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 Palkhor
Monastery
The Palkhor Monastery here was built
in 1427 and is distinguished for its superb Kumbum stupa.
The dzong (old fort) that towers above the village offers
a remarkable view over the valley. Located in Gyantse,
± 200km southwest of Lhasa, is one of the least
Chinese-influenced towns in Tibet and is worth a visit
for this reason alone. |
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Sakya
Monastery
This immense thick-walled monastery,
in the monastic town of Sakya, was one of the largest
monasteries in Tibet before the Cultural Revolution. The
ash-grey structure was established in 1268 and is designed
defensively, with watchtowers on each of the corners of
its high walls. |
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 Mount
Kailas
One of the most beautiful of all peaks of Himalayas, tough
not the highest. Most important, it is the most sacred
mountain in Asia, revered in the Hindu, Buddhist, and
Bon faiths (the latter Tibet' ancients indigenous belief).
Kailas is believed as the home of the gods and the center
of the cosmos. For more than 1000 years, pilgrims have
come here from all over Tibet and beyond to perform a
kora, 32-mile clockwise worship to the deities. Come even
prostrate to erase the sins of a lifetime, and 108 assures
Nirvana, the ultimate spiritual enlightment. |
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 Mount
Everest
The Tibetan approach to Mt Everest, or Qomolangma (8848m/29,021ft),
provides far better vistas of the world's highest peak
than those on the Nepal side. Some 27,000 sq km (10,422
sq mi) around Everest's Tibetan face have been designated
as the Qomolangma Nature Preserve, aiming to protect the
environment and the cultural traditions of the local people.
For foreign travellers, the Everest Base Camp has become
the most popular trekking destination in Tibet, but this
does not mean that the region is exactly swarming with
hikers. The two access points are Shegar and Tingri, along
the Friendship Highway to Nepal, but be warned that neither
trek is an easy three- or four-day stroll. Take your time
getting acclimatised and be prepared for a strenuous climb.
If it all sounds too much, 4WD vehicles can lurch all
the way to Base Camp along the Shegar track. |
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