Tibet Tourism

Tibet is probably the only destination among the Himalayas that's not as known for its adventure circuits as the rest are. But do not underestimate this destinations as just another Trans-Himalayan area of the Himalayas. There's much more to Tibet than Buddhism, monasteries and cold desert-like weather.
Climate

Tibetan winters, as might be supposed, are fiercely cold. But for half the year, strong sunlight warms the thin air, making most days in Lhasa comfortably mild and, owing to protective mountains, relatively windless. Summer temperatures hover above 30'C (high-80s F) and only to drop to a searing -23'C (-10'F) in midwinter. The best time to visit is from late spring to early fall.

Major adventure sports of Tibet
Trekking regions in Tibet

Everest Region
Usually Everest is more known as a part of Nepal and trekkers have explored numeorus trek routes towards this world's highest peak from Nepalese Himalayas. Still, if you like trekking in the unexplored zones then opt the routes to the Everest range from the Tibetan Himalayas side. One Everest trek tour option from Tibet is from Kathmandu drive across beautiful Nepalese countryside to the Chinese boarder town of Zangmu before negotiating the road up through the deep gorges of Sunkoshi River to Tingri. Trek past the ancient village of Tingri to the base camp from where one can see the magnificent and huge dimensions of Mt. Everest.

For well over a thousand years, pilgrims have journeyed Kailash Mansarovar to pay homage to the mountain's mystery, circumambulating it is a ancient ritual of devotion that continues to this day. People have been visiting Kailash - Mansarovar for centuries. Almost all the major passes of Uttaranchal Himalayas lead to Kailash - Mansarovar. The important ones in the Kumaon region are Lipulekh, Lampiya Dhura, Nuwe Dhura, Lowe Dhura, Unta Dhura, Jayanti and Kungri Bingri. Under the administration of the Indian ministry of external affairs and with the cooperation of the Chinese government, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam has been conducting trips to Kailash - Mansarovar through the Lipulekh pass.

Namchag Barwa Trek:

Namchag Barwa is an excellent short trek for nature lovers and amateur botanists. It includes the delightful Nyima La and the lushly forested Rong Valley. The route begins in Pei, a small village that is also the staging post of treks to the great bend of the Tsangpo via Pelma Kochung and to Metog. Here a ferry crosses to Timpe on the north bank of the river, site of a revered Guru Rinpoche cave and monastery.

A splendid trail leads north to the Nyima La through some of the finest virgin forests and flower gardens in southeastern Tibet. The idyllic walk passes a nomad camp and groves of flowering rhododendrons along the way. Many plant species abound on the open moorlands near the pass. From the pass there are tremendous views of the Assam Himalayas, including nearby Gyala Pelri and Namche Barwa. On the far side of the Nyima La is the Rong Valley, a heavily forested scenic valley that is luxuriantly carpeted with primulas and violet irises from May to July. The best time for this trek is from May to October.

Is Biking Adventue Sport Possible in Tibet !

Biking is more physically taxing than any other sports, especially in Tibet with its rugged terrain. Although, most of the gear required for biking can be hired, but still not many indulge in this activity due to its sheer demand for fitness and strength. There are many unbelievable tracks specially made for this purpose only. The most famous of them all is the Quinghai- Tibet highway route and the Sichuan- Tibet highway route. Though most of them start from various regions of Tibet but they all generally wind up in Lhasa only. Through Tibet is definitely one of the toughest bike trips in the world with around six 5000 m plus passes here.

Places to visit in Tibet

Lhasa - The land of Gods
The land of gods" and is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region is located between 29o 36'N and 19o 06' E at the north bank of Kyichu river, a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, at an altitude of 3650 meters above he sea level. Lhasa has history of more than 1300 years and it's been the center of politics, economy, culture and religion in Tibet since ancient times. There are numerous scenic spots and historical attractions, among which Potala Palace, Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Ramoche Temple, being the most famous.
Potala Palace

The Potala, one of the most famous architectural works of our nations, is erected on top of the Red Hill in Lhasa. The word "Potala" comes from Sanskrit. In the 7th century, after the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo's marriage with Princess Wencheng of the Tang Court, the Palace was built for meditation. In the mid-17th century, it was re-built by the 5th Dalai Lama to its present size, and ever since it became the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lamas. The construction took fifty years from its beginning to completion. The Potala is divided into two sections, namely, the Red Palace and White Palace.
Jokhang Temple

Jokhang Temple situated in the center of the old section of Lhasa, and was built in the mid - 7th century A. D. and later extended by successive rulers, it has now become a gigantic architecture complex. Located in the east, facing to the west, it is a four storeyed temple with splendid golden roofs. It has architecture feature of Tang Dynasty and also assimilated very much features from both Nepalese and Indian Buddhist Temples.


