Tibet is an occupied state (a region of Central Asia on the Tibetan Plateau). According to smb, the country was conquered by China in 1950. The actions of the Chinese authorities are regarded by the Dalai Lama as a cultural genocide. The capital of the country is Lhasa.
Before joining China, Tibet had its own flag and coat of arms. Now they are used by the Tibetan government in exile. The climate is mountainous. Temperature in winter – 5*С, in summer + 15*С.
Tibet is an ancient state that was independent not so long ago and has its own history, culture and national traditions.
Resorts and Attractions in Tibet
Lhasa is the capital of Tibet. The name translates as “The abode of the gods.” This is truly a paradise for lovers of travel to other states and in ancient times. In the very bowels of the old city is the majestic Jokhang Temple (Buddha House), built by Emperor Songtsen Gampo back in the 7th century AD.
In the city of Gyantse, you will find a huge number of cultural monuments that are the undisputed heritage of Tibet. Here are a number of places that play an important role in the development and formation of the Tibetan civilization. Gyantse is one of the favorite places to visit by tourists from different parts of the world.
Sacred Lake Yamdrok Tso (Turquoise) – located at an altitude of 4408 meters, this lake is a talisman and guardian of the life force of Tibet. Lake Bazum (Tsokou – green water) is another holy place of Tibetan Buddhism. Lake Manasarova (Jade) – the legend says that the water from the lake can wash away all sins, so this place is very popular among pilgrims. The Yarlong Tsengpo River is the largest in Tibet.
Majestic Mount Kailash located on the western coast of Tibet. It is called the center of the earth. This place is also the center of the universe for the followers of 4 religions, which make up half of the planet’s population. Near the mountain is the sacred lake Manasarova.
The Potala Palace is the main historical and architectural monument of Tibet. On the territory of the palace there are temples (one of them houses the sacred statue of Ariya Lokashvara), the personal monastery of the Dalai Lama, cells of monks, a religious school, a treasury. Potala is considered the winter residence of the Dalai Lama, it is also the venue for numerous political meetings, religious events, and most importantly, the enthronement ceremony of the Dalai Lama.
Yumbulagang (Palace of mother and son). One of the religious buildings in Tibet with a history of 2000 years. The walls of the monastery are painted with frescoes that show the early history of this country.
Kailash is a mountain with a tetrahedral pyramidal shape, a snow cap and faces oriented almost exactly to the cardinal points. There are many stories and legends associated with this place. Kailash is a sacred mountain, the center of Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims. Hiking on this mountain is a whole ceremony that takes several days. It is believed that one detour around Kailash can atone for all sins.
Interesting Facts
Only in 1984, Tibet was opened by the Chinese authorities for tourists.
The PRC maintains a significant part of its nuclear weapons on Tibetan territory.
The literacy rate of Tibetans is less than 50%.
In Tibet, there is a monastic healing tradition – Tibetan medicine.
Ear and nose taxes existed in Tibet in the 1920s.
Travel to Tibet
One of the five autonomous regions of China is Tibet, the “Roof of the World”, an amazing place, most of whose territory is located at an altitude of more than 4000 meters above sea level. Tibet is an ancient state that was independent not so long ago and has its own history, culture and national traditions. Tourists are most attracted to the southern regions of Tibet, adjacent to the Himalayas, where the city of Lhasa, the capital of Lamaism, is located, which until recently was almost completely closed to everyone except Tibetans, and is still one of the most mysterious cities in the world.
There are several ways to get to Lhasa: by plane or by two highways leading from the central regions of China: from the east – from the city of Chengdu (Sichuan Province) and from the north – from the city of Golmud (Qinghai Province). Lhasa was founded in the 7th century and for a long time was one of the most important centers for the development of the northern branch of Buddhism, and later the residence of the Dalai Lama was located here.
Potala – a huge palace and monastery complex – is the largest Buddhist monastery in the world; it is located on the slope of Mount Mabuzhi, towering over Lhasa. This is the highest and most grandiose of the lamaist monasteries. It was built in the 7th century and covers an area of 41 hectares. Its outer walls are made of granite, it has 13 floors in height, where one thousand rooms are located. The “Red Palace” is the central part of the complex, here were the apartments of the Dalai Lama, the main lamaist shrines and tombs. The “White Palace” housed the rooms of the courtiers, numerous storerooms, etc.
In the middle of the 20th century, there were more than 3,000 monasteries in Tibet, and many men became monks, but during the Chinese invasion and occupation, many ancient monasteries were destroyed. Today, the monasteries of Big Zhu, located in the center of Lhasa, and Braibun, located 8 kilometers west of Lhasa, are also most popular. Of particular interest is the Sera Monastery, whose buildings seem to be pressed against a huge mountain.
