Where is Tibet?

Practically all of us know something about Tibet: many have heard about the beauty of these mountains , about the philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism or about the conflicts of Tibetans with the Chinese authorities. We suggest that you expand your knowledge about the geography of Central Asia in general and about the location of Tibet in particular. So, where is the mysterious Tibet?

Where is the highland of Tibet?

It is located in distant Central Asia, north of the highest mountains - the Himalayas, where in modern China lies the Tibet Highlands. It represents an area of ​​1.2 million square meters. km, lost high in the mountains. By the way, the Tibetan Plateau is the highest in the world! At an altitude of 5 km above sea level there is, as you know, the Tibetan plateau, which is often called the "roof of the world". And the area of ​​this plateau can be compared with the size of the whole of Western Europe!

It is here, in the Tibetan Plateau, that the sources of several great rivers flowing through the territories of other countries are the Indus, the Brahmaputra, the Yangtze and others. Here, in Tibet, is the famous mountain Kailas, where, according to legend, the greatest prophets of the world - Jesus, Buddha, Vishnu and others - are in deep sleep.

Where is the country of Tibet?

But at the same time, Tibet is not just an area on the geographical map of Asia. Tibet is an ancient country, and now it is a cultural and religious community with its own history, language and population. At the same time, you will not find such a country on the current political map of the world - since 1950, occupied Tibet is a part of the People's Republic of China as its autonomous region and several autonomous regions. The government of Tibet in the person of the Dalai Lama XIV, the spiritual leader of the Buddhists, is now in exile, and specifically in the Indian city of Dharamsala, in the state of Himachal Pradesh.

In ancient times, Tibet was not just a country, but a highly developed cultural state. Its origins date back to 2000-3000 BC, when ancient Tibetans lived there. And according to the traditions of the Bon tradition, they originated from the demoness's union with the monkey. The further development of the Tibetan kingdom is evidenced by its military, cultural and religious successes from the 9th to the 13th and the 14th to the 16th centuries. Then Tibet permanently fell under the rule of the Chinese Empire, after which, in 1913, finally proclaimed its independence.

Today, according to the administrative principle, Tibet is divided as follows: it is a large Tibet Autonomous Region with an area of ​​1,178,441 square kilometers. km, located in the west of the country, and autonomous regions and counties in the provinces of Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan. At the same time, this autonomous region, or simply Tibet, as it is called by the Chinese, lies in the highest mountain region of the planet. It is in the mountains of Tibet that there are famous Buddhist monasteries, where Tibetan lamas once a year hold traditional debates, and where pilgrims from all over the world make pilgrimages. There is also the historical capital of Tibet - the city of Lhasa. But the basic life of the Tibetans is concentrated in the southeast of the country, where in the cities and provinces indigenous Tibetans are engaged in livestock and agriculture.

How to get to Tibet?

Not only religious pilgrims come to Tibet. It is worth to come here and just to admire the picturesque mountain landscapes and mysterious lakes (Nam-Tso, Mapam-Yumtso, Tsonag and others). However, keep in mind that, due to the staggering heights of these mountains, climbing there can damage your health. And if you do not belong to the indigenous Tibetans, then the trip is best planned with a gradual increase in altitude along the following route: Kunming - Dali - Liyang - Lhasa. You can also come to the capital of Tibet by train from Beijing or get to the mountains on excursion jeeps.