Tibet

Tibet, the sea of song and dance, is a land rich in culture heritage. Situated on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, the land has the world's highest mountains, several large, rushing rivers and many beautiful lakes. While the northern part is on a high plateau and is a wildlife reserve (Changtang reserve, 300,000 sq km) the southern, eastern, and western parts are valleys.

Its unique culture, celebrated monasteries and its magnificent scenery make it charming and mysterious. The mountains, including Mount Qomolangma or Mount Everest, are imposing with their snow-covered heights. There are 2.1 million Tibetans living in Tibet with 0.07 million non-Tibetans (including soldiers). The total population of Tibetans in China is 4.6 million. There is an unknown number of Tibetans living in Sikkim, Bhutan, northern Nepal, and northern India.

Location: Tibet is located in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau in the southwest frontiers of China. Tibet borders with Sichuan, Yuannan, Qinghai and Xinjiang; to the south lies India, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Burma, and in the west, the country is bounded by Kashmir.

Lying in the highest region of the world, Tibet is often referred to by the sobriquet 'the roof of the world.' Geographically, Tibet can be divided into three main parts, the east, north and south. The eastern part is the forest region, occupying approximately one-fourth of the total land area. The northern part is open grasslands, where nomads and yak and sheep dwell. This part occupies approximately half of Tibet.

The southern and central part is agricultural region, occupying about one-fourth of Tibet's land area, with all major Tibetan cities and towns such as Lhasa, Shigatse, Gyantse ad Tsetang located in this area. It is considered the cultural center of Tibet. The total area of the Tibet Autonomous Region is 1,200,000 sq km and its population is 1,890,000. The region is administratively divided into one municipality and six prefectures. The municipality is Lhasa, while the six prefectures are Shigatse, Ngari, Lhaoka, Chamdo, Nakchu and Nyingtri.

Winters are cold, but with little snowfall, except in the Yadong/Chumbii valley area. The sun shines brightly even in these days, but the air is cold. Thus, it would not be surprising to be sunburned in December in Lhasa, while on the dappled side of the street the gutters are full of ice as late as March. Summers are warm, but not hot, though the sun can be very strong due to the altitude.

In central and western Tibet, there are slight monsoon showers in June. In the regions at the edge of the Tibetan plateau, namely, Eastern Amdo and Khams, the rain is not so predictable. Apparently, the summer and autumn seasons are drier times of the year. Trekking in mid-winter is not feasible due to the cold and the shorter days. The daytime temperature can be as low as -4°C; the sun does not rise until 9.00 am and it gets dark by 5.30 pm.

History: Tibetan history can be traced thousands of years back. However, the written history only dates back to the 7th century when Songtsan Gampo, the 33rd Tibetan king, sent his minister Sambhota to India to study Sanskrit, who on his return invented the present Tibetan script based on Sanskrit. Tibet's history can be divided into four periods: the Tsanpo's period, the period of decentralization, the period of Sakya, Pagdu, and Karmapa's rule, and the period of the Gandan Podrang's rule.

The Tibetans are believed to be the descendents of a male monkey and a female rock-demon. Outsiders probably invented this by witnessing the Tibetan custom of covering or painting their faces to protect themselves from harsh weather conditions. Later on, in the writing of the great fifth Dalai Lama, the story changed the monkey to Avalokitesvara, a disciple of Buddha and known as Guan Yin by the Han people. Moreover, the rock-demon became a goddess (Tara or mother-savior, Jeo-Tuu Muu) in Buddhism.

In fact, the fifth Dalai Lama further claimed that the Tibetan King Songtsan Gampo was a reincarnation of Avalokitesvara, and his Han wife, princess Wen-Cheng, was the reincarnation of the goddess Tara. This is an interesting story of Tibet. Even today, the palace of Dalai Lama in Lhasa is called Potala Palace. Potala is the residence of Avalokitesvara, which in Han character is 'Putou', and there is an island in the East China Sea by the name Putou San that is supposed to be the residence of Guan Yin.

In the Tibet Autonomous Region, 95% of the population is Tibetan; the rests are Hans, Muslims, Menbas, Lobas, Drungs, Xiaerbas and others. The Bon, the aboriginal religion of Tibet, a sect of Shamanism, which chiefly worshipped idols and nature and practiced driving off of evil spirits, had prevailed in Tibet once upon a time but lost ground with the spread of Buddhism.

Religion is the most important element in the life of Tibetans. The dominant religion here is Tibetan Buddhism or Vajrayana Buddhism, a branch of Buddhism that emphasizes tantrik practices. Tibetan Buddhism is divided into five sects: the Yellow Hats, the Red Hats, the White Hats, the Flower Hats and the Black Branch.

