 Tibet, a rich and beautiful land, is located at the main part of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, south-west frontier of China, situates between 26°50´– 36°53´ minutes north latitude and 78°25´ – 99°06´east longitude with an average altitude over 4,000 m. above sea level. Tibet possesses more than fifty peaks above 7,000 m. among which eleven are over 8,000 m. Tibet borders with Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai and Xinjiang; to the south to India, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Burma, and bounded by Kashmir on the west. The Tibet Autonomous Region with a population of two million, mainly Tibetans, and an area 1.2 million sq. km. Tibet is rich in natural resources and owns a vast expanse of landforms. People living on this land have been creating a glorious culture since ancient times. There has a long history; majestic mountains and rivers, regular customs and habit, wonderful natural landscapes with monks clad in robes and yellow hats are seen everywhere. If you were to set foot on this virgin land, to follow the steps of pilgrims dating from ancient times, to visit the great temples and monasteries, to enjoy the unique culture, to have sips of water from those limpid rivers and lakes, to sight the different customs and to trek around those mighty snow clad peaks, you would surely be intoxicated with their wonders. BRIEF HISTORY OF TIBET
Inhabitants were in existence in Tibet since the latter part of the Paleolithic Age which is considered as the opening curtain of the Tibetan history. By the Neolithic Age these inhabitants had scattered to a wider range of circle whose result had gradually led to Tibetan race of the present generation. In the 7th century a famous Tibetan King named Songtsen Gampo united the whole of Tibet and established the Tubo Dynasty. In the 7th and 8th centuries respectively two princesses from the Tang Dynasty had married Tibetan kings, as a consequence the two peoples, the Hans and Tibetans, became closer in relationship and further exchanges took place within political and economical affairs between the Tubo and the Tang dynasties which gave creation to a beneficial condition for the development of the Tubo society. Tibet fell into a decentralization period for over three hundred years since the fall of the Tubo Dynasty caused by inner revolt of the common people. During this period the Tubo society took a change over from the slave society to the feudal society. In the mid 13th century Tibet became subject to the Yuan Dynasty, whose central administration, passed the power to the Sakya for the over lordship of Tibet. In the latter part of the Yuan Dynasty, the Sakya's rule over Tibet tottered and the Kagyupa Sect overtook the power and established Pagdu Dynasty. At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the 5th Dalai Lama by the help of the Mongolian prince, Gorshi Khan, became the ruler of Tibet and established the Ganden Podrang administration which was recognized by the Qing central administration. The Central Administration of China, the Qing Dynasty, gave the over lordship of Tibet to the 5th Dalai Lama and established its representative in Lhasa called "Amban" to supervise political affairs of Tibet in order to strengthen its control over Tibet. After 1911 Revolution the Republic of China established a working office in Lhasa to exercise its management over Tibet. In May 1951 concerning the method of liberation of Tibet, the 17-Point Agreement, was signed between the Central People's Government of China and the Local Government of Tibet which opened a new historical page over Tibet.
RELIGION IN TIBET
 Buddhism, with a history of some 1,300 years since its penetration into Tibet, has shaped a unique form “Lamaism”. Tibetan history, culture and religion are mixed together and infiltrated on every aspect of social life. Tibetan religious arts have distinctive style with adoption of Indian and Chinese Buddhist influence, thus forming itself a pearl of oriental Buddhist art in Chinese Buddhism. Tibetan architecture is rich in shapes, sumptuous and full of noble aspiration. The Potala Palace is built in the top of the hill and penetrates its dome into the sky. It’s the king of the Tibetan architectural structures. These architectural buildings include wonderful sculptures, carvings, murals, “thangkas” and skilled butter sculptures, and a vast accumulation of historical monuments, which form a kind of religious art, which developed into school of Tibetan tradition.
SCIENCE AND CULTURE IN TIBET
Along with the development of Tibetan history, Tibetans have created a unique science and culture of their own, which are important formations of the whole Chinese culture. The voluminous and magnificent historical documents, and cultural relics, humanist and folk literature presently in existence are the fruit of labor and wisdom of the Tibetans, also a treasure of the ancient Chinese civilization. Great volumes of sculptures such as “Kagyur” (Translation of Commandments). “Tengyur” (Translation of Commentaries). “Four Tibetan Medical Trantras”. “The Happy Feast of Sages”. “Biography of Bhuton” and “Biography of Milarepa” have been translated into many languages.
