Mystic of Tibet

Tibet, also known as Xizang, is called the Roof of the World. This land is breathtakingly beautiful, a perfect blend of green grasslands and snow-capped mountains. The atmosphere of Tibet is truly overwhelming with majestic scenery. This coupled with the mysterious and even exotic culture makes this part of China an excellent travel destination. While Tibet is also referred to as Tibet Autonomous Region or TAR for short, keep in mind that TAR is not Tibet.

The Chinese government divided the historical Tibet into a number of regions and prefectures. Because of this, TAR involves only the central region and a small portion of the eastern region. With this division, approximately 60% of the original territory of Tibet has now been absorbed into China. Historical Tibet sits on the border of Sikkim, Bhutan, India, Burma, and Nepal and reaches out some 470,000 square miles. The plateau is beautifully surrounded by the Himalaya to the south, Kunlun to the north and Karakoram to the west, which makes up the highest mountain ranges in the world.

Along with these massive mountains are many other smaller mountain ranges to the east. The four primary mountain ranges average 26,240 feet above sea level but the Tibet region boasts 38 other mountains that exceed altitudes of 22,960 feet. While Tibet is known for many wonderful things, the one that most people recognize immediately is Mt. Everest, which towers over the entire region. As you can see, Tibet has earned the name Roof of the World for very good reason with so many magical mountaintops.

Throughout the region are beautiful rivers to include the famous Yangtze River, along with the Nu River, Yellow River, Yarlong Tsangpo River, Indus River, Ganges River, and Lancang River. In addition to the magnificent rivers, the land is also dotted with beautiful green valleys and crystal blue lakes such as the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake. Some of the areas within Tibet are extremely rugged, making them difficult to access. However, if you prefer something a bit tamer, you can enjoy spending time in Lhasa and Shigatse, where you can visit religious monuments and other tourist attractions, all easily reached. One of the most popular monuments is Potala although the Tashilunpo Monastery, Kumbum, and the Jokhang Temple are also worth your time seeing.

Off to the west is a barren plateau called Ngari, which is a vast area with the nickname of Roof of Tibet. If you want to experience some of Tibet’s sacred spots, you can visit Lake Manasarova, which joins Mt. Kailash. Ngari is where many Hindus and Tibetans go to pay holy pilgrimage, while also being an incredible hiking area for tourists. Two other places to visit while in Tibet include the Guge Kingdom and the Shang Shung Kingdom, both ancient sites. The southwest region is an outdoors person’s haven. In all, more than 40 snow-covered peaks are accessible for hikers to enjoy. In addition to the mountains for climbing, there is beautiful running water, primeval forests, and a comfortable climate. In fact, there you will see Yarlong Tsangpo Canyon, the largest canyon in the entire world.

If you plan to take a trip to Tibet, you will discover the people to be very inviting and warm. The monuments, monasteries, temples, and other attractions are something you simply should not overlook. However, because there are some problem areas within this country, you should consider organizing your trip through a reputable travel agent. By knowing where to go and what to see, you will have an amazing experience that will not be forgotten. Tibet is unique is that it is rough terrain, which is not for everyone, but also easy terrain. Therefore, regardless of what you are looking for, you will find it in this magnificent country.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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