The leader of the Yellow Hats order, the Dalai Lama, is believed to be an emanation of the Great Bodhisattva, known variously as Chen-re-Zig or Avalokitesvara or Guan-Yin (depending on the language). When one incarnation dies, his spirit takes on the body of another child at birth. Today, Tibet has 1,400 monasteries with 34,000 monks and nuns.

There are three categories of Tibetan art: (a) flat (two-dimensional) paintings that include thangka, fresco, wooden tablet and sand painting; (b) solid (three-dimensional) objects that include bronze, clay sculpture, clay modeling, wooden carving, stone carving, ritual objects, butter sculpture, and mask; and (c) costume.

Sites To Visit: Tibet is famous for its monasteries. The Potala Palace in Lhasa is one of the world's most celebrated Buddhist sites. It is situated on the top of Mt. Putup, has 1,000 rooms, and is a huge storehouse of Buddhist cultural artifacts. The Tashilhunpo Monastery sprawls on the slope of Mt. Niser, covering an area of 3,00,000 sq m. The Sakya Monastery is an art gallery in itself. The Xialu Monastery is located in Rikuozo and combines in itself the Tibetan and Chinese forms of architecture. The Kumbum Monastery, in Gyantse, is famous for its nine-storied pagoda, housing 10,000 statues of Lord Buddha.

The Samye Monastery is at the foot of Mt. Haibusi and is a combined feat of Indian, Chinese and Tibetan architecture. The Changzu Monastery is also called the Pearl Monastery and is on the east bank of the Yalong River. Yungbulakang is the palace of the first Tubo King Niechi in the Yalong River Valley. It is also called "the Mosher and Song Holy Hall." The Norbulingka Park is a beautiful park in the western suburbs of Lhasa. It used to be the summer palace for the Dalai Lamas where they handled political affairs, and practiced religious activities.

Tibet is full of rivers and lakes that provide abundance of hydroelectric power and aquatic products. Bushy banks of the rivers and lakes are the homes of swans and geese. The Yaluzangbu River, in South Tibet, provides ample opportunities for canoeing and boating in yak-hide boats. The Gold Sand, Lancang and Nu Rivers flow down from north to the south into Yuannan. Accompanied by the grand sceneries of Mt. Hengduan, the area covered by these three rivers forms a picturesque locale.

The Mansarovar Lake, with an area of 400 sq km, is believed by the Buddhists to be bestowed from heaven. The holy water can cure all kinds of diseases, wash people clean, and get rid of people's worries. After walking around the lake and taking baths at the Four Bathing Gates, the pilgrims can be free from sins and can be bestowed happiness. It is a pilgrimage site for thousands of Hindus every year, who come from India. The Yangzongyong Lake, in Longkamu, is known as the "Fish Store of Tibet." With an area of 1,940 sq km, the Namu Lake is the second largest salt-water lake. There are three islands in the lake. The lake is an ideal habitat for all kinds of aquatic life.

The mountains and peaks in the Tibetan plateau are either covered or capped with silver snow. Mt. Everest, Luozi, Makalu, Zhuoayou, Xixiabangma and Nanjiabawa seem to be competing to stand up higher than other peaks on earth. Huge rocks are seen piercing into the sky. White ice towers, stalagmites and stalactites, the serene looking ice sheep against the ferocious looking ice lion are the masterpieces of ice carving by the great nature. Mt. Kailash is considered the most sacred mountain by Buddhists and Hindus alike. Buddhists believe it to be the axis of Mt. Sumeru, the central mountain amidst the four continents of the old concept of world system. Hindus believe it to be the throne of Lord Shiva.

Fairs & Festivals: There are many colorful Tibetan festivals. Some are traditional, such as the New Year's Day, celebrated from the 23rd day of the last month of the year; Lingka festival, celebrated from the 15th day of the fifth month for 3-15 days; Bath Day, held from the 6th to the 12th day of the seventh month; and the Field Day or the harvest festival in the eighth month. Some festivals are religious, as the Great Prayer Festival or Smon-lam, the date of which varies from monastery to monastery.

Lord Buddha's birthday, celebrated on the 8th day of the fourth Tibetan month, Buddha's Nirvana day on the 15th day of the fourth Tibetan month, the celebration of Buddha's return to the world of the gods on the 22nd day of the ninth month, and Tsongkha-pa's passage on the 25th day of the tenth month, etc., are other religious festivals.

How to reach

Air - One can fly to Lhasa from Chengdu. If one is lucky enough, one will be issued a ticket by the local airline office. They may refer the tourist to the police station where one must ask for a permit.

Bus - Tourists may also take the bus route from Golmud. At the Lhasa bus station in Golmud, there is now built a CITS office to sell bus tickets to foreigners. It is the most reliable entry point to Lhasa. There are some independent buses going to Lhasa that are cheaper, but one may well be caught at the police checkpoints, and sent back to Golmud (without a refund).