Shopping In Tibet

The Magic of Shopping in Tibet !

Tibet, without a doubt is full of scenic fantasies and historical wonders, but still, a trip to Tibet is never complete without a long shopping spree here, even if you have explored all the destinations inch by inch. Shopping in Tibet, over the time has generated great interest in travelers and now people often travel to Tibet for its shopping bonanza. That's how fascinating and unique the experience of shopping in Tibet is. You can start your stint from Lhasa where you will get everything, from a pin to a palace, and then move onto places that are special for their specialties.

Where to Shop From !

For small and big shopping flits one has to just hang around in the city. Lhasa Department Store, is located on the west end of Yuthok Lu, one of the largest and best-known market hub in Lhasa. It sells all the items one can ask for on urgency basis, or a tourist cannot do without like cotton clothing, mugs, canned food, towels, and toothpaste, plus local handicrafts. Barkhor is another most famous shopping market in Lhasa, where you will find more traditional Tibetan artifacts in small roadside shops. Buddha figures, prayer flags copper teapots, horse bells and jewelry inlaid with turquoise and other gem makes that allure any visitor. Though be aware of the quality of the material that you are buying, because few of them might be fake. But still, unique designs and cheap rates make them great souvenirs that you can take back home.

What are the Famous Shopping Items !

Tibet is actually famous for its handicrafts and paintings like the Thangka which is a kind of a Tibetan scroll painting that generally have their base in Buddhist religion where as Tibetan crafts are often made from different metals like gold, silver, copper and stones like turquoise. These beautiful items with the most exceptional carvings on them have become the most shopped for item in Tibet. Apart from crafts, you should check out some of the most scintillating jewelry that you would have ever seen. There are numerous varieties of jewelry like pearls, agate, gold and silver ornaments.

What Else on Shopping Streets !

Just Wander down the Barkhor street and you will see not only handicrafts, paintings and carpets, but also precious gems, stones, exotic masks, dazzling knives and much more, that will make your head turn and your hands move towards your pocket. The one thing that you must remember is that if you buy a knife, make sure that you send it through mail to your home town, as you are not allowed to take knives with you on flight. You will also come across bookstores from where you can get books related to Tibetan history, culture and even travel like maps and postcards, so don't forget to take a look inside these useful stores.

Srinagar – The Lake City

Srinagar is located in the heart of the Kashmir valley at an altitude of 1,730 m above sea level, spread on both sides of the river Jhelum. The Dal and Nagin lakes enhance its picturesque setting, while the changing play of the seasons and the salubrious climate ensures that the city is equally attractive to visitors around the year.


Kalhana, the author of 'Rajtarangini’, states that Srinagri was founded by Emperor Ashoka (3rd Century BC). The present city of Srinagar was founded by Pravarasena-II, and Hiuen Tsang, who visited Kashmir in 631 AD, found it at the same site as it is today. Laltaditya Muktapida was the most illustrious ruler of Kashmir in the Hindu period, which ended in 1339 AD. King Zain-ul-Abidin (1420-70 AD), popularly known as ‘Budshah’, was a great patron of Sanskrit. Akbar captured Kashmir valley for the Mughals, who endowed Srinagar with beautiful mosques and gardens. The Sikhs overthrew the last Muslim ruler in the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1819. In 1846 the Dogras secured the sovereignty of Kashmir from the British under the Treaty of Amrjtsar, and in 1947 the state of Jammu and Kashmir with Srinagar as its capital, became part of the Indian Union.

Today Srinagar is a resort for the tourist who can experience, at first hand, the peculiar beauty of the valley that has attracted the Chinese, the Mughals and the British to it.

Its waterways with their own quaint lifestyle, the unique Houseboat, the blossoming gardens, water sports activities, shopping for lovingly hand-crafted souvenirs and the nearby resorts make it a cherished spot among those looking for a memorable holiday.

Kashmiri Food
Rich and redolent with the flavour of the spices used –cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, saffron, etc. -- Kashmiri food can be the simple meal of a family, or a 36-course wedding banquet called Wazawan. The staple diet of every Kashmiri is rice, the most preferred being the dense, slightly sticky grained Kashmir variety, which is prized in the Valley.

Mutton, chicken or fish are of prime importance in Kashmiri meal and everyday cooking often combines vegetable and meat in the same dish. Mutton and turnips, chicken and spinach, fish and lotus root are also very popular combinations. Pure vegetarian dishes include dum-aloo - roasted potatoes in curd-based gravy, and chaman- fried paneer (cottage cheese), in a thick sauce. Non-vegetarian dishes are considered in Kashmir to be a sign of lavish hospitality and at a Wazwan or banquet, not more than one or two vegetarian dishes are served. Sweets do not play an important role in Kashmiri cuisine. Instead Kahva or green tea is used to wash down a meal.

