If you want to savor the rich Tibetan culture and history but don’t have much time to spare, then this tour is tailored for you. Lhasa, the most famous among Tibetan cities, was the capital of the first Tibetan emperor Songstan Gampo. The city of Lhasa lies on the north bank of the Lhasa river, a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo river, at an altitude of 3,700 meters. Covering an area of 544 sq kilometers and lying at an altitude of 3660 meters, Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The city has a history of over 13 centuries and is synonymous with Tibetan culture and heritage. Your tour itinerary includes a visit to the majestic Potala palace, the splendid Norbulingka (summer retreat of the Dalai Lama), the sacred Jokhang temple and the busy Barkhor square. You will also be taken on a guided tour to the ancient monasteries of Sera and Drepung, important seats of Tibetan Buddhism, Potala Palace.
Region: Tibet
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Via Zhangmu
Mount Kailash, 6,740m. is situated to the north of the Himalayan barrier, wholly within Tibet. It is the perfect mountain with awesome beauty, with 4 great faces. It is the spiritual enter for four great religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, the Jain religion and the pre-Buddhist animistic religion – Bonpo. To Tibetans it is known as Khang Rimpoche (Precious Jewel of Snow) and they see it as the navel of the world. It is said that a stream from the mountain pours into a nearby lake and from here rivers flow in the four cardinal directions. The River of the Lion Mouth to the North, the River of the Horse Mouth to the east, the River of the Peacock Mouth to the south and the River of the Elephant Mouth to the West. Strangely enough, four major rivers do indeed originate near Kailash, the Indus, the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra), the Karnali and the Sutlej. Tibetans believe that it is the residence of Demchog, a fierce looking tantric deity who lives there with his consort, Dorje Phagmo. For the Tibetans also, it is a particularly special place in that their poet saint Milarepa, spent several years here meditating in a cave. For the Hindus Mount Kailash is the earthly manifestation of Mt. Meru, their spiritual centre of the universe, described as a fantastic ‘world pillar’ 84,000 miles high, around which all else revolves, its roots in the lowest hell and its summit kissing the heavens. On the top live their most revered God, Shiva, and his consort Parvati. For the Jains, an Indian religious group, Kailash is the site where their first prophet achieved enlightenment. For the older, more ancient religion of Bon, it is the site where its founder Shanrab is said to have descended from heaven. It was formerly the spiritual centre of Zhang Zung, the ancient Bon Empire that once included all of western Tibet. Bon people walk around the mountain in a counter clockwise manner, unlike the other religions. Over the centuries pilgrims have constantly journeyed immense distances to achieve enlightenment or cleanse themselves of sin, braving enormous distances, particularly harsh weather and bandit attacks.
Lhasa – Kathmandu Overland tour
Tibet, which boasts of spectacular mountain scenery and a rich cultural heritage, is a place worth visiting. As you drive across the Tibetan plateau, you will be expertly guided around all the Tibetan monasteries, temples, monuments and important tourist sites by expert local Tibetan guide. In Lhasa you explore the PotalaPalace, Sera Monastery, Norbulingka, JokhangTemple, Drepung Monastery and the busy Barkhor Square. Leaving Lhasa on a vehicle, you will be driven past picturesque Tibetan settlements where nomadic herdsmen can be seen wandering across the wide arid plateau. This overland journey takes you over several high mountain passes with spectacular mountain views, including those of the majestic Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu and Shishapangma. Your adventure tour continues to the historic cities of Shigatse and Gyantse. As you explore the ancient monasteries, forts and citadels you get an insight into the rich Tibetan culture and history. As you leave Zhangmu and cross the FriendshipBridge, you enter Nepal. Your overland tour comes to a finale.
