Tibet is known as the ‘Roof of the world,’ the ‘Land of Snows’ or the ‘Forbidden Land’ and is a vast land of mystery and cultural magic. The Tibetan Plateau is also the largest and highest in the World the average elevations being 4,900 metres, with the north-western region being so remote that it lies uninhabited to this day; the Zander basin a place where the remains of the earliest woolly rhinoceros and snow leopard have been found; plus, giraffe and a host of other mammals.

Humans first inhabited the Tibetan Plateau at least 21,000 years ago, with Tibet becoming a powerful and unified Empire under Songtsan Gampo in the middle 7th century, whose first wife was the Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal, who was thought to have played a role in establishing Buddhism in Tibet; his second wife was Princess Wencheng, the niece of the powerful Chinese emperor Taizong of Tang China. Peace over the centuries has seldom reigned in these regions, as a valuable section of the ‘silk Route’ and ruled at times by Over-Lords from Mongolia. To the Tibetan people Tibet encompasses the whole of the Tibetan Plateau including all counties of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), 95% of the land area of Qinghai province,

Walking Monks (C) Dennis Jarvis - Halifax, Canada.

southwest Gansu, northern Sichuan, western Sichuan and far northwest Yunnan. It is the traditional home of the Tibetan people, as well as other ethnic groups such as: Monpas, Qiang and Lhobas; plus, Han and Hui Chinese migrants who were encouraged to settle. In 1950, the People’s Liberation Army invaded Tibet and ‘The Seventeen Point Agreement’ was signed in 1951 that re-annexed Tibet back into China – offering (on paper) Tibet full autonomous status for governance, religion and local affairs. When people refer to the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), this is only 50% of the land mass of the Tibetan Plateau. Parts of Tibet are now spread across 5 provinces and regions of south-western China; with around 60 percent of Tibetans living outside of TAR in other regions. During the Cultural Revolution (1966 -1976) much of Tibet’s cultural heritage, as well as China’s lay in ruins at the hand of the Red Guards and the Communist inspired movement, with over 1.2 million Tibetans killed or imprisoned. Things are now more peaceful with monasteries slowly being re-built; however, the Dalai Lama is still not welcome and the Chinese do close Tibet to the outside World and tourists around March, on the Anniversary of the Tibetan Up-risings, with many keeping tight lipped. The dilemma of many tourists is whether they should visit as most of the revenue goes to the Chinese authorities; however, the Dalai Lama has always encouraged people to visit so they can

see Tibet and mix with the people. Also, a younger generation of Chinese people are starting to wish real autonomy for the Tibetans