Introduction of Tibet
INTRODUCTION OF TIBET
Nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, Tibet is a land of ancient spirituality, breathtaking natural beauty, and a rich cultural heritage. Known as the “Roof of the World,” Tibet is a destination that captures the imaginations of travelers from around the globe. With towering snow-capped peaks, vibrant prayer flags fluttering in the wind, and serene monasteries perched on hilltops, Tibet offers an unparalleled experience for those seeking a deeper understanding of the human spirit and the world around us. From the bustling streets of Lhasa to the serene shores of Lake Namtso, a journey to Tibet is a truly transformative experience.
Brief Introduction:
Tibet is an autonomous region of China. It is also known as “the roof of the world” as it occupies huge area of plateaus and mountains in Central Asia. It shares Mt. Everest with Nepal. Its capital, Lhasa, is site of hill top Potala Palace, once the Dalai Lama’s winter home and Jokhang temple, Tibet’s spiritual heart, revered for its golden statue of the young Buddha. Tibet is surrounded by Qinghai province to the northeast, Sichuan to the east, Yunnan to the south east and Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Nepal to the south. Tibet was isolated from the rest of the world before 1950s. It constituted a unique cultural and religious community, marked by the Tibetan language and Tibetan Buddhism. The economic development was quite slow and there was a little effort made to communicate with outsiders.
Tibet is on a high plateau, surrounded by gigantic mountain ranges. The northern part of the plateau is called Qiangtang which extends more than 1300 KM from west to east and at an elevation of 5000 meters above sea level. The Qiangtang has full of brackish lakes, the largest one is Lakes Siling and Nam. The mountain ranges in southeastern Tibet cut across the land from north to south. The ranges run from northwest to southeast in central and western Tibet. The plateau Qiangtang is bordered by Kunlun Mountain range on the northern side. The highest peak of this range is Mount Muztag (7723 m) on the Tibet & Xinjiang border. The southern and western part of the Tibet is bordered by gigantic Himalayan range, with highest peak is Mt. Everest. North of Lake Manasarowar and stretching eastward is the Kailash Range, with clusters of peaks which are exceeding 6000 m from sea level. The Brahmaputra River separates the Himalayan ranges. The River flows across southern Tibet and cuts south through the mountains to India and Bangladesh. Huge part of Asia‘s source of river is the plateau of Tibet. The Indus River has its source in western Tibet near Mount Kailash, sacred mountain to Buddhist and Hindus. It flows towards Kashmir region to Pakistan. There are other three rivers which flows from the west, to become Sutlej River in northwestern India and eastern Pakistan; the Mabja Zangbo River flows into the Ghaghara River which eventually join the Ganges in India. The Maquan River flows east and after joining the Lhasa River south of Lhasa, forms the Brahmaputra. The Salween River has its source in east central Tibet. It flows through eastern Tibet and Yunnan province then enters Myanmar. The Mekong River begins in southern Qinghai which flows through eastern Tibet and western Yunnan then enters Laos and Thailand. The source of the Yangtze River rises in southern Qinghai, near the Tibet border, after flowing through southern Qinghai, the Yangtze turns south to form the most of the Tibet Sichuan border. There are three largest lakes which are centrally located in Tibet. Lakes Dangre Yong, Nam and Siling are located in northwest of Lhasa. There are other two lakes in south of Lhasa, Yamzho Lake and Puma Lake. In western Tibet there are two adjoining lakes, near the Nepal border. They are Lake Mapam, sacred to both Buddhist and Hindus, and Lake Langa.
The climate in Tibet is generally dry, still Tibetan refers their land as Land of Snows. Tibet gets very less rain. It only received 18 inches of precipitation including rain and snow annually. The rains fall mostly during summer months. The huge gigantic mountain range block the monsoon winds from the south and precipitation decreases from south to north. The perpetual snowline lies at 4800 meters in the Himalayas but rises to 6100 meters in the northern mountains. Humidity is low and fog is practically not exit. The temperature in the higher elevations are cold, the lower valleys and the southeast are mild & pleasant. Lhasa, at an elevation of 3650 meters has a daily maximum temperature of 30 degrees C & minimum of -19 degrees C.
Both wild and domestic flowers flourish in Tibet. Blue poppies, lotuses, wild pansies, oleanders, orchids, Tsitog (pink color that grows at high altitude), Shangdrils (flower is bell shaped, white, yellow or maroon in color that also grow at high altitude) and Ogchu (red colored flower that grow in sandy regions).
