Lonely Planet Tibet

[Tina Larzelere]

Gettingto the valley involved a long drive down a narrow and intimidating gorge. Eventually, the sides of the gorge peeled back to reveal a wide valley of stone villages, fields of barley and old-growth pine forests backed by snowy peaks. At the heart of the valley was a massive shedra (Buddhist college) and monastery complex, where hundreds of red-robed Buddhist monks lived and studied.

After some days spent hiking to mountain meadows, I was taken to an ancient hillside chapel. Hanging from the roof beams of the chapel were four stuffed yaks. An unusual thing to see hanging from roof beams, but not as unusual as the dangling carcass beside them. It was a large, shaggy creature with long hair and huge claws and fangs. The moment I saw it, I had a suspicion that I knew exactly what it might be.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, the monk flipped through various videos until he got to the one he was looking for. On the screen in front of me were very clearly three Tibetan blue bears. A mother and two babies strolling through a farmstead in this very valley. Absolute proof that the Tibetan blue bear was not just not extinct but that the legend of the yeti is still alive and well in a hidden Tibetan valley.

Stuart Butler is a writer, award-winning photographer and guidebook author specialising in Tibet and the Himalaya and eastern and central Africa. Among other destinations he is the author of guidebooks to Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and Ladakh. He also writes about conservation, the environment and hiking. lonelyplanet.com

Top 20 things to do in Tibet, as ranked by lonely planet guide book are some of the top things to experience in the world. Tibet, being isolated for centuries, developed a unique blend of culture, tradition, and Landscape. You will not find such an intoxicating blend of art, spirituality, and natural beauty can be found nowhere on the earth.

From the Mount Kailash to the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Majority of the sites, festivals, and route in Tibet are associated with pilgrimage and spirituality. You will be greeted with a warm smile and welcome with loving-kindness, where ever you go here in Tibet.

The Holiest mount of the world, located in one of the most remote regions of the world. The mount is like four-sided Tibetan Buddhist stupa right in the plan of Barkha. Its a source of four greatest river in Asia. Also, you can trek for three days around the holy mount with Tibetan Buddhist and Hindus circulating it. You will often find Tibetan prostrating along the world high trekking route.

The Barkhor circuit is the most ancient market place in Lhasa. Follow the thousands of Pilgrims and prostrators circulating the Barkhor. People all over the Tibetan world gathered around this circuit. Follow the wave and experience what surprise is waiting for you here.

The holiest in inner Tibet. As you walk into the narrow dark passageway into Jokhang temple, transform back to 14th Century. Scroll around the oldest temple in Tibet with Millenium ancient murals and doorways. Look at the devotion of Pilgrims lining up to have the glimpse of the Holiest statue of Buddha the Jho in the flicking light of thousand of Butter lamp. The heartbeat of the spiritual heart of Tibet.

Drive to the Rongbuk Monastery to have a look at the Mount Everest with Tibetan landscape frame. The marvelous sunset and sunshine are recommended to all who would make it to here. Stay a night in Rongbuk Monastery guest house in a window facing towards the mount, here you will not able it leave her site.

There is only a fine line between tourist and pilgrims in Tibet. This line is nonexisting during a Saga Dawa Festival. Thousands of Pilgrims flow into Lhasa Valley for ritual like 8 km circumambulation of Entire old city (Lingkhor). Visit Tsurphu Monastery and Drigung Monastery for the audience of ritual Cham Dance. Go to Mount Kailash for the biggest annual gathering of pilgrims, Shout hail to the victory of good over the evils with thousand of devotees during the Prayer flag pole raising ceremony in Darchen at the foot of Holy mount.

Samye is the first Buddhism monastery in Tibet. The monastery complex is designed base of the Buddhist architecture in Mandala style. There are collections of Chapels, Stupas, and shrines arrange around the main temple. It is here where the great debate of Samye is held sealing the future course of Tibetan Buddhism. Visit the site on Hepori hill where Guru Rinpoche battle the local Demons to stop them hindering the introduction of Buddhism in Tibet and construction of the temple.

The train ride to Lhasa is the world highest and the engineering marvel. It is a delightful way to reach Lhasa city. Get the window seat to have a view of hundreds of miles of emptiness, dots of yaks and herder tents in plan and ranges of the inner Himalayan region. This classic rail trip takes you to the highest point at 5072m.

The greatest Monasteric institution of Tibet like Sera and Ganden Monastery is more than just a monastery. These are self-contained towns. Travel back to centuries in the allay of whitewashed walls. Visit the Monastery medieval kitchen, colleges, and giant assembly hall full of red-robed monks chanting and shipping tea.

Do not miss the opportunity to see the extravagant spectator of Afternoon debate in Sera Monastery. With local travel agencies like i-Tibet travel and Tibet Universal Travel, A small visit to monks living quarters for a tea is possible.

Your first view of the Majestic Potala palace is one such moment in Tibet which stays in you for a long time. Visit the castle to see the living quarters of Dalia lamas, tomb stupa, and Prayer halls. The palace is the concentration of the spiritual and material wealth of Tibet.

Yak Butter tea or some prefer to call it Yak Butter soup is found everywhere in Tibet. Whether you are in a Tibetan Family home, monastery, or Local Tea shop, you will find people drinking it everywhere. Have a cup of it before making your judgment about its taste. Say cheers to your self with a cup of butter tea for making it to Tibet.

Kumbum Stupa in Gyantse Palchoe Monastery is the most unique and the most beautiful temple in the Himalayas. Spiral up in the interior of the stupa, takes you small chapels, century-old murals, and statues. You will finally pop out on the top balcony underneath the all-seeing eyes of the stupa. From here you will have a fabulous view of the Gyantse fort and medieval town of Gyantse.

A night in Gyantse highly recommends for the proper exploration of the town and the fort.

The Ganden Monastery is located stunningly on the bank of Kyichu River in Lhasa, Facing southward into the amphitheatrical valley. The monastery is well known for golden tomb stupa of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Monastery and Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. There is a beautiful Kora path around the monastery, which will soon make you breath harder for the high elevation. It is the beginning of the very famous Ganden to Samye Monastery trekking route.

Where ever you go in Tibet, you will find pilgrims twirling their prayer wheels, rubbing on the sacred rocks and walking around the temple and sometimes the entire mountains. Join the groups of pilgrims for authentic experiences. Sometimes you might get invited for tea and small conversations. My favorite is Mount Kailash Kora.

Taking 25 km detour from the friend highway before the Mount Everest Basecamp takes you to the Sakya Monastery. The Grey fortified Monastery is the principal monastery for the Sakya Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It is the famous pilgrim destination in the western Tibet. The monastery is known for its three-story library, Tree trunk size pillar, sacred relics and towering statues of Buddha.

Ranked as one of the Asian greatest travel secrets. The ruin of the lost kingdom of Guge near Mt Kailash is not like anything you have seen in rest of Tibet. Crawling through the hidden staircase and interconnected cave systems, you will wonder how amazing it is. Even more fantastic fact is half of the ruin is unexplored for yourself.

More resemblance to the Canadian Rockies than anything in Tibet. The sandy beaches, snowcapped peaks, and crystal clear water of Rawok lake will surpass all the other spectaculars of Tibet. Stay overnight in a hotel above the lake and visit the nearby glaciers.

The four-day trek between two famous monasteries in Tibet is the traditional pilgrim route between two. Organize your trekking with a local travel agency to explore herders camp, alpine lakes, and three over 5000s passes.

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