Best Time to See Religious Rituals in Tibet

Tibet is the land of diversity in culture, landscape, custom and religion. And there are khampas (Tibetan people who are from north eastern part of Tibet and quite strong physically), Amdo (who are from south eastern part of Tibet and also quite strong) and U-tsang (who lives in the center and western part of Tibet). This is the division of people in Tibet. They all have their own customs and traditions.

Accordingly, There is diversity in religion. Religion is important to the Tibetans and has a strong influence over all aspects of their lives. There are Buddhism (which around 90 percent of Tibetan people are practicing), Bon religion (first religion which we have in Tibet), and Muslims. In addition, you might be surprised that we have Christians in southeastern part of Tibet, which was started in 19th century. But most of people who come to Tibet for religious ceremonies are for Buddhism.

Nowadays the major influence is Tibetan Buddhism, a distinctive form of Mahayana and Vajrayana, which was introduced into Tibet from the Sanskrit Buddhist tradition of northern India. Like other countries which have their religious ceremonies and rituals on a specific period, there are kinds of rituals in tibetan Buddhism.

April in Tibetan Calender is the Best Time to Visit Buddhism Religious Rituals

For those who are interested in Buddhism or those who are practicing Buddhism, we will tell you the best time for you to come to Tibet for a perfect experience.

The fourth month in Tibetan calendar (May or June in Solar Calendar) is well known as the "Buddhism month", also called the Saga Dawa Festival in Tibetan language. This month consists of when Lord Buddha was born, became a monk, died and enlightened and preached Buddhism to sentient beings. That’s why Tibetan Buddhists and also those who practice Buddhism consider that month as a holy religious month.

In Tibet lots of Tibetan people quit having meat during that holy month because we believe that whatever good things you do in that holy month, you will gain more virtues than usual, and whatever bad things you do, you will also gain more sins than usual. During that month hundreds of Tibetan people circumambulate around the Barkhor, Tsekhor (Circuit around Potala) and Lingkhor (the biggest round including all minor temples, about 14km). They also liberate fishes into Lhasa River (Kyichu) and other animals according to their own budget. Some of them are used to liberating the same number of lifes according to their age.

In temples and monasteries, you will be able to see monks reciting prayer in the Assembly hall and serving butter tea during intermission. Hundreds of Tibetan people line up in Drepung Monastery for making their donation to the monks chanting prayers in assembly hall, and you will see the same scene in other monasteries. Most of Tibetan people are busy with visiting various monasteries with flask full of butter in their hand for butter lamp. Most of them carry lots of small change for offering in monasteries and also for beggars. During that month you will see many beggars in Lhasa.

During this Buddhism month, lots of Tibetan people who are willing to make a pilgrimage will trek to Mt. Kailash. On the 15th day of that Tibetan month, you will be able to see the ceremony of erecting of prayer flag pole. You can also start your treking after the ceremony as lots of people will do it. You will have a precious memory if you can worship the Holy Mountain accompanied by the Tibetan local pilgrims. 

Besides, lots of Indians will also be there. They come to worship the God Shiva. If you are practicing Hindu, it is also a really great time to come to visit Kailash.

Tibet Permit Without Tour

After March 14, 2008 when a series of riots, protests, and demonstrations took place in Lhasa, local government implements more strict regulations on tourism industry. All foreign travelers are required to book tour services, especially hiring a tour guide and a car for their whole trip in Tibet, from the travel agency through which they apply for the permit. They must submit their trip schedule to the local government for approval when applying for the Tibet permit. Once the permit is issued, they are not allowed to change their itinerary at will.  

Therefore, travelers, backpackers in particular, are faced with bigger tour cost and limited flexibility. The cost may increase from dozens of dollars per day to hundreds. For example, they have to spend a lot on renting a car instead of taking a bus from Lhasa to Shigatse. In addition, they have to hire a tour guide for the whole trip, not selectively.  

As a responsible company, we won’t break the law and get you into trouble. Thus, we have to say “NO” if you ask for a Tibet permit only. But we have figured out three solutions for increasing flexibility and reducing your cost as much as possible. 

1. To increase flexibility 

Apply for more tourist destinations and a longer time than planned. Then, you can extend or shorten your trip in Tibet flexibly within the validity of your permit. The cost will not increase because of more sites or a longer period of validity.  

2. To reduce the cost 

grouptibettour.com is the first local travel agency to launch Tibet tour to help tourists to save more money. The cost can be reduced to 120-150 dollars per day, even for a long trip.  

