|
Lhasa
The capital of Tibet, at an altitude of
3650m, is situated on the north of bank of
Kyichu River, a tributary of the Yarlung
Tsangpo river. Lhasa in Tibetan means "
Place of the Gods" and Potala Palace, the
Residence of Dalai Lama ( The God King), is
the earthly representation of the celestial
Palace of Avaloketeswora, The Buddha of
infinite compassion whose ncarnation in the
human form is believed to be the Dalai Lama.
It is a city truly blessed by the gods where
life is unburied.
Tsedang
No tour of Tibet is complete without a visit
to Tsedang, situated 170km Southeast of
Lhasa in the Yarlung Valley along the banks
of the Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra) The
cradle of Tibetan civilization. This region
abounds with important historical landmarks
such as Samye, Yumbulkhangm Chonggye,
Mindroling and others.
YAMBULAKHANG PALACE
Situated about 12 km south of Tsedang,
Si the first palace built by the Tibet and
for their first recorded king Nyatri Tsedpo,
who is believed to have descended from
heaven. It is a 05 storied fortress-like
dwelling built on the spur of a bill that
commands an impressive view of the entire
fertile valley. It was destroyed during the
cultural revolution and the present
structure is an exact replica of the
original rebuilt 1982.
SAMYE MONASTERY
Lies about 40km to the west of Tsedang
across the Tsangpo River. It is the first
monastery built by King Trisong Detsen in
the latter part of the 08 the century. Samye
Monastery combines 03 distinctive
architectural styles that of India, China
and Tibet, symbolizing the source, stability
and spread of the Buddhist faith. With the
building of this monastery, the community of
monks began.
Gyantse
Is a pastoral town between Lhasa and
Shigatse. It is 264km South west of Lhasa.
It still retains the charm of a traditional
Tibetan town untouched by modern expansion.
It made world headlines in 1904 when colonel
Young Husband, who led a British expedition
to Tibet, defeated the Tibetan army there.
As a crossroads on the principle trade route
to India, it used to be renowned for the
excellence of the carpets. The compound,
encircled by an impressive wall, once
contained 19 monasteries, presided over by
the still intact fortress Perched a top a
nearby mountain.
Shigatse
The town of Shigatse (Xigaze) is called
"Center of Rear Tibet", sits at the
confluence of Nyangchu and Yarlung Tsangbo
Rivers about 250 kilometers to the west of
Lhasa. This second largest city in Tibet at
an elevation of 3,800 meters has a history
of more than five centuries. The region
around is historically known as the Rear
Tibet and Shigatse has been its political,
business, cultural and religious center. The
residence for all the Panchen Lamas has been
traditionally in the town.
The city located between altitude 29°2'
north and longitude 88°8' east, with a
population of 70,000. The annual rainfall is
300 to 450 mm, the average annual
temperature is 6°C and the frost-free period
is 160 days.
Shigatse region enjoys a moderate climate
with plenty of sunshine. The fertile river
valley is one of the granaries of Tibet. The
town proper has undergone a construction
boom with roads leading to Ngari in the
west, the Qomolangma Nature Reserve and
border with Nepal in the south, Nakchu to
the north and Lhasa and Shannan to the east.
The ancient town of Shigatse has become
well-known for its past and rich cultural
tradition with Palcho, Sakya, Pingcuolin and
Juenang monasteries and Pala Estate as well
as the Qomolangma Nature Reserve covering an
area of over 30,000 square kilometers in the
nearby region. The annual ceremony of
display of Buddha tapestry, the Sorcerer's
Dance Festival, the Ximuqingpo Festival at
the Shalu Monastery and the active local
Tibetan theater are popular attractions to
visitors. With its rich cultural tradition,
majestic monasteries, breath-taking scenery
and convenient location, Shigatse has become
on of the most popular tourist destination
in Tibet.
Tingiri / Zangbu
KODARI (pop. 3,100) lies on the Nepal-China
border 114 km north-east of Kathmandu at the
end of the Arniko Highway. The village,
situated beside the thundering Bhote Koshi
river, was a stopover on the ancient
trans-Himalayan caravan trail. The Arniko
Highway offers an enjoyable drive, taking
you through magnificent river gorges and
mountain scenery. The Tatopani hot water
springs are situated 3 km before Kodari.
Most of the inhabitants in the area are
Tamangs
|
