Many people still consider Tibet to be almost a mythical destination. Tibetan Buddhist heritage and beautiful landscapes dominated by the sky-soaring Himalayas make this country one of the friendliest in the world.
One of the unique characteristics of Tibet is that it has both a religious and secular culture. There are many reasons to visit Tibet, which we summarize in the following top ten list.
You can find a lot of reasons to visit Tibet - the "Roof of the World," and many of these will make you take a flight to Tibet. Until recently, Tibet was one of the most challenging places to reach, but improved transportation has made travelling to Tibet much easier. Listed below are a few concise reasons why travelling to Tibet is a wise decision:
You can find a lot of reasons to visit Tibet - the "Roof of the World," and many of these will make you take a flight to Tibet. Until recently, Tibet was one of the most challenging places to reach, but improved transportation has made travelling to Tibet much easier. Listed below are a few concise reasons why travelling to Tibet is a wise decision.
Landscapes are often the reason why tourists flock to a place. There are many magnificent and captivating landscapes in Tibet, of course. The Tibetans are very proud of their mountains. If you visit Tibet, you will see Mount Everest and other Eight-thousanders (mountains over 8,000 meters high).
The Yarlung Zangbu Grand Canyon is the world's deepest gorge, and you can see it in Tibet if you want to see deep valleys. You can view the highest lakes in the world in Tibet, including the enchanting Lakes of Manasarovar and Namtso, called "the Heavenly Lakes". The tourist attractions in Tibet are certainly "superlative".
Monasteries and temples in Tibet will astonish you when you visit. In addition to being popular pilgrimage sites, these monasteries are also popular tourist attractions. Below are some famous monasteries that shouldn't be missed.
A masterpiece of Tibetan architecture, Jokhang Temple is the spiritual centre of Tibetans. A stunning mosaic of Chinese, Indian, Nepalese, and Tibetan details can be found throughout the temple's chapels, rooms, and hallways, along with Buddha statues in different postures.
A world heritage site is the Potala Palace, which dominates Lhasa's skyline. A place of worship and a stronghold, Potala features magnificent stairways that connect the Red and White palaces. This palace has a golden roof, bell-shaped stupas, and Buddhist chapels.
There are nearly 60 halls and more than 3,500 rooms in Tashilhunpo Monastery, which features traditional Tibetan religious architecture. Golden-roofed Tashilhunpo is surrounded by a high hill where a giant statue of Future (Maitreya) Buddha stands.
A visit to Tibet is undoubtedly incomplete without experiencing Tibetan culture.
There is a deep religious tradition among Tibetans. Buddhism was introduced to Tibet more than 1300 years ago, and their devotion to it dates back even further. Any visit to Tibet is incomplete without experiencing the profound influence of Buddhism.
Tibetans also worship mountains as living deities along with religious deities. The Tibetan mountains, temples, and monasteries are dotted with pilgrims who spin prayer wheels. Unlike Tibetans who follow the Bon religion, who follow a counterclockwise direction around sacred sites, these walkers follow a clockwise direction.
Tibet's most memorable moments will likely arise from your interactions with its people, not the scenery. You will leave Tibet with a deeper appreciation for the unique cultural identity of the Tibetan people and a deeper insight into the yak-butter tea that a monk offers you in a remote monastery.
Every year, Tibet hosts more than 100 festivals. You can gain a deeper understanding of Tibetan.
Buddhism by experiencing a festival in Tibet.
At Mount Kailash - a sacred place in Buddhist and Hindu religions - Tibet celebrates the Saga Dawa festival, one of its most significant festivals.
Tibet's Saga Dawa Festival attracts thousands of pilgrims to pay homage to Mount Kailash. Hindus and Buddhists consider this mountain the cosmic centre of the universe, the source of all life.
Thousands of pilgrims will perform a clockwise circumambulation of the mountain's base in homage to the peak. A 5800m pass to cross during the trek lasts several days.
It would help if you tried the local cuisine whenever you travel to a new place. Tibet is home to a variety of delicious dishes with unique flavours. You might want to try some of these popular Tibetan foods.
Generations of Tibetans grew up eating tsampa made from barley flour. In local cuisine, this dish gets served with dairy products such as dry cheese, butter tea, and sometimes sugar.
In Tibetan cuisine, yak meat plays an essential role. A local speciality is dried yak meat, used to make momos (dumplings) and Tibetan pizzas.
Local households welcome guests with Tibetan coffee, called sweet tea. In addition to fresh or powdered milk, brown or white sugar, and black tea, sweet tea is commonly made with fresh or powdered milk. Getting warm with thenthuk, a soup combining noodles, yak meat, and vegetables, is easy.
The Friendship Highway offers an epic 850 km drive between Kathmandu and Lhasa. Probably the most spectacular journey in the world, without a doubt.
After the 2015 earthquake damaged the border crossing between Nepal and Tibet, it was closed. As long as no other part of the highway is damaged, it is still possible to drive through Tibet to the Everest base camp and Rongphu Monastery.
There is spectacular scenery along the highway, which takes 2-3 days to drive. The Yarlung Tsangpo River and the upper valley of the river will amaze you, along with unique cultural monuments.
The vastness of Tibet is home to many rare and endemic wildlife species, making it a top naturalist destination in the world.
Some iconic bird species are vultures, Tibetan sacred birds, and Ruddy Shell Ducks, commonly found on lakes and rivers in winter. The Bar-headed Geese often fly over Mount Everest while you are climbing it.
As transportation, a food source (cheese and meat) and a form of farming, Tibetan Yaks are similar to cows but with longer hair.
The Tibetan countryside is also home to Tibetan antelopes and mastiffs. Mastiffs are commonly seen accompanied by nomadic nomads and protect their sheep from predators like wolves, leopards, and leopards. They inhabit semi-deserts and mountain steppes, while furry antelopes inhabit semi-deserts and mountain steppes.
Nowadays, getting to Tibet isn't too tricky. After arranging the desired tour with a local travel agency, getting to Tibet by plane or train via Nepal or China is an entertaining and scenic experience.
Lhasa, Tibet, is 15 minutes away by plane from Kathmandu, and flights are available daily. Since the time zones are different, planes depart around midday and land at Lhasa Airport between 3 and 4 pm.
From major cities of China, travel by train to Lhasa can take 36 to 52 hours, depending on the destination (Chengdu or Guangzhou).
Journey times from Beijing and Shanghai are approximately 40 and 47 hours, respectively. Over travelling by aeroplane, the Tibetan train offers you the opportunity to adjust to altitude differences.
Tibet can be a costly trip in most cases. The good news is that you can still enjoy your journey on a budget. Organizing a trip to Tibet with a reputable agency like Tibet Vista is a rewarding experience with many opportunities.
Feel free to contact us if interested in a memorable, cost-effective vacation or other services. You will enjoy suitable accommodation, efficient transport, and expert guidance when you join our Tibet group tours designed by travel specialists.
Tibet is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that many people never get to experience, so there are many reasons to visit. Travelling to Tibet would be a wonderful experience because of its unspoiled landscapes and natural beauty. This fascinating country's unique culture and history should make you want to take a flight there even more.
It's almost impossible to believe that Tibet has such a beautiful landscape. Since it is located in the Himalayas, its atmosphere and ambience are unique. Due to its high altitude, it enjoys an unpolluted atmosphere. If you visit Tibet, you will be walking side-by-side with the clouds, for you are walking side-by-side with the clouds during your visit.