Tibet has more than 100 species of mammals, 40 species of reptiles and 50 species of amphibians. Tigers, Leopards, bears, wild boars, wild goats, stone martens (similar as cat), Langur, jackals, wild buffaloes are mammals in the forest. There are brown bears, wild and bighorn sheep, mountain antelope, musk deer, wild asses, wild yaks, snakes, scorpions, lizards in the high grasslands and dry bush areas. Aquatic life includes various types of fishes, frogs, crabs, otters and turtles.
The majority of the people of Tibet have the same ethnic origin, traditionally practiced the same religion and speak same language. The population is almost entirely Tibetan, with Han, Hui, Monba, Lhoba and other minority nationalities. Bon is the ancient religion of Tibet. Nowadays the major influence is Tibetan Buddhism, a distinctive form of Mahayana and Vajrayana, which was introduced into Tibet from the Sanskrit Buddhist tradition. Religious customs are part of everyday life, from chanting mantras and prostrating in a local square to walking the “Kora” around a temple or sacred sites. The majority of Tibetans have been Buddhists. Before the 1950s, prayer flags flew from every home and adorned the mountain slopes. Monasteries were established throughout Tibet. Minority, however, were adherents of Islam, Hinduism, Bon or Christianity.
The economy of Tibet is based on subsistence agriculture. Due to limited arable land, livestock raising is the primary occupation mainly on the Tibetan plateau. Sheep, Cattle, Goats, Camel, Yaks, Donkey and horses are major livestock in Tibet. The main crops grown here are barley, wheat, buckwheat, rye, potatoes, oats, rapeseeds, cotton and assorted fruits and vegetables. Tibet is as well rice in mineral resources. In Kailash and Mapam districts in western Tibet, the surveys conducted in the 1930s & 40s discovered extensive goldfields and large deposits of borax as well as reserves of radium, iron, titanium, lead and arsenic. There are many factories established in Tibet since 1959. The government tried to follow the industrial structure and development plans of other regions while they ignore the actual situation in Tibet due to scarcity of fuel, high transport costs, inexperienced local labour etc. There was no any modern industry or infrastructure before 1950s. Then the life style of people were very different from those of industrial societies. There were many plants became financially unprofitable. With some adjustments, the value of industrial output rose again in the late 1980s. As in the rest of China, the ownership structure of industrial enterprises in Tibet also experienced a major change. The private enterprise is now the main source of growth in industrial production. A modern Tibetan industry has developed with mining, construction materials, handicrafts and Tibetan medicine as pillar industries. Power generation, processing of agricultural products, livestock and food production as auxiliary. Modern commerce, tourism, catering, leisure and other industries that had never been heard of in old Tibet, are now booming as the primary industries in Tibet. Petroleum, natural gas and rubber also play a large role in Tibet’s annual exports. Many Tibetans today make money from selling handicrafts and cultural products to tourists. The state carpet making factory in Lhasa, found in 1953 has turned into a modern enterprise whose products are sold in different part of the world.
In 2015, the literacy rate in Tibet for the age group of 15-60 years was 99.48%. Since China Western Development program in 1999, 200 primary schools have been built and enrollment of children in public schools in 2010 has reached 98.8%. By 2017, there were 2200 schools across whole Tibet providing different levels of education to roughly 663000 students. The gross student enrollment rate in Tibet by 2018 was 99.5% in primary school, 99.51% in middle school, 82.25% in senior high school and 39.18% in colleges and universities. Ministry of Education of China takes responsibility of education in Tibet. Education of ethnic Tibetans is partly subsidized by the government. Primary and secondary education is compulsory while preferential policies aimed at Tibetans seek to enroll more students in vocational or higher education.
Tibet is most renowned for its religious paintings which is known as Thangka, metal images and wooden block prints. The rich and ancient cultural is heavily based on religion. The gar and the cham are stylistic dances performed by monks. They reenact the behavior, attitude and gestures of the deities. Ancient legendary tales, historical events, classical solo songs and musical debates are staged in the open air in the form of operas, operettas and dramas. The folk songs and dances of local regions abound with color, joy and simplicity.
It is common for couples to meet at public gatherings and to then seek permission from their respective families to marry. After a couple is officially wedded, prayers flags are hoisted from the bride’s side of the family upon the rooftop of the house and all participate in the wedding feast. Although polygamy was once practiced on a limited scale, monogamy is now predominant. Traditional marriage ceremonies involved consultations with both a lama and an astrologer in order to predict the compatibility of a couple.
When people die, the family members make charitable contributions in the hope of ensuring a better reincarnation for the deceased. If any important religious figure die, his corpse is preserved in a tomb or Stupa. Otherwise, tradition calls for the corpse to be fed to the vultures, a practice named sky burial or celestial burial. Water burial is also practiced in some areas. The customs of cremation exist but are seldom practiced.
