TIBET: ROOF OF THE WORLD!

Tibet, the very name evokes feelings of awe and mystery. A land of ancient Buddhist culture, awesome landscapes, artistic monasteries, exotic cities, hidden valleys and centuries-old caravan trails, Tibet offers a totally different experience. Known as the Roof of the World, it is the destination for the ultimate thrill-seeker.

And Kathmandu is the natural gateway to this amazing land. Once the center of the ancient trade route connecting Indian and Tibet, Kathmandu is perfectly positioned for its modern role as the hub of adventure tourism in the Himalaya.
Fine transport connections exist between Kathmandu and Lhasa, the capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. You can go overland on a scenic highway that retraces the old caravan trail or take a spectacular flight over the Himalaya. The one-hour flight to Lhasa is an adventure in itself. Taking off from Kathmandu, the plane flies alongside the eastern Himalaya as far as Mt Everest and then turns north with gigantic snow peaks filling up the left-hand side windows. Soon, the mountains drop away and you are gliding across the barren Tibetan plateau to touch down at Gonggar Airport, 85 Km from Lhasa.

LHASA: Regardless of how much pre-departure reading you may have done, Lhasa will overwhelm you with its extraordinary sights. And it's not only the altitude (3,650 m) that will take your breath away. The magnificent Potala Palace, former seat of the Dalai Lamas, presides over the city. Built in 1645 at the top of a hill, the palace contains a thousand rooms, 10,000 shrines and 200,000 religious statues.

The old city revolves around the Jokhang Temple and the quaint Bhakor market that surrounds it. The Jhokhang, built in the seventh century, is the holiest Buddhist shrine in Tibet. Its mural paintings finely worked golden roofs and other art-works are something to see.

Norbulingka, which means "the jeweled garden", consists of 360,000 Sq m of wooded greenery and three places once used by the Dalai Lamas as a summer retreat. The Drepung Monastery lies about 10 Km from the city. Built in 1416 by a disciple of Tsong Khapa, it is the largest in Tibet. Its numerous Buddhist statues, ancient scriptures, scroll paintings and other cultural relics will keep you fascinated. The Sera Monastery, about 5 Km north of Lhasa, is another important center of Buddhist learning. Built in 1419, its most remarkable image is a nine-meter image of Maitreya.

SHIGATSE: An excellent excursion from Lhasa is a circuit that takes in the towns of Shigatse, Gyantse and Tsetang. Fine highways and stunning scenery on the way make this a superb trip. It also offers a comprehensive experience of Tibet in a neat itinerary.

Shigatse (3,900 m) lies some 274 Km to the west of Lhasa and is Tibet's second largest city. The highway runs alongside the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river passing through narrow gorges and broad river valleys. Farmers plowing their fields with yaks, sheep grazing on the vast plains, awesome sand dunes and rocky hills in the distance are the scenic rewards of this journey.

The Tashilhunpo Monastery, built in 1447 by the first Dalai Lama, is Shigatse's most important cultural and religious site. The main chapel here contains a huge 26 meter high statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha. Other buildings contain images of Shakyamuni (the present Buddha), white and green Taras and embalmed bodies of past Panchen Lamas.

GYANTSE: Shigatse to Gyantse (3,800 m) is 94 Km of gravel but good road. Gyantse's symbol is the Kumbum Stupa which is 32 m high and contains 77 rooms and 100,000 images of the Buddha. A prince of Gyantse had it built in 1427 by craftsmen from the Kathmandu Valley. It is the finest example of 15th century Newar art extant in the world. Pelkor Chode Monastery and Gyantse Fort (built atop a massive rock) are other major sights here.