Tibet:

The Natural History of Tibet:

According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Tibet lay under a great ocean of water after the univesse was first created. Then, by the blessing of Chenrezik, the Godhyisattabva of compassion, the waters slowly receded and from the depths rose Tibet, a land surrounded by vast chains of mountains, within a world comprised of four major and eithr minor continents.

Geology:

The Geologic history of Tibet and the Himalaya presently being pieced toghther by geologists has fascinating similarities to the ancient account. The Tibetan plateau is actually an accretion of sparate continertal fragments that collided with the Asian continent ober a period of some 200 million years. A succession of large and small seas, collectively known as the Tethys Sea, was created and eventually drained as each fragment merged with the mainland. The most recent of these bodies of water esisted until about 50 million years ago and extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific, between Africa, Europe and between India and the rest of Asia. In the hills to the south of Dingri, near Mound Everest, it is possible to find shell fossils from this ancient ocean alongside the trails. Even the rock on the summit of Mount Everest was once submerged, although that body of water pre-dates the formation of these Tethys Seas; climbers have found fossils of small marine animals called crinoids imbedded in the layers of limestone near the top.

How is it that some of the higest landmasses on the earth were once submerged under oneans?

Using fossil evidence, the dating of rocks and cludes from the magnetic alignment of rock crystals, most Western geologists now believer that this fantastic upheabal of the earth’s surface resulted from the forces of plate tectonics. According to this theory, the comtinents and the ocean floors do not from a continuous, static surface enbeloping the eatth like an eggshell, but instead are divided into a giang mosaic of rigid yeat mob able shell pieces, of tectonic plates, which overlie the planet’s hotter, softer interior.

At present the continents and ocean froors consist of ten major plates and several smaller plates. Geolotists believe there was a time, however, when the earth’s landmasses were all bunched together into one huge “super continent”, called Pangaea.  About 250 million to 200 million years ago, ( the Triassic period, when the first reptiles and earliest dinosaurs apoperared), this great contibent started to break spart, initially creating too distinct land areas. To the north was Laurasia, a landmass that consisted to present-day North America, most of Asia, and all of Europe. The great southern continent of Gondwanaland was made up of what is now Australia, Africa South America and India.

Over the next 100 million years, Laurasia and Gondwanaland contineed to break up, their various pieces drifting across the globe toward their present locations. It was during period that numerous smaller gragments of Gondwanaland, including setments of southern Tibet and the Indian subconient, broke away and started thein amazing northward journeys toward the Asian mainland. The rocks that are now part of India and the Himalaya originallylay 5000 miles (8000 Km.) farther to the sourh near present-day Antarctica.

Physical Gergraphy:

Tibet is the largest and highest plateau on earth, averaging nearly 15,000 feet (4570m. in the elevation. Buttessing its southern flanks is the Gr Great Himalaya range, stretching 1900 miles long from Pakistan’s Nanga Parbat (26,657 ft, 8120m.) in the west to th cloudhiden Namche Brawa ( 25,446 ft, 7756m.) in the eastern Tibet. Along its length are ten of the higest points on out planet, including the “third pole” Mount Everest (29,028 ft, 8848mm.)

This vast plateau of Tibet sprawls across 830,000 square miles (202million km Square) an area about 30 percent greater than Alaska and 20% of the landmass of modern day China. Springing forth from these extyensive highlands are the sources for ten of Asia’s  major rivers, a gigantic watershed complex suplplying nearly half of the earth’s population with fresh water.  Though large tracts of Tibet are uninhabited and sparsely vegetated, the lower eastern end of the plateau is heavily forested, probiding China with its greatest source of timber. Tibet can be subdivided into three natural regions according to its primary water sheds: the Northern Plateau, the Outer Plateau, and th Southeastern Plateau. The largest of these is the Northern Plaeau, a harsh, arid 400,000-square-mile (1 millionkm2) tract of high basins, huge lakes, and extensive ridge systems.

Climate:-

You may travel to Tibet throught the year, Specially from May to the end of September is the best period to travel. The temperature varies sharply from the south grassland to north plateau. The south is warm and rainy. Most rain falls during May to September. It is warm from June to August. The coldest months are from December to February and crossing over the passes becomes little difficult by the snow falls.

Transportation:-

From Kathmandu, you will be transferred by a van/coach to place called Kodari (Tibet border 116 km) accompanied by our escort and from Tibet border onwards, Tibetan crews will starts drive you all the way to Lhasa tours or to the western region of Tibet to mt Kailash tours etc. In the event of landslides or road blockade by any reason and service of porters are required to carry your luggage. Incase if comes this situation, they can supports your whle creue to cross in other part of the roads you will be asked to contribute a nominal sum of money for this support.

During the change of vehicle in the border, you are requested to help yourself about your luggage.

Accommodations and meals:-

Hotels/guesthouses are available in almost in every day by the camping scheduled basically. But mostly famous places cities called Lhasa., Xigatse, Gyantse, Nagartse, Lagtse, Nylam Zang-mu and other famous eastern cities are providing the vast ot chosen with the traditional and Chinese contenational foods and comfort accommodations for the travelers.

Guide

Tibetan guides are reported to have limited English and you may not expect a fluent explanation about culture and religion or any other academic topics. He will serve more as a geonene guides and will be responsible for dealing with bureaucracies on the way. However, we will try our best to assign you the best guide available though.

Clothing

The weather is cold, harsh and dry. You will need enough warm cloths , tennis shoes, suntan cream, sunglasses, hats, scarves, lip guards etc.

Foods:-

Your trip includes only breakfast. So, you may want to carry with you energy bars, dry foods like chocolates, cookies etc to eat on the way. Restaurants in Lhasa,Gyantse and Xigatse

serve varieties of cuisines ranging from Chinese to Continental but in other places, you will find basic Tibetan foods.