The enigmatic Tibet

Tibet is a Central Asian country that constitutes an autonomous province within the southwestern region of China. It borders on the south with India, Nepal and Bhuttan . During the monarchical period (7th-9th centuries) the capital of Tibet was established in Lasha and it was at this time that Buddhism was introduced and spread.

tibet-map

In 1950, Tibet was occupied by Chinese military forces and, since then, the political situation has become complicated, causing the 14th Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans to go into exile in India.

The capital, Lasha , is located in the valley of the Kichu River, at an altitude of 3,650 meters . It is a religious center of Lamaism. The city is dominated by the great Potala Palace, the Dalai Lama’s residence until 1959.

jokang temple

In Lasha you also have to take into account the Jo-Khang temple , one of the oldest in Tibet; also the market, the Sera Monastery and its singing schools and the Norbulingka Park where the Summer Palace is. The oratory temples of Nuosele and Tsug-Syeng are other sites of interest in Lasha. The cradle of Lamaism is located in the Ganden monastery , located at an altitude of 3,800 meters.

More places you can’t miss

Shigatse is the second largest city in Tibet. There is the Tashilumpo Monastery . There are also other sites of interest such as Maitreya Temple and Gudong Palace . What if you cannot stop doing is take a walk through the Thangka Wall.

palatial palace

On a route from Shigatse to Tingri, it is practically obligatory to climb the Pas Tsuo La (4,500 meters), from where you can see an impressive panoramic view of Mount Qomolagma ( Mount Everest). Kumming is another interesting city in Tibet. There is the forest of stones (Shilin): it is a fascinating natural park where stones take very unique forms.

Vegetation and climate

The climate is the typical continental one, highly influenced by the altitude . Rainfall is scarce and temperatures are very harsh. Vegetation is especially rich in the Brahmaputra valley. Given that the average height of Tibet is remarkable, people affected by heart, vascular or pulmonary diseases should consult a doctor before starting their journey to these lands.

tibet35

Population and language

The population is about 2.5 million inhabitants . Most are concentrated in the southwest, in the Tsinhai plain. Outside this region, Tibetan minorities are grouped into autonomous counties.
Although the official language is Chinese , the Tibetan community maintains its own language which, depending on the area, adopts different varieties.

monks

Other information of interest :

Currency: Yuan
Religion: Lamaism and Buddhism
Area: 1,200,000 Km2