3. To obtain more free time

You can arrange 1-2 free days for shopping, resting or doing other things you are interested in.  

Black sugar can help avoid high altitude illness

Tibet is the highest region in the world and high altitude illness caused by high altitude has always been the most concerned issue for those who want to Tibet travel. In this article, I’d like to tell you that black sugar can help avoid high altitude illness effectively.

Scientific researchers of former Soviet Union Tadzhikistan Mountain Institute, through research, has found that black sugar has pretty good effect on preventing high altitude illness. Those who go to a place with an altitude of more than 3600m can almost avoid high altitude illness by having 30g black sugar each day. While, those who don’t have black sugar or only have fine white sugar have a much higher risk of high altitude illness. The scientific researchers believe that there might be comparatively more active substances in black sugar which make it pretty effective on strengthening people’s ability to guard against high altitude illness.

So, try some black sugar if you are disturbed by high altitude illness in Tibet. You can take it with you from your home, or you can buy some in Lhasa tibet, capital city of Tibet.

Medicine for High Altitude Illness

“Oh, I really want to travel to Tibet with all my family. But, I do worry about the high altitude illness”. One of my friends said so. In fact, many people who want to tour Tibet have the same concern. High altitude illness, to some extent, ranks the first concern for tours to Tibet. Then, this article shall major discuss the medicine for high altitude illness.

Generally speaking, there are two categories of medicine used for high altitude illness, one is western medicine, and the other is Chinese traditional medicine. The western medicine can work fast to help eliminate some symptoms, such as headache and nausea, while Chinese traditional medicine can be used to adjust the organism of human body. The Chinese traditional medicine can also help relieve and eliminate feebleness, sense of suppression in the chest, shortness of breath, palpitation, insomnia, dreaminess and other symptoms.

Western medicine:

Vitamins and nutrient substances are pretty good to help strengthen human’s immune system. And they are necessities if you want to travel to Tibet. Besides, you should take some cold medicine, anti-inflammatory and painkillers for emergency. To some degree, they can also help to avoid high altitude illness by making your body stay in healthy.

For severe high altitude illness: Nifedipine tablets can be used for highland pulmonary edema and Dexamethasone can be used for highland cerebral edema.

Chinese traditional medicine:

Rhodiola rosea, lucid ganoderma, Codonopsis pilosula and American Ginseng all work well on preventing high altitude illness and you can choose to eat some of them. You can go to a drug store in Lhasa or somewhere else, and buy some Jingtian Honghua capsule, Rhodiola Compound Capsule and Gaoyuan’an, which are said to be very effective.

Myth about Tibetan evolution

Myth believe Tibetans were decent from a monkey and a rock-ogress, it was in a cave on the Gonpo Ri hill in Yarlong valley Tsedang(Southern Tibet), the sublime Avalokiteshvara, having conferred layperson's vows upon a magical monkey, dispatched him to meditate in the snowy realm of Tibet. There, beside a black rock, while he was devotedly contemplating loving-kindness, compassion, enlightenment-thought and the profound Dharma of emptiness, a rock-ogress, suffering on account of her karma, approached him, and before she departed, made manifold indications of her carnal desire for him. Later, disguised as a woman, the ogress said to the monkey, 'Let us be married!' But the monkey replied, 'As I am a disciple of the sublime Budda, it would contravene my vows to become your husband'. ' If you reject me, I will have to commit suicide because I am destined in my previous incarnation to be degraded into a devil. Then days later, I will become the wife of a devil and give birth to countless devil sons and grandsons. At that time, the plateau will be plunged into a world filled with devils and thousands of people will be killed”. Exclaimed by the rock-ogress as she threw herself at the monkey's feet.

So the monkey stuck in the dilemma he had to return to Mt. Pota to seek guidance from Mother Buddha. She said: “This is destiny and this is an auspicious sign. It is a deed of great kindness to marry her and reproduce offspring for the plateau. As a Buddha, you should not hesitate to conduct kind deeds. go back to marry the ogress.”