General Information on Tibet:
Altitude sickness while traveling to Tibet:
High altitude sickness is the biggest risk for travelers to Tibet. Any small carelessness may lead to unexpected situation, even one can die on the spot. Strong radiation and dry air are also a big risk to tourists in Tibet. One should be ready with first aid kit containing drug in common use is also necessary as it is difficult to find hospital or clinic while traveling in remote areas. Acute mountain sickness is common at high altitude due to the decreasing oxygen level in the region. Common symptoms of high altitude sickness are headache, shortness of breath, chest tightness, anorexia, micro-burning, dizziness and fatigue. Tibet is a land with average altitude of 4000m and above. Tourists travelling areas are more than 3000m so they need to know how to avoid the altitude sickness. People with serious heart diseases should not visit Tibet. Those with less serious heart problems need to consult with a doctor. As well, people with high or low blood pressure need to consult a doctor before travelling. Those who are planning for the trekking in Tibet, it is advised to make physical exercise plan a month before you fly to Lhasa. Physical exercise consists of swimming, long distance walking, tennis etc. It is better avoid catching cold before traveling to Tibet. It will ease to suffer altitude sickness under weak physical condition. It is advised not be get excited as soon as you land in Lhasa. Do not run or jump or do any physically demanding activities during first two days. It is good idea to have rest. Drinking alcohol and smoking is strictly advised not to consume while you are in Tibet.
One should be drinking plenty of water while traveling in Tibet, take fruits and vegetables to replenish the water that their body loses, eat light, high-carbohydrate meals for more energy. As soon as you feel one of the above symptoms, you need to inform your tour guide immediately. Do not travel higher altitude with symptoms of altitude sickness. Medication and Oxygen help to prevent altitude sickness. Mild sickness can be treated with proper medication. If this doesn’t work, immediately visit the hospital or evacuate to a safe altitude. Advise the skin care products to prevent the burnt by strong sunshine. Sunscreen, sunglasses, lip creams are recommended to protect your eyes and skin.
What to bring??
When visit the lake or mountain, down jacket is needed. A fiber piled jacket is ideal for evening. Wool or wool mix with a high neck for extra warmth. The lightweight brimmed hat is essential for sun protection. Bring several handkerchiefs, scarf, gloves, cotton underwear (5/6), socks (4/5 pairs), long sleeve shirt made of wool, flannel or chamois or a track suit top, long sleeve stay-preen cotton shirt for warmer temperatures are recommended. Bring two or three T-shirts, one pair of loose fitting wool pants for men, wool knickers or fiber pile pants, one pair of light weight cotton pants are suggested to pack before your travel. Women should wear a mid-calf dress or skirt, though pants and knee length knickers with socks are also suggested. Shorts are not appropriate anytime in Tibet for both men and women. For your quiet moment to kill, bring journal, reading book, writing materials. Camera, Binoculars, Money pouch, nuts chocolates bars, granola bars, dried fruit, hard candies are also suggested.
Weather condition in Lhasa:
The climate of Lhasa city is mild, without severely cold winters or extremely hot summer. It has highland temperate semi-arid monsoon climate. Air is thin in Lhasa due to the high altitude and temperature vary greatly within one single day. The average yearly temperature in Lhasa is about 8® C. It is easy to get sunburn in Tibet because of strong ultraviolet radiation. Thus it is highly recommended to bring sunglasses, sun cream, hat or an umbrella with you. Monsoon rain fall during July until September but the rain falls usually at night and it is still sunny in the day time. The temperature drop after sunset. The best time to travel Tibet is between April and October and peak season is from May to September. You may require to pack your clothing as per the season. There are four season in Tibet.
Spring
Spring is from March to May. It begins to warm up, but there are still alternative low temperatures. It is sunny, dry and windy. Long-sleeve shirts, light sweater and jackets should be prepared.
Summer
Summer is from June to August. It is sunny and relatively humid with some rainfall. There is big difference of temperature before and after sunrise, from hot to chilly. Prepare summer clothes, but also prepare jacket or sweater for variation of weather. Summer is the season filled with many festivals and celebrations.
Autumn
Autumn is from September to October. It is one of the best seasons with the weather being pleasantly mild and relatively humid with some rainfall. Prepare long-sleeve shirts, sweater and overcoat.
Winter
Winter is from November to February, with dry and windy weather. The sun often shines high and bright in winter. Prepare winter clothes such as down jackets, pullovers and sweaters. Sun protection, moisturizer and lip balms are advisable because of the strong sun and dry weather. Winter is considered the low tourist season, so the hotel and tour rates are cheaper than usual.