Things to see and do Tibet

The northern moraine of the Rongphu glacier is two small hours of walking, without difficulty if it is altitude. You don't have to cross the torrent that's going on because it's extremely dangerous. To approach the glacier is, then you climb on the left along a path. After an hour and a half we see the traces of Camp 1 (5 460 m) and the rediscovery of the glacier is set in the distance.

To reach the other camps, you must cross the bed of the torrent almost dry and continue to climb on the other side. The advanced base camp (6 340 m) is still a day's walk. Expeditions climb through the northeast edge.

In the park behind the Palace, on the dragon lake, there is an island often hidden by the vegetation and accessible by a small Chinese bridge. This is where the little temple of the Naga stands in this haven of peace. From 1986 to 1990, he sheltered a school where very young children learned to write Tibetan.

The dragon lake was made artificially to fill the hole left after the Palace construction (the mortar needed a lot of land). The 6 ^th Dalai Lama decided to build a sanctuary dedicated to the king of the Naga where he used to retire to meditate. It is a small three storey square building in a mandala style.

This small temple has exceptional murals that were unfortunately coated and coated. They represent the postures of the six Yogas yogas, and the energy channels (nadis). On the other wall, we recognize the peaceful and other divinités deities of the Members. The last wall includes the representations of the 80 Mahasiddhas and 25 Guru Rinpoche disciples, as well as the stages of construction of Samyé (the oldest Tibetan monastery). The first floor is devoted to the main image of Luwang Gyalpo, the king of the Naga on the coiffe of snakes, who spent his life to teach them.

The village of Yerpa Da, on the left, next to a small, rudimentary bridge, marks the end of the runway. If you want camping, it's the ideal place. The foot of the caves (2 hours walk) can be reached on the ground. No local buses serve Yerpa. Yerpa was once the main hermitage in Lhasa. The greatest sages have pondered this, especially Songtsen Gampo, Guru Rinpoche, Atisha. Lhalung Pelgyi Dorje came to find refuge after killing Langdarma. Yerpa is considered one of Tibet's most important sacred sites. Maitreya Temple was ransacked during the Cultural Revolution, but the caves did not change and the site kept all its natural serenity. It has a magnificent view over the valley below and the mountain chain in the background.

The site visit takes place following the ritual course of kora, i. e. by turning on the left. It takes at least three hours if you make the big tour that passes through the "nonnerie". The path fills the juniper that one can burn in offering in the ovens provided for this use. The most famous caves are closed and kept by monks who live next door. Search for the person who has the key (le). No money will be asked, but it is recommended to leave offerings in each cave. The small "nonnerie" is particularly pleasant.

(7 728 m). It is a chain of eternal, beautiful and inviolée snow that rises in the vast plain of Barga, south of the lakes, on the road to Purang. Only nomadic pastors live in their fields.

In Tibetan, it is named Mapham Tso, the victorious lake. At 4 560 m altitude, and 50 km from Mount Kailash, it is probably the most sacred lake in Tibet and one of the highest. The pilgrims report with them a little of his water, considered holy water. The lake symbolizes sun and light as opposed to Rakshas Tal, which represents the moon and dark forces.

The Kailash (6 714 m), also known as Gang Tise or Gang Rinpoche, the jewel of snow, is the sacred mountain par excellence. Revered by the Hindus for whom she is the throne of Shiva, she is also by Tibetan Buddhists who see her as the palace of Cakrasamvara. For böns, she is the spiritual center of the Shang-Shung where Shenrab Miwo went down on earth and, for the jains, the place where Mahavira knew Liberation.

His form suggests the lingam of Shiva. It is a natural mandala and is associated with Mount Meru, the cosmogonic centre of the universe. Many hermits and sages have reflected on his caves and it is reported that Milarepa has defeated the Bönpo Naro Naro. He then reflecting eleven years on the face east of the mountain where one of his caves still worships.

The rise of its summit, kept blank, is formally forbidden. The pilgrims pay homage to him by turning the left (kora), by the left for Buddhists and in the opposite direction for böns.

The year of the horse (this year) is considered particularly favourable for this pilgrimage, the most important thing that can be accomplished in his life by a Tibetan or Hindu. Four large rivers and tributaries take their source at the Kailash, as an escape from the mouth of the animals: the Indus of the mouth of the lion, the; du horse, the peacock's Karnali and the Sutlej of the elephant.

Namtso Lake (Tengri nor in Mongolian) means "the lake of the sky" in Tibetan, a name predestined to draw on its hermits shores and pilgrims. Extending to 4 680 m above sea level, it is 2 000 km ², with an area of 113 km ², the second salé lake in Tibet, more northerly.

To the west of Namtso Chu is the sanctuary of migratory birds, a bay which can be observed from April to November, gulls, wild ducks, cormorants, grues and bruyère. It is a landscape of walking steppe strewn with nomadic pastors, where you can encounter marmots and pikas, kinds of little pigs of wild India.

One hour walk to the west, you arrive at Tashi Do (rock of Merit). The track departs from the lake to avoid the marshes and then to the shore on the right until the sight of two pillars of limestone which appear to mark the entrance of the small Tashi Do (Tashi Do tchoung-tchoung). It is the guardians of this amazing cave and cave sanctuaries complex. Polychrome frescoes still appear on the walls of the caves and the fumée ceilings show that they were inhabited. Some abandoned kitchen utensils report a recent human presence. It is possible to take the tour (kora) of this place in two hours. More to the east is the Tashi Do of recognition (Tashi Do thoudjé), with caves, but fewer.