Then they got married and brought six baby monkeys into the world at first. They had different hobbies and different dispositions, in some history it said these six babies lead to the origin of six main tribes in Tibet, but some other said one reborn from each of the six classes of beings. The monkey-child reborn from among the denizens of the hell realms had a stern countenance and could withstand great hardships. The child from the realm of the hungry ghosts had loathsome features and an insatiable appetite. The one reborn from the animal realm was stupid and vulgar. The monkey-child from the human realm was endowed with increasing wisdom and sensitivity. The one from the realm of the semigods was aggressive and jealous, and the monkey-child from the realm of the gods was patient and virtuous.

and then later when the number of off springs multiplied by reproduction, they had eaten up all the natural fruits and troubled with food shortage, then again with the kind help from the mother Buddha they came to know cultivation of crops.

After some time, physical changes appeared by shortened the tails and gradually they could speak language. Finally they evolved into human, the ancestors of the Tibetan people.

This story of human evolution of Tibetan is very popular within the Tibetan people and it was written in some ancient scripture as well as on the murals of some old temples like Jokhang temple in Lhasa, this story also makes sense if you remember what old Charles Darwin said - that we've evolved from monkeys.

Tibet history

Humans inhabited on the Tibetan Plateau at least twenty one thousand years ago. This population was largely replaced around 3,000 BP by Neolithic immigrants from northern China. However there is a "partial genetic continuity between the Paleolithic inhabitants and the contemporary Tibetan populations". Some archaeological data suggests humans may have passed through Tibet at the time India was first inhabited, half a million years ago.

The earliest Tibetan historical texts identify the Zhang Zhung culture as a people who migrated from the Amdo region into what is now the region of Guge in western Tibet. Zhang Zhung is considered to be the original home of the Bön religion. By the 1st century BCE, a neighboring kingdom arose in the Yarlung Valley, and the Yarlung king, Drigum Tsenpo, attempted to remove the influence of the Zhang Zhung by expelling the Zhang's Bön priests from Yarlung. He was assassinated and Zhang Zhung continued its dominance of the region until it was annexed by Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century.

What to Pack for a Tibet Tour(1)

Tibet tour is the dream of many travelers. It is also a mystery to travelers who have never been there. To have a nice and safe trip in such a high altitude area, you should know what to bring. To make your trip more convenient and more comfortable, China Highlights offers the following tips.

Tibet Entry Permit

A Tibet permit is the most important thing. You should leave at least 30 days to arrange it before your trip.

Clothing: the Warmer the Better

Due to the high elevation, Tibet is quite cold even in summer. The higher the elevation is, the colder it is. And the temperature differs dramatically between daytime and night. So even if you travel to Tibet in summer, you'd better pack warm boots, a woolen sweater, thick pants, and awarm coat.

· If you want to see Mt. Everest, or other high elevation areas, a down jacketwith a warm hood is ideal.

Footwear

Boots are a good choice to protect your feet from little stones and sand, as well as for keeping warm. A pair ofslippers/sandals is useful in some simple hotels.

· If you want to climb mountains or go hiking, a pair of trekking shoesis needed.

Bags: the Smaller the Better

Travel as light as you can but be prepared. Suitcases are not recommended. Just bring a large backpack and a smaller one for day trips. Ideally they should be waterproofed.

· If you want to go camping, a large backpack with your tent, etc. in is recommended, and another bag to leave non-essentials in at your hotel / with your guide. Don't forget a warm sleeping bag (at least 4-season). You could also hire a tent, sleeping bags, etc. from us or in Lhasa to save you carrying them. Arrange that before you go.

· Remember to select a high-altitude fuel stove for camping. Some fuels and lighters won't ignite in Tibet's low oxygen environment.

Food

There are no Western restaurants in Tibet, and only a few hotels offer Western food. Bring some food you like in case you don't like Tibetan food.

· If you are going to visit remote and high areas, bring some food that can replenish energy quickly, like chocolate, nuts, and compressed biscuits.

Sunburn and Dry Climate Protection

Tibet enjoys a dry climate and strong sunshine all year round. To protect yourself from sunburn and drying out, bring a pair of sunglasses, sunhat,lip balm, moisturizer, and sun block.

· Bring snow glasses to prevent snow blindness if you're going where there is lots of snow for extended periods.

Toiletries

In some stops on your Tibet travel tips there are toilets. However, they often don't provide toilet paper. So, if you have to go to the toilet, bring some in your pocket/bag. 
Hotels in some areas may not provide toiletries. Bring shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and a (quick-drying) towel with you.

Wet tissues or disinfectants are helpful since it is inconvenient to wash your hands and face in many areas.

