Follow In The Footsteps Of.....
The Dalai Lama’s spiritual home in Tibet
Followers around the world celebrated the 75th birthday of the His Holiness the Dalai Lama on July 6 this year.
Despite torrential rain, several thousand followers of the spiritual leader listened to him speak in Dharamsala, northern India where he has lived in exile from Tibet for more than half a century.
The decision to visit Tibet is not one to be taken lightly by any tourist. It often very difficult (especially as an individual traveller) and can be expensive, but His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said it is important that foreigners see Tibet - and then tell the world what they have seen.
If you are intrigued by the idea of visiting this ancient and beautiful country, then always use an expert agency such as Haslemere Travel – as members of its team have personally visited and are indeed experts on the region.
The best time to visit is between April and October, when the weather is not as cold as it is in winter and it is outside the rainy season.
Visits can be extremely rewarding and could include time spent with a high level Lama; having a butter tea with a local Tibetan family or watching a furniture craftsman. You might explore the Buddhist Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibet, with its juniper smoke scents. Imagine life more than a thousand years ago, as you stroll through Samye Monastery. Or the more adventurous could hike for a day in the spellbinding mountain scenery surrounding Lhasa, visiting the Pabongka Monastery and the remote Tashi Choling and Sera Tse hermitages.
Getting to Tibet has become easier too. The first regular passenger trains from China started running over the new railway to Lhasa in Tibet on 1 July 2006. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the highest in the world, climbing from 2,829m above sea level at Golmud (Geermu) to 3,641m at Lhasa, much of it built on permafrost.
Its highest point is in the dramatic Tanggula Pass, at 16,640 feet (over 5,000m) above sea level. Because of the lack of oxygen at that altitude, all passenger coaches are pressurised, and oxygen is available to passengers through tubes if they incur any problems.
Before the railway was built, visitors had to take a train to Golmud, followed by a gruelling 48-hour bus journey to Lhasa. Now there are direct, air-conditioned trains from major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xian to Lhasa.
In addition to a normal Chinese visa, foreigners require a special permit to enter Tibet, although there is talk of discontinuing this requirement in the near future, so please check with your agency. Currently, the only way to get a permit is through a Chinese travel agency, which Haslemere Travel can arrange for you.
Deluxe tourist trains, due to start running from Beijing to Lhasa last year, were postponed because of the recession. The trains were to feature luxurious sleeping-cars featuring double beds, private shower & toilet, restaurant cars and lounge-observation cars. Exact dates, times and fares will be announced later, but the Beijing-Lhasa train will run about 75 departures a year.
For more information about this remote, fascinating country, call the experts who can guide you through any potential pitfalls and ensure it is a trip of a lifetime – ring Haslemere Travel 01428 658777.
