lhasa on the northern bank of
the Nyang Chu River, is of
historical significance. In the
15th century it served as the
capital of a small kingdom.
Today, Gyantse retains Tibetan
character. The principle
structures consist of a castle
on a ridge overlooking the town
and a walled monastic complex.
The monastery includes the
massive temple of Palkhor Chode
and the great multi-chapel
Kumbum Chorten. These religious
monuments, part of Gyantse's
ancient monastic town, contain
some of the most extraordinary
works of art in Tibet. Gyantse,
formerly a rich settlement, is
strategically sited at the
confluence of a number of major
routes significant for cultural,
political and commercial
reasons. On this tour, you may
stay over night in a guesthouse
or hotel.
Purang , also known as, Taklakot
is on of the most fascinating
places in west Tibet. Purang
provides you Tibetan life style,
the largest monastic institution
in the region, Nepalese and
Tibetan market center, cave
monastery, Gurla mandata
mountains views and natural
beauties
Mount