Trek Gear and Clothing for Trekking in Tibet

Tibet trekking tour is both fantastic and challenging experience, because it is well known for high altitude and high mountains.
Therefore, trekking in Tibet requires enough preparations. There are many things you should pack before your trip in order to better enjoy this lifetime tour. We categorize clothing and gear in the recommended list of items below.

Tibet Trekking Clothing

Tibet has a crazy temperature fluctuation among different areas. Particularly, in mountain areas, the temperature is generally lower than that in Lhasa tibet city. And sometimes, at night, the temperature drops rapidly beyond your imagination.

Therefore, the key to better enjoy trekking experience is preparing with plenty of warm clothes but not too much. If you just want to trek at a lower altitude, fleece jackets and pants are enough. While for a higher altitude trekking, down jackets are necessary.

The following list of clothing depends upon the places you are going to visit and activities you are planning to do in Tibet.
● A woollen hat that can cover your ears
● Long sleeved cotton shirts/blouses
● Heavy woollen sweater/polarfleece jacket & lightweight wool sweater/polarfleece pullover
● Waterproof and wind proof jackets and pants for in some places the wind can be very strong and cold
● Synthetic or Down Insulated Jacket rated to at least -7 degrees C (approximately 20 degrees F)
● Light scarf or neckerchief
● Cotton walking shorts for hot days (knee-length or almost knee-length), one pair of polarfleece pants.
● A pair of cotton long pants and a long cotton skirt is recommended for women
● Trekking trousers should be light and quick drying.
● Gaiters
● Several pairs of underwear
● Long Thermal Underwear
● Woollen or synthetic gloves, preferably Wind Fleece Gloves
● Good quality socks, preferably woolen for your hiking boots, and also some thin cotton socks

Geographical formation of Tibet

History of a country cannot be understood if knowing nothing about the general aspect of the country and of its inhabitants. So here the history of Tibet plateau is initiated with some of its general information, Tibet is local neighboring to mighty Himalayan ranges with average altitudes range between 4000m and 5000m, numbers of world highest peaks including Mt. Everest are located at its border, so that it deserve the name of roof of the world or third pole of the earth. Tibet represents about a quarter of the Chinese territory with 1/500th of its population. It is thus a country with extreme living conditions and a low inhabited density, due to its high altitude and cold weather, snow capped mountains can be seen throughout the plateau and most of the rivers in the Asian Subcontinent are originated from these snow melt.

The country occupies the site of the sea of Thetis (Tethys), which separated the old Asiatic and Australian continents millions of years ago. The displacement of the tectonic plates broke up the Australian plate in three parts, the northern which formed India was detached and in a rapid displacement towards the north raised the sediments of the sea of Thetis (Tethys) which currently forms the relief of the Tibetan plateau and the Himalayas. The central one formed the current Australian continent and the southern one formed the Antarctic continent. In the shock, basalts and hard stones formed the solid mass of the Himalayas, the sediments which form the Tibetan plateau are not consolidated and the relief is in constant erosion. Part of the country does not have a outlet with the sea water, thus creation of large considerable salt lakes and stocks of salt are used as a basis for foreign trade in Tibet. The largest rivers of India and China, take their headwaters there and these rivers all carry considerable amounts of alluvia that why water runs in reddish color, the silt contributed to the richness of the surrounding countries. It should be noted that all ancient civilizations were born in the same way indeed, whereas the banks of the rivers were not stabilized by human, rivers were covered each year with vast quantities of silt, thus the Tibetan civilizations took place at the bank of Brahmaputra or Yarlung Tsangpo river in Yarlung Valley.

How To Plan Tibet Tour

Planning a mediocre travel tour is an easy job but planning a satisfying tour is what makes our job so challenging and specialized.  Not only will we trek through some difficult terrain, but we’ll also have to be flexible and adapt to every single person’s capabilities.  These factors and more, must be considered when planning any trip,especially when traveling in a harsh environment such as Tibet travel.  To make this trip as enjoyable as possible, we have added some important planning tips from our experts and visitors alike. These tips come from accumulated experience and thoughtful comments and our intention is to be able to assist you in the best possible way for your upcoming trip.

Figure out what season to travel

Tibet’s geography is very diverse, creating a unique environment. Tibet’s climate is severely dry with little humidity and strong winds often whip through the barren landscape.  During the summer months, it is almost unbearably hot while in the winter, it is quite the opposite.  It is always the travelers’ choice of when to visit Tibet but the most popular months are between April and November.