Wazawan is usually served at weddings and parties. The most commonly served items are rista (meat balls) made of finely pounded mutton and cooked in a gravy; seekh kababs, tabak maz, or flat pieces of meat cut from the ribs and fried till they acquire a crisp crackling texture, roganjosh, which owes its rich red colour to the generous use of Kashmiri chillies. Yakhni, a cream coloured preparation of delicate flavour, is made with curd as a base. Gushtaba, which is the last item to be served in a traditional wazawan, are meatballs moulded from pounded mutton like large-sized Rista but cooked in thick gravy of fresh curd base. Dam-Aaloo and chaman are the commonly served vegetarian dishes - to serve more than this would indicate an unseemly tendency on the part of the host to economize!

Several restaurants in Srinagar serve Kashmiri wazawan on their menus. Mughal Durabar, Ahdoos and Grand, on the Residency Road, offer authentic wazawan. Similarly, Broadway Hotel on Maulana Azad Road arranges wazawan prepared by professionals.

SEASON

Kashmir has four distinct seasons, each with its own peculiar character and distinctive charm. These are spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Spring, which extends roughly from March to early May, is when a million blossoms carpet the ground. The weather during this time can be gloriously pleasant at 23oC or chilly and windy at 6oC. This is the season when Srinagar experiences rains, but the showers are brief.

Summer extends from May until the end of August. Light woollens may be required to wear out of Srinagar. In higher altitudes night temperatures drop slightly. Srinagar at this time experiences day temperatures of between 25oC and 35oC. At this time, the whole valley is a mosaic of varying shades of green - rice fields, meadows, trees, etc. and Srinagar with its lakes and waterways is a heaven after the scorching heat of the Indian plains.

The onset of autumn, perhaps Kashmir's loveliest season, is towards September, when green turns to gold and then to russet and red. The highest day temperatures in September are around 23oC and night temperatures dip to 10oC by October, and further drop by November, when heavy woollens are essential.


Through December, to the beginning of March is winter time, which presents Srinagar in yet another mood. Bare, snow-covered landscapes being watched from beside the warmth of a fire is a joy that cannot be described to anyone who has not experienced it. Some houseboats and hotels remain open in winter-these are either centrally heated or heated with ‘bukharis’, a typically Kashmiri stove kept alight with embers of wood, quite effective in the winter.

Srinagar Sightseeing



Sightseeing in Srinagar is commonly done by bus or taxi. Another way of seeing the city, especially the lake area, is by shikara. It is particularly pleasant to row over the waters of the Dal Lake to visit the Mughal Gardens and other lakeside sites, including the famous Hazratbal mosque.

The well-known sights in the city are Shankaracharya Temple atop the hill called Takht-e-Suleiman, a 5 km climb from Nehru Park on a metalled road. Across the city is another, much lower hill crowned by the Hari Parbat Fort, built by an Afghan governor of Kashmir in the 18th century. The low wall enclosing the upper part of the hill was constructed by Emperor Akbar. On the hill are several famous places of worship: the temple of goddess Sharika, the shrine of Muslim saint Makhdoorn Sahib, and the historic Sikh Gurudwara Chatti Padshahi.

Lakshadweep

is the smallest union territory of India. The group is located 200 to 300 km off of the coast of Kerala in the Arabian Sea. The total land area of the territory is 32 km². Eleven of the islands are inhabited. Lakshadweep is the northern part of the erstwhile Lakshadweepa.

The islands look like emeralds in the vast expanse of blue sea. Varying hues of turquoise blue translucent water surround them. Coral atolls, the matchless marine environment with myriad colours resulting in complex interaction of animate and inanimate things. Built on ancient volcanic formations are the Lakshadweep (meaning a hundred thousand islands), the tiniest Union Territory of India. It consists of 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks. The atolls poised on submarine banks, harbour 36 islands having an area of 32 Sq.Km. Of these, 10 islands are inhabited namely Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan and Minicoy. The islands lie about 220-440 Kms from the Malabar coast between 8° and 12° 13' North Latitude and 71° & 74° East Longitude. Kavaratti is the Administrative Headquarter of the Union Territory.

