Tibet - Treks and tours of Tibet

Tibet (Xizang), the Roof of the World, remained unknown to the world until the very beginning of the 20th century. Locked away in its Himalayan fortress, Tibet has long exercised a unique hold on the imagination of the West. The massive, snowy land has exerted an awesome draw to travelers and adventurers ever since. Its majestic and grand scenery, mysterious andexotic religious culture, and wonderful people reward every tourist with an indelible life long memory!

Adventure on the road is never short on the beautiful Trans Himalayan drive, through mountain, passes, promising a panorama of a cultural and scenic diversity unsurpassable anywhere. It culminates on an arid plateau - a veritable treasure trove of architectural masterpieces.

Its name the 'Roof of the World' is no idle statement. The valley bottoms of Tibet are higher than the highest mountains elsewhere. Its snow-covered plateaus are the highest in the world. And apart from the Everest, which Tibetans see from 'the other side', many a mountain ranges are over 15000 feet.

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Places to Visit

Gutsuo
Lying at an altitude of 14,200 ft. it is a military base camp situated at the start of the plateau. After passing through the Thongla Pass (16,400 ft.) a most panoramic view of the northern face of the Himalayan range unfolds. The best view of Mt. Everest and its neighbouring peaks can be seen from the road at Gutsuo. Accommodation here would be in tented camps or at the barracks itself.

Gyantse
Gyantse (13,050 ft.) is a small agricultural town famous for its wool carpets and the Palkhor Choide Chorten. It is small as cities go (population perhaps 10,000) and largely Tibetan in character - for a change. The town is situated about two small hills which lie east and west, and is united by a saddle; the western hill is further connected with a chain of mountains to the north. On the eastern hill, which is about 600 feet above the surrounding plain, is a large fort, which towers above the village offers a fine view over the valley and on the western hill is a Gomba inhabited by five hundred Dabas. In this Gomba there is a chorten, called Pangon Chorten, which is considered by the Tibetans a most holy place and is notable for its superb Kumbum (10,000 images) stupa. Besides the fort and temple, there are about one thousand dwelling houses on three sides of the double hill.

Before 1959, traders coming from Kalimpong and Gangtok (India) used to enter Tibet through Yadong and then to Gyantse, enroute to Lhasa.

Kumbum
The main sight of Gyantse is the immense chorten, or Kumbum (outsized chorten, or pagoda of 100,000 images). The Kumbum Monastery was built in the 15th century. It is situated in the west of Gyantse Town. With mountains enclosing from the east, west and north-3 sides,its uniqueness is that its three Sects of Buddhism- Shaja, Ningma and Guolu are living harmoniously under one roof. Each sect has 6-7 courtyards in the monastery.

There are various kinds of thangkas, a huge bronze statue of jiangba,the jainrese of a Thousand Hands and a Thousand Eyes in the monastery. There is a hall of arhat made during the Ming Dynasty. The arhats are so vivid that they look very much alive. Besides the monastrey, is the world famous 9-storey 10,000 Buddha Pagoda. It stands 32 m, has 108 Doors, 77 Buddhist chambers and countless shrines.Enshrined in the Pagoda are 10,000 statues of Buddha.The Pagoda opens 8 doors which are decorated with relief sculptures of lively flying dragons, running lions and walking elephants. It is a masterpiece of the joint efforts of the Nepalese,Tibetan and Chinese.

Dzong Fortress
Dzong fortress lies at Dzong Hill at the center of Gyangtse. In 1904, British troops invaded into Tibet and occupied parts of Tibetan territory. However they met with strong and hard resist in Gyangtse at the small hill which was the seat of the local Dzong government. Brave and unyielding Gyangtse people using primitive weapons fought British invaders equipped with advanced guns. The hard defense lasted for 8 months and finally failed. Tibetan warriors exhausted stones on the hill, which were their last ammunitions. They jumped out of cliffs, never surrendering. Emplacements in the ruins still overlook the valley now. Dzong government of the feudal serf system is still well kept, giving visitors a better understanding of the serf system in old Tibet. Four steles erected by Qing ministers during the reign of Emperor Qianlong are well preserved.

Palkhor Lamasery
The area around the chorten - Palkhor Lamasery lies is ruins. The main monastery walls are still there, but eh twon within the walls has been razed, with the exception of a few of the larger buildings. Pilgrims coming to pay homage to th chorten camp out in the area, giving the place the flavour of an inhabitaed ghost-town.

Lhaze
Lhaze (13100 ft) is situated at the crossroads from where the road turns westwards towards Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar Lake. There is not much to see except the plains below. Approximately 150km south-west of Shigatse and some 30km west of the Sakya turn-off, Lhatse is a spread-out town lining the Friendship HighwY. It has some good restaurants, well-stocked shops and a few guesthouses. Most of the traffic here is enroute to Zangmu on the Nepali border, but some vehicles take the turn-off 6km down the road for Ali in western Tibet; see the Holy Mt. Kailash. At the western end of town is the small Changmoche Monastery. One can also hike 10km out to the Dongaba Hot Springs or visit Lhatse Chode and Drampa Gyang Temple; see Around Lhatse for details.

Nagarje
This settlement is located at an altitude of 14,300 ft. by the shores of Yamdrok Lake. This freshwater lake, unlike other Tibetan lakes, is sweet and non-saline, extending lakes, extending for 624 sq km, in the shape of the two pincers of a large scorpion. During summer, it is turquoise green in colour, but during winter it has a thick crust of ice over it. It is abundant in fish and migratory birds can be seen in its vicinity. At a mountain pass at of 16,000 ft, enroute Nagarje one can see, even in summer, the holy pin-pointed glacier.

Nyalamo
Known as `Kuti' to Nepalese traders, it used to be an important trade post tucked into a fertile valley. Now a days, barrack style Chinese communes surround the typical old flat roofed mud-brick houses. Although vegetation is sparse, one can see an abundance of alpine fauna on the hillside during the summer months.

Sakya
Sakya is 152km west of Shigatse and about 25km south of the main road. The huge brooding Sakya Monastery here was Tibet's most powerful 700 years ago. The monastery probably contains the finest collection of Tibetan religious relics remaining in Tibet, although the monks may restrict you to viewing only a couple of halls. There's an unreliable bus from Shigatse, but most people arrange to see Sakya on their way to the Nepali border or the Everest Base Camp.

Sakya Monastery
The monastery is a place that visitors cannot miss. The monastery lies 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Shigatse. Sakya, meaning "Grey Soil" in Tibetan,since the soil around is grey. It is the center monastery of Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Its wall was painted with red, white and grey strips, which represent Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani respectively. Since the monastery has a colossal collection of highly valuable art pieces, it is deemed as "Second Dunhuang". The monastery is divided into the Northern Monastery and the Southern Monastery by Drum River.The Southern Monastery remains in better condition.

Lakhang Chenmo, the Main Changing Hall, is the central structure in the inner courtyard. The hall, 5,700 square meters, has 40 huge pillars, four of which are 1.2 meters (4 feet) in diameter and are said pillars send to the monastery by Chinese Emperor, tiger, Nereus and wild yak respectively. Murals on the wall in the hall depict the stories about the pillars.Sakya has countless murals, mostly of the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). Among them, murals of mandalas and former Sakya Throne Holders are outstanding.

Seventy million Yuan (8.5 million US$) national fund was allocated to renovate and rebuilt Sakya Monastery last year. The reconstruction has begun although the Northern Monastery is still covered with gravels except for a newly built stupa in which relics of the first Sakya Throne Holder is held.

Shigatse
Shigatse, also known as Xigatse, which means "fertile land", is the second largest city in Tibet. It is the seat of Panchen Lama who is regarded as the reincarnation of the Buddha of Endless Enlightenment. This city stands between the confluence of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu River, used to be the capital of Tsang and now is the capital of Shigatse prefecture.

Shigatse (12,600 ft.) is most famous for its Tashilhunpo Monastery - the seat of the Panchen Lama. Places of interest within this monastery include the relics sakyamuni, the hall of maitreya and mind-boggling collection of thankas, etc within the Tashilhunpo Monastery. There is also bustling "free" market at the foot of the ruins of the xigaze fortress and one can buy local handicrafts embedded with coral and torquoise, chinese porcelain and yak butter etc. The highlight of Shigatse is surprisingly high snow capped peaks. Most of the highest peaks in Tibet, including Mt. Everest, lie around Shigatse. The other wonderful monastery near Shigatse is the Sakya Monastery and Shalu Monastery.

Tashilhunpo Monastery
Tashilhunpo, meaning Heap of Glory, was the seat of the panchen lamas. It lies at the foot of Drolmari, or Tara's Mountain, 2 kilometer on the west of Shigatse and is today one of Tibet's most influential and active monasteries. It was founded in 1477 by Gendun Drubpa, the first Dalai Lama and a most outstanding disciple of Tsong Khapa.

The Grand Hall contains the tomb (containing more than 85 kg gold and lots of jewels) of the 4th Panchen Lama. There is a 27 m high statue of the Maitreya Buddha. It may be that foreigners wanting to visit the monastery will account trouble.The Thangka Wall sits northeast of the monastery. The huge wall, 35 meters (115 feet) in height 40 meters (131 feet) in width, can be seen faraway. Founding in 1468, it was a memorial monument to commemorate the birth, nirvana and initiation into Buddhahood of Sakyamuni. Every year on April fourteenth on Tibetan calendar, gigantic thangkas of Buddha will be displayed on the wall. In addition the trove of thangkas, murals and other religious and artistic treasures certainly will impose an indelible impression upon visitors.

Shigatse Market
Below the ruins of Shigatse dzong there are corrugated tin roofs sheltering the markets. The markets actually stretch further than that, lining the roads into the area. They are open from roughly 9:30 to 7 pm and mostly sell house wares, yak butter and meat, and vegetables. There are stalls of the antique and curio variety where you can find the local handicrafts embedded with coral and turquoise and Chinese porcelain also. Occasionally livestock is sold near here - it's just the place to get your yak! upon visitors.

Sakya Monastery
The monastery is a place that visitors cannot miss. The monastery lies 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Shigatse. Sakya, meaning "Grey Soil" in Tibetan,since the soil around is grey. It is the center monastery of Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Its wall was painted with red, white and grey strips, which represent Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani respectively. Since the monastery has a colossal collection of highly valuable art pieces, it is deemed as "Second Dunhuang". The monastery is divided into the Northern Monastery and the Southern Monastery by Drum River.The Southern Monastery remains in better condition.

Tsedang
This town is about 195 km from Lhasa in the Yarlung Valley which is considered the cradle fo Tibetan culture. Zetang, the capital of Shannan prefecture, has merged with Ndong into a sprawl of Tibetan and Chinese buildings. There are various sights to see around like the monkey cave and Yumbulagang, and they can be used as a base for trips to Qonggyai where the Tombs of the Tibetan kings are located and the Samye monastery.The market in Tsedang, is worth a visit since all sorts of Tibetans trek in from outlaying areas. Behind the hospital there is the First Field in Tibet. According to legend, this field was planted by Chenrezig's monkey incarnation, Trehu. Tibetan farmers make an annual pilgrimage here before the planting season, to take back a handful of earth which they sprinkle on their own fields to increase fertility.

Samye Monastery
Samye was built between 763 and 775 by Padmasambhave (also known by Tibetans as Lopon Rinpoche), during the reign of King Trisong Detsen. It is said that Samye was modeled on the university of Otantpuri in India and planned as a representation of the universe. The main temple in the centre corresponded to Mount Rirab (the center of the conmos), whilst four Pagodas (white, blue, green and red) represented the four worlds to the north, south, east and west. Smaller temples represented the islands between the worlds and two temples to the north and south of the main temple represented the moon and sun respectively. Samye is till one of the most imposing sights in Tibet.

In the valley to the north temples and the view of Samye form the top of the mountains to the east (follow the pilgrim tracks up to the chortens) is spectacular.

Yumbulagang
Yumbulagang is the first building in Tibet, constructed as a palace for the 1st Tubo King Niechi in the Yalong River Valley. It is also called "the Mosher and Song Holy Hall". Yumbulagang is standing on the top of a hill on the east bank of the Yalung River in the southeast of Naidong county. Enshrined in the shrine are the statues of Thiesung Sangjie Buddha,King Niechi,King Srontsan Gampo and the Tobu Kings after them. The legend goes that the "mysterious object" was on the foot of the castle, so Buddhists regard here as the holy land. This tiny place must have been an imposing sight once, but most of it is now in ruins.

Qonggyai
The Tibetans did not give their kings a sky burial but chose interment in tombs instead. Experts differ in their explanations: some believe this was due to the cultural influence of the Tang dynasty in China, others consider this was a result of Buddhist influence. Historical records speak of 13 tombs at Qonggyai, but only nine have been found.

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Listing Treks / Tours of Tibet

NAME	TYPE	DESCRIPTION
Lhasa Kashgar Trekking in Tibet	Trek	Lhasa Kashgar Trekking in Tibet
Ganden Samye Trekking in Tibet	Trek	Ganden Samye Trekking in Tibet
Cultural Tour - Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse Tour	Tour	Fix departure tour to Tibet Lhasa
Cultural Tour - Explore Lhasa	Tour	Explore the real Lhasa - Fix departures
CULTURAL TOUR - Discover Lhasa Tour	Trek	Discover the complete beauty of Lhasa.
South Tibet tour	Trek	Explore the beauty of South Tibet
Trans Himalayan journey tour	Tour	8 days tour trans Himalaya
Mystical Tibet tour of central Tibet	Tour	8 days tour to central Tibet
Mythical Tibet Tour	Tour	6 days tour to Tibet
Everest Trek - The Kangshung Face	Trek	20 days Overland Journey from Lhasa to Nepal border & trek to the Everest - East Kangshung Face