Tibet On a Budget
Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet
Sights
The countryside of Tibet is at the highest elevation in the world. The Himalayas gracefully sweep down its western border, while winding rivers snake through vast open plains. You can see a good sampling of Tibet's natural beauty at a place like Namtso Lake, the highest salt water lake in the world. Here, visitors and nomads enjoy the great plateau appeal of the lake with views of the snow-capped Thangula range in the north. While the natural sights of Tibet are an undeniable treasure, the region is most known for its holy places. Most of its cities, towns, and villages are centered on religion, with historic temples and monasteries being the focal point for all. Lhasa especially has many traditional buildings like Potala Palace which was home to the Dalai Lamas, Jokhang Temple built in 647 AD, the Summer Palace of the Dalai Lama, and Barkhor Street which is lined with traditional Tibetan architecture.Samye Monastery, located in the Shannan prefecture, is also an important site as the first Buddhist Monastery in Tibet, while Tashilhunpo Monastery in Xigatse is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. And then there is Rongbuk Monastery, one of the highest monasteries in the world, from which there are stunning views of Mount Everest.
Regions
Tibet is divided into seven prefectures which include its capital of Lhasa as well as Xigatse, Ngari, Qamdo, Nagqu, Nyingchi, and Shannan. Lhasa remains Tibet's holiest city, home to many successive Dalai Lamas at Potala Palace and a good number of monasteries and temples. Over 1,300 years old situated next to a river, the city's name, Lhasa, translates as "Land of the Gods." Tibetan culture still thrives here, and you will often see locals engaged in prayer in traditional dress at the city's temples. Lhasa also has a bustling market where you will find locals and visitors alike bartering for items like Tibetan rugs, oil paintings, carved goods, woolen clothing, and other authentic handicrafts. In general most tourist activity is concentrated in five areas: Lhasa, Eastern Tibet, Western Tibet, Northern Tibet, and Yalong Valley.Activities
Most people come to Tibet to experience its old world aura of traditional culture, devout religion, beautiful temples and monasteries, and bustling markets. One could spend days admiring the grandeur of the surrounding mountains, or getting lost in the sights and sounds of everyday life in the villages. With the entirety of Tibet being the highest place on earth, one truly feels closer to the heavens, rising above everything else and experiencing new ways of seeing the world.If you seek a more guided understanding during your travels, there are many tour companies as well as local tour guides more than willing to share the world of Tibet with foreigners. Some offer tours of the region's hot spots, cultural sites and monasteries, while others cater to the surrounding countryside.
Food and Dining
Traditional Tibetan cuisine is largely limited to barley, meat (usually mutton or yak), and dairy products. Very few spices and vegetables are used in the cooking, though most dishes are served with a very hot chili sauce on the side. Tibetan restaurants also usually serve westernized food options, and there are an abundance of good Chinese restaurants as well. Tea houses, too, can be found just about everywhere, being a place where many locals come to sit down with friends. While larger towns and cities serve both sweet and salted teas, smaller villages only serve salted. As far as food and drink go, some Tibetan staples include:Momos: dumplings filled with meat or vegetables, steamed or fried
Tingmo: bland, nearly tasteless steamed bread
Thukpa: a hearty noodle soup with vegetables or meat
Thenthuk: thukpa with handmade noodles
Yak butter tea: salty tea churned with butter, a Tibetan staple and usually an acquired taste for most Westerners
Chang: a Tibetan beer made of barley, light in flavor
Transportation
Lhasa Gonggar Airport is the airport serving Lhasa, the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is located about 61 miles south of the city. Domestic airlines using the airport can operate flights to Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chongqing, Xian, Xining, Kunming, Diqing, and Chamdo Region. One international airline connects Lhasa to Kathmandu, Nepal. Buses at the airport can shuttle visitors to downtown Lhasa, taking about 40-60 minutes.Tibet is also connected to other parts of China via railways lines. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway runs from Qinghai to Tibet with many stations in between including Delhi, Golmud, Amdo, Tanggula, Nagqu, and Damxung. The ride is very scenic, traversing plains, mountain ranges, rivers and lakes, grasslands, and densely populated cities.
As far as roads go, there are four leading into Tibet which roughly correspond to the cardinal directions.
All foreign visitors do need one or more permits to visit Tibet, so be sure to do your research on the necessary paperwork before setting out on your trip.
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