Each island is fringed by snowwhite coral sands, are marked by a huge, shallow, calm lagoon on one side which separate it from incoming swells of the outer sea by the fort wall-reef made of massive coral boulders and live corals. The only coral islands of our country, are the result of gradual assimilation of calcium from the water by corals and their turning into reefs.
KAVARATTI

It is the headquarters of the U.T Administration since 1964. You have enough time to explore the island. The beautiful calm lagoon forms an ideal spot for water sport swimming and basking on warm sandy beaches. Marine life exhibits can be seen at the marine aquarium which has excellent collection of specimens. Do not bother if you are not a good swimmer, we have made viewing the exotic underwater world easier for you through our glass bottomed boats. We provide on hire kayaks & sailing yachts. The Dolphin Drive Centre is another attraction for water sports enthusiasts. Tourist availing "Taratashi" package to Kavaratti stay in the tourist huts at the tourist complex. One can visit Kavaratti in Coral Reef and Taratashi packages.

KALPENI

It is known for its scenic beauty and the small islets called Tilakkam & Pitti and an uninhabited island on the north called Cheriyam. A huge shallow lagoon encloses all of them. A peculiar feature of Kalpeni atoll is the huge storm bank of coral debris along the eastern and south-eastern shorelines. It is believed that huge boulders were thrown up during a storm in 1847. It is a progressive island; it was in this island that girls first went to school, when women's education was considered a taboo. You can swim, reef-walk or water-sport on kayaks, sail boats & pedal boats. Water sports crafts are given on hire; 2 bathing huts with change-rooms are available, at Koomel Beach Resort. A visit to the baniyan factory and the light house is also included in the day's program. 4 tourist cottages are also available for staying tourists. Kalpeni is part of Coral Reef and Coconut Grove Packages.

MINICOY

It is about 10.6 Kms long; it is the second longest island, the first being Andrott. It is the southern most island in Lakshadweep, crescent shaped and has one of the largest lagoons. Viringle is the small islet that you see on the south. Minicoy is set apart from the Northern group of islands by its culture; the islanders are employed as seamen in ocean going vessels the world over. The island has systematically arranged village system known as "Athiris"; each athiri is a cluster of houses which is head by an elected elderly man called Mooppan. Traditionally all powers to manage village affairs were vested in him. Each village has a village house beautifully decorated and maintained. Mahl is the spoken language. Minicoy is an important centre of tuna fishing.
The light house of the island is one of the oldest and was constructed in 1885. You will be taken to the villages, tuna canning factory, the light house and for a long drive through dense coconut groves and winding village roads. The beaches have bathing huts and change rooms; so swim and beach walk, Pedal boat, Kayak and Sail. We provide these on hire. Tourist cottages and one 20 bedded tourist home have been constructed for the staying tourists. This island is part of Coral Reef and Swaying Palm packages.

KADMATH

MARINE WEALTH AWARENESS PACKAGE. Kadmath is 8 Kms long and 550 metres wide at the broadest point. In addition to the beautiful shallow lagoon on the west that forms an ideal spot for water sports, there is a narrow lagoon on the east. The best attractions are the long sandy beaches and small sand banks on the southern tip for sun baths. Kadmath has been identified for staying tourists with its tourist huts aesthetically situated in the coconut palm groves in the beaches facing the lagoon. The place is ideal for a real holiday that brings you away from the maddening crowd, hustle and bustle of city life. You will certainly learn the art of disembarkation on the island around noon on the second day of the 6 days Marine Wealth Awareness Programme tour.

You spend 3 days enjoying sea breeze and moonlit beach. Water sports crafts like kayaks, pedal boats, sailing yachts, skiing boats and glass bottomed boats are available on hire. The scuba diving centre in the island has become an attraction for water-sport enthusiasts. All meals are served at the tourist restaurant. Departure is on the fifth day.

Water Sports


The vast expanses of the shallow lagoons provide an ideal setting for water sports enthusiasts. All the islands included in the various tourist packages offer kayaks, pedal boats, sail boats, wind surfers, glass-bottomed boats and other facilities to tourists who wish to indulge in water sports in the unpolluted lagoons. Kadmat, Kavaratti and Bangaram have facilities for scuba diving. Deep-sea fishing buffs can pursue big game fishing. Barracuda, Sail Fish, Yellow Fin Tuna, Travelly and Wahoo are abundant in the seas around Lakshadweep. Local boats with experienced crew can be hired. Kayaks, canoes, surf modules, snorkels and other water sports are also available in all the islands open for tourists.

REACHING THERE...........

The Lakshadweep group of islands are well connected both by Air and Sea. While Islands like Agatti & Bangaram can be reached by Air, the other islands can be reached by ship from Kochi. The ship offers different classes of accommodations. A/c First class with two/four berth cabins & tourist class with A/c seating. The vessels have all the facilities that go with a passenger vessel , namely video shows, cafeteria & snack bar, upper-deck airing space , entertainment lounge, Doctor on call etc.