April to June is the starting season for Tibetan tourism and during these months, the weather is mild.  There is considerable road access and you may be greeted by blue skies every day of your visit. The famous Himalayan mountain range is also very visible, making this an ideal time to explore the many high peaks.   Mid July to August is the monsoon season but if you’re  mostly interested in exploring the culture, this is a wonderful time to visit.  This is because many popular rituals (Shoton Festival, Chokor Duchen) and cultural folk festivals (Harvest Festival, Horse Races) take place during these months. July and August are also popular times to visit due to the lush landscape and budding native flowers.  

 August to November, the weather is warm. The weather and clear skies make these months perfect for Trekking Tour Some regional festivals also take place during this time.  

December to March are the harshest months in Tibet.  this is especially the case in the north. Icy winds freeze over the land and passes are often blocked with snow. Nevertheless, do not let this discourage you from traveling during this time.  The light during this period has a very soft, and wonderful quality to it and in central Tibet, near Lhasa, the days are surprisingly warm.  It is only at night when temperatures really drop and you will be wanting to stay in a warm hotel.  These are the months when most Tibetan nomads and villagers choose to make their religious pilgrimages so Lhasa and hence, holy places are always crowded with locals.  For this reason, these months have grown in tourism.  

Based on your interests, it is very important to pick the right season for which you would prefer to travel.  Many people would like to spend most of their time trekking through the Himalayan range so Spring or Fall would be the best times to do that.  Some people would like to see many festivals so the Summer months would be ideal for those individuals.  And still some, with a more adventurous spirit, would enjoy braving the cold during the Winter months.    

Determine for how long and where you would like to travel in Tibet

The Tibetan plateau is as large as Western Europe and has about as many wonderful sites to see as well.  One may wish to travel the whole plateau in a single trip but unfortunately this is just not possible.  Therefore, it’s a good idea to have a plan of where to visit and what to see.  Tibet itself is conveniently divided into seven geographical regions: Lhasa tibet(the capital city), Central Tibet (Kyichu Valley), Southern Tibet, Western Tibet(the lower and upper reaches of the Brahmaputra river and its lateral valleys), Northern Tibet (Jangthang Plateau); Far-Western Tibet(Ngari), Eastern Tibet(Kham); and Far-East Tibet (Amdo), but there are certain parts of Tibet that travelers are prohibited to visit.  

If you are looking for a mainly cultural experience, Lhasa, Central Tibet, Southern Tibet or Western Tibet may be the right areas for you.  Visitors interested in trekking may find the mighty peaks of the Himalayas enthralling but it would be wise to choose a guide to lead these activities.

In the Northern and Far-Western regions of Tibet, the nomadic culture is prominent. There are also many other attractive features in this landscape such as many beautiful lakes and the mystical Mt. Kailash.  You may even be able to explore ruins dating back to the Guge Kingdom and follow in the footsteps of local pilgrims.  To explore Northern Tibet, it is recommended that you take at least 15 days to fully immerse yourself in the beauty and mystery of this region.  

The Eastern and Far-Eastern regions of Tibet are brewing with well preserved local culture and tradition.  Due to the fact that many of the monasteries are scattered within a large region, it is recommended that you take at least 15 days to truly immerse yourself in this rich experience.  

It is often said that the choice of  times to visit and places to visit can make any trip either a fulfilling one or a miserable one.  Everyone has different interests so it is important to travel according to those interests.  At Explore Tibet, it is our job to design a trip with your needs and wants in mind. So please, send us an email letting us know when you would like to go and what you would like to see or experience.  We love listening to what our clients have to say and making these trips as enriching as possible.

Communicating with your folks at Home:

 As much as you want to get away from things like computers and enjoy your trip in Tibet, finding ways to stay in touch with family and friends back home are essential. Most cities like Lhasa and Shigatse have internet cafes where you can send and receive emails before leaving for remote areas. You can make phone calls from public telephones (VOI) that cost as little as 10-cents per minute. If you need to be able to receive more frequent phone calls, purchasing a local SIM card for your unlocked phone (or you can buy a basic phone in China for ~ 500 rmb) would be the best option. Surprisingly, cell phones have decent reception in most major towns and even in some surrounding villages of Lhasa. The Chinese cell phone companies (mainly China Telcom and China Mobile) keep installing more cell phone towers. Alternately, you may want to send family members the phone number of your tour guide where you can receive phone calls. Remind callers of information sensorship in China and be careful about what you say or send.