The trans-Himalayan bus service from Lhasa, capital of the Chinese-occupied Tibet to Nepal which had been the easiest means of transportation for Nepal and Tibet was suspended due to political fallout over issuance of Tibetan visas. After a halt of 4 years, China government is getting ready to resume the service. The service was started on May 1, 2005. According to the “a two-day meeting” between the officials of Nepal Tourism Board and Tibet Tourism Administration held months ago, the service will resume in the next few days. Though a February-end deadline has been fixed, much will hinge upon the snows that block Himalayan passes leading up the Tibetan Plateau from Nepal. In the past, deadlines have been set for resumption of services but were not met. One such notable deadline was January 1, 2008; the year China hosted the Beijing Olympics. Nepal and China signed a formal agreement to promote tourism by restarting the service. China aims at bringing in tourists – ...

An unprecedented cycling venture, on an unmarked route Muktinath to Lo-manthang - David Yonjan Mustang is located in the north-east of Nepal, bordering China (Tibet) on the Central Asian plateau between the Nepalese provinces of Dolpo and Manang. It is roughly 80 km long (north-south) and 45 km at its widest, and is at an elevation of over 2500 m. Lo Manthang! I had never heard the name before and my imagination was running wild trying to put a picture to the place. So I did what any normal person would do in such a situation. I googled ‘Lo Manthang’ and was instantly flooded with information! Lo Manthang – a walled city, is the capital of Mustang, an ancient Himalayan kingdom at an elevation of nearly 3800 ...

Unfolding the mysteries of Tibet - Ngawang Tenpa Ratutsang Devotees and culture enthusiasts travel from all over the world to catch a glimpse of the Jokhng Temple , Potala the Winter palace, and Norbulingka the summer palace of Tibet. The Rooftop of the World, the true abode of the Dalai Lama, Tibet is famous all over the world as the destination for people in search of spirituality and true peace of mind. Even after Tibet was invaded by China and the Dalai Lama was forced into exile in Dharamsala forcing thousands of Tibetans to flee as refugees to Nepal and other neighboring countries, Tibetans have managed to cling to their rich culture. Nestled in the Himalayas, Tibet has many topographical wonders to boast of. It is composed largely of mountains, southern and northern Tibet plateau lake areas, and eastern Tibet high mountain valley areas. The region boasts of more than 50 peaks each with a height of over 7000 meters and five over 8000 meters. Tibet is also home to three world class nature reserves, namely Qomolangma (Mount Everest), Northern Tibet Changtang and Eastern Tibet Yarlung Zangbo (Tsangpo in Tibetan) Grand Canyon Nature Reserve. Devotees and culture enthusiasts travel from all over the world to catch a glimpse of the Jokhng Temple established in the 7th Century, Potala-the Winter palace, and Norbulingka, the summer palace of Tibet.

The Sherpa People of Illam - Utsav Shakya A sizeable community of Sherpa people lives in Illam, Nepal’s tea district that borders on India. They are fine examples of how a community is defined as much by the conditions they live in as by time-tested traditions. A huge tree, unearthed, lay inclined in the middle of the road, a part of its roots still in the ridge that had followed us on our left. Our vehicle, an old Land Rover, slowed down and then stopped a few feet away from the tree. The tree was too heavy to be lifted and there were not enough people to even try such an option. It was decided that we would walk the rest of the way to Khopi. I had been trekking with a photographer friend on assignment in the scenic, mountain villages of Illam in Eastern Nepal and our travels so far had been problem free. But soon, another, graver problem presented itself. The only space the Land Rover had to make an about turn and head back after leaving us was a little ahead of the fallen tree. On our right, a sheer drop of at least fifty feet into a small rocky river added to the tension. There was no way Raju, our driver, could back the huge four wheel drive to another space about a kilometer behind us. But inch by inch Raju turned the vehicle until it lay sideways; covering almost the entire width of the road and then all turned it all the way around. When we finally got to a misty, cold Khopi later that afternoon, a warm Sherpa family awaited us. We would spend our first night in the hills there. In fact, every day for the seven days that we trekked through the hills of Illam, we took refuge in the homes of local Sherpas. How did so many Sherpas, indigenous to Solukhumbu district end up here? What had brought so many of them here and for what purpose? When had they come here? Although my knowledge about Sherpas was not confined to just their fame as trustworthy porters and guides, rather shamefully, I did not know a lot about them either.

A popular trekking trail that uses alternate routes in the same area, the Gokyo Ri trek features the unbelievable scenery of the remote Gokyo Valley as well as complimentary views of turquoise lakes, huge glaciers, and stunning mountain vistas that include Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu - four of the eight highest peaks on earth. The 360-degree view from Gokyo Ridge is lauded as the best in the Khumbu area. The beginning of this trek is the same as the trail to Everest Base Camp. Most trekking agencies will schedule two nights in the village of Namche Bazaar to acclimatize. Namche is considered the trading center for the Khumbu region, and people walk from as far away as Tibet Saturdays to sell their wares here. This is also the hub onto which each trail converges, so yaks and people compete for space in this amphitheater style city. After visiting ...