|
<<
Indian Himalayas
<<
Pilgrimage
Travel Destinations
>>
<<
Pilgrimage Travel Sikkim (Gangtok)>>
Pilgrimage Travel Tibet
|
Location: |
470-kms From Bhutan
|
|
Average Altitude: |
4,000m
|
|
Capital: |
Lhasa
|
|
Best Time To Visit: |
April To November
|
Holy Mount Kailash
Mt. Kailash (22028 Feet), considered to be a physical
embodiment of the mythical Mt. Meru, is believed to be the most sacred mountain
in the world. Its snow dusted rock pyramid is located in the scenically rich
area of western Tibet, which lies between the Himalayas and Karakurum ranges.
From its peak, one can enjoy the views of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and
Nepal. It is considered most auspicious to make a religious pilgrimage around
its fifty-three kilometres circuit (32 miles parikrama).
In fact, the
entire region of Mt. Kailash is of important religious significance and includes
the two turquoise-blue, pristine high-altitude lakes of Mansarovar and Rakshesa.
Mt. Kailash is regarded holy by followers of several religions. To Hindus,
Kailash is the abode of Shiva and nearby Manasarobar Lake, the soul of Brahma.
Tibetans call Kailash Kang Rimpoche. Jains worship it as Mt Ashtapada, the peak
from which the religion's founder, Rishabanatha, achieved spiritual liberation.
And the followers of Bon-Po, the ancient pre-Buddhist shamanistic religion of
Tibet, revere Kailash as the soul of Tibet.
Culture and Scenic
Diversity
Tibet, one of the extra ordinary destinations
where indeed adventure lurks around every corner. Its name the "Roof of the
world" is not a mere statement. The valley bottoms of tibet are highter than the
highest mountains elsewhere. Adventure on the road is never short on the
beautiful Trans - Himalaya drive of over 970-kms, through four mountain passes,
promising a panorama of a cultural and scenic diversity unsurpassable anywhere.
The Buddhist monasteries of Drepung, once the
largest; the Jokhang- a spirtual centre, and the awesome palaces of the dalai
lama. Norbulingka or the Summer Palace and the Potala - the Traditional Seat are
some of the highlights of visit. For Tibetans, pilgrimage refers to the journey
from ignorance to enlightenment, from self-centeredness and materialistic
preoccupations to a deep sense of the relativity and interconnectedness of all
life.
The Tibetan word for pilgrimage, neykhor, means "to circle around a
sacred place," for the goal of pilgrimage is less to reach a particular
destination than to transcend through inspired travel the attachments and habits
of inattention that restrict awareness of a larger reality........By traveling
to sacred sites, Tibetans are brought into living contact with the icons and
energies of Tantric Buddhism. The neys, or sacred sites themselves,
through their geological features and the narratives of transformation attached
to them, continually remind pilgrims of the liberating power of the Tantric
Buddhist tradition.......Over time pilgrimage guidebooks were written, giving
instructions to pilgrims visiting the holy sites and accounts of their history
and significance. These guidebooks, neighs, empowered Tibet and its
people with a sacred geography, a narrated vision of the world ordered and
transformed through Buddhist magic and metaphysics.
How to Reach Tibet
Air:
Chengdu, Sichuan to Lhasa Direct daily flights are available between Chengdu,
Sichuan, and Lhasa. You can easily get a ticket through a travel agency in
Chengdu. There is also a comfortable 2-hour flight twice weekly between
Chongqing and Lhasa.
Kathmandu to Lhasa From April
to November there are 2 flights a week available between the Nepalese capital
and Lhasa. Schedule air services fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa, and back every
Tuesday and Saturdays with additional flights on Thursdays from July. This
flight last a little over one hour and gives you a panoramic view of the
Himalayas. However, individual travelers can get neither a visa nor an air
ticket, which are only available to members of an organized group.
Road:
Xining, Qinghai via Golmud to Lhasa, this bus trip is tough going and takes a
minimum of 2 nights and 3 days along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. Although
uncomfortable this is still the most popular route for travelers sticking to
land transportation.
Kathmandu via Dram (Khasa) to Lhasa As with the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, the
China-Nepal Friendship Highway is a popular route for travelers. This route
brings you close to a number of famous sights, such as Shigatse, Gyantse, and
the Everest Base Camp. It takes 5-7 days of traveling over the Tibetan Highlands
to get to Lhasa via this route. This overland trip also subjects individual
travelers to the same restrictions as access by air from Nepal.
General Info.
| To Tibet |
Altitude |
| Zhangmu |
7,000 ft |
| Xegar |
13,800 ft |
| Xigatse |
12,600 ft |
| Lhasa |
13,050 ft |
Borders -
India, Nepal (1,236-kms), Bhutan (470-kms) and
Myanmar.
Note - Season for
Tibet is from the end March to end November each year. From end November to end
March it gets too cold and flights do not operate during this period. Flights
operate from first week April to end November every year.
Tour Packages/Itineraries to Tibet
/
 Hotels
in Tibet
|
. .
B
I J U.
.
Trekking Itineraries