Science and culture in Tibet include technology, medicine, grammar, logic, Buddhist philosophy, rhetoric, words and expressions, syntax, drama and astrology. Tibet is known as the sea of songs and dances; folk songs and dances are various in style, especially during the “Shoton” Festival in August each year, everywhere is a scene of jubilation.
Yumbu Lagang:
Situated in Nedong county of Lhoka Prefecture, Yumbu lagang is said to be the first palace in Tibetan history and built in the second century B.C. The palace, facing west, stands lofty on the top of a hill. Statues of the Three Periods of Buddha, Tibetan kings Nyatri Tsenpo, Lha Tho-Tho-Ri Nyantsen, Tri Palpachen, Songtsen Gampo and Trisong Detsen are enshrined in the palace.
Jokhang Temple:
Situated in the center of the old section of Lhasa, Jokhang Temple was built in the mid-7th century A.D. and later extended by successive rulers, it has now become a gigantic architectural complex. Located in the east, facing to the west, it is a four storeyed temple with splendid golden roofs. It has architectural feature of Tang Dynasty and also assimilated very much features from both Nepalese nd Buddhist temples. The murals in the temple mainly depict the life stories of historic characters. The temple houses many historical relics since Tang Dynasty and statues of King Songtsen Gampo, Princess Wencheng, Princess Bhrikuti Devi. "Princess Willow" (a tree), and "The Uncle-Nephew Alliance Tablet" can be seen that the front gate of the temple.
Shalu Monastery:
Located within the Shalu village, Shalu Monastery was built in the year 1,000 by Jetsun Sherab Jungne. The architecture of the monastery with a feature of completely Chinese Yuan Dynasty's temple, it is a rare and unique work of art, mixed feature of Tibetan and Han. The monastery enshrines various relics such as religious objects, Buddhist scriptures written on "pattra" leaves, and an important decree of Pagpa, the Saskya abbot.
Tashilhunpo Monastery:
It is the biggest Gelugpa monastery in the Tsang region of Tibet. It is located in the town of Shigatse and was founded by Gedun Drup, a disciple of Tsongkapa, the founder of the Gelugpa Sect. gedun Drup was later recognized as the first Dalai Lama. It was formerly built in 1447 and continuously expanded by the successive Panchen Lamas. The Ngagpa College (Tantric College), one of its four monastic colleges, was the residence of the Panchen Lamas. The most amazing image in this monastery is the statue of the giant Maitreya (Future Buddha) erected by the 9th PAnchen Lama in 1914, and took four years for its establishment. This giant statue stands twenty six metres in height and 275kg of solid gold, great quantity of precious things such as pearls, turquoises, corals and ambers have absolved for its construction. The 4th Panchen Lama's funeral stupa was built in 1662 and it stands eleven metres high and is covered with solid gold and silver.
Qomolangma Peak (Mt. Everest):
Qomolangma meaning "Goddess" in Tibetan, is the highest mountain on earth with an altitude of 8848 metres/29025 feet. Mount Qomolangma, known to the western world as Mt. Everest, stands at south of Tingri county in southern Tibet, on the border of the central Himalayas, between China and Nepal, capped with accumulated eternal snow. The optimum weather on Mount Qumolongma is from April to June, a golden period for mountaineers. Each year, a great number brave robust mountaineers come from all over the world to tour and climb Mount Qomolangma, hoping to fulfil a life-long wish by climbing and looking out from the world's highest peak. Join our north Everest base camp tour in Tibet.
 Potala Palace:
The Potala, one of the most famous architectural works of our nation, is erected on top of the Red Hill in Lhasa. The word "Potala" comes from Sanskrit. In the 7th century, after the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo's marriage with Princess Wengcheng of the Tang Court, the Palace was built for meditation. In the mid-17th century, it was rebuilt by the 5th Dalai Lama to its present size, and ever since it became the Winter Palace of the Dalai Lamas. The construction took fifty years from its beginning to completion. The Potala is divided into two sections, namely, the Red Palace and White Palace. The total height of the Potala is 117 metres which is built in thirteen storeys, the length of the Palace from east to west has 400 metres and the breadth from south to north has 350 metres. The whole building is a structure of stone and timber. The top-most flat glistens with golden roofs. It is a majestic architectural work and the cream of Tibetan culture and complex of Tibetan and Han culture.
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