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Tibet

Situated on the highest plateau in the world, Tibet remained secluded until the beginning of the twentieth century when it started gaining popularity amongst the tourists and adventure seekers from all over the world. Bordered by the countries of India, Burma, Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal, it is surrounded by the Himalayan, Karakoram and the Kunlun mountain ranges. Its noble beauty, mystifying culture and friendly people cast a spell over the travellers who leave this place with ineradicable memories to take back home. Yarlong Tsangpo Canyon, the largest canyon in the world is one of the main features of Tibet.

Tourism Destinations of Tibet
If you are a nature buff and like to venture into the unknown, Tibet is just the place you need to go to. It is a small country with many surprises in store. Some of the primary destinations in Tibet include:

Lhasa
Lhasa is the capital and one of the main cities of Tibet. The mystifying Tibetan Buddhist culture and monuments such as Potala and Jokhang are the main attractions of the city. It offers some of the best accommodation, restaurants and shopping facilities for the tourists. Other attractions of the city include Barkhor street, Drepung monastery, Ganden monastery, Jokhang temple and Potala palace among others.

Chamdo
Chamdo is one of the main cities of Tibet that should be included in your itinerary. It is a fertile valley having striking scenery, thick forests, ancient ruins and unique ethnic groups. There is much to see here including the Chambaling Monastery and the Zezhol Monastery.

Ngari
The city of Ngari has spectacular scenery and occupies a special place in the history of Tibet and Buddhism. The tourists coming here should visit the ruins of Guge kingdom and the Tholing Monastery.

Other cities of tourist interest are Nakchu, Nyingchi, Shannan and Shigatse.

Wanfo pagoda in Baiju Monastery in Gyangze, Tibet Culture of Tibet
The population of Tibet consists primarily of Tibetans who constitute about 92% of the total population while Menpa, Luopa, Han Chinese, Hui, Sherpa and a few Deng people make up the rest of the population. Tibetans are generally cheerful and optimistic people who value their moral and cultural values a lot. Farming is the main occupation of the people while more and more people are taking up to business these days. Buddhism, Islam and Catholicism are the main religions. The literacy rate and the medical facilities in the country continue to improve rapidly. Tsampa is a local food made out of barley which is the staple diet of the people.

Climate in Tibet
The rough climatic conditions prevailing in Tibet make it one of the most difficult places for human existence. It is pleasant in summers while it can get freezing cold in the winters. In the capital Lhasa the temperature ranges from 29 degrees Celsius in summers to minus 16 degrees Celsius in winters. The sun rays are very strong due to the high altitude. The type of clothing to be carried depends on which part of the country you plan to travel to. Warm clothing is essential as the weather is unpredictable and it can get extremely cold. The best time to visit Tibet is from April to October.

How to Reach Tibet?

By Air : Travelling by air into Tibet can be an exciting experience as it offers breathtaking and spectacular views of the valley and the snow covered mountains. The Gonggar Airport connects Tibet to Beijing, Chongqing, Kathmandu and Hongkong. There are no domestic airlines operating in Tibet.

By Road : There are five highways that connect Tibet to China and Nepal. They are the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, Qinghai-Tibet Highway, Xinjiang-Tibet Highway, Yunnan-Tibet Highway and the Chinese-Nepalese Highway. Out of these only the Qinghai-Tibet Highway and the Chinese-Nepalese Highway are open for the tourists.

Inside Tibet the main form of transport are buses which connect the main cities of the country whereas some places can be accessed only on jeeps. Bikes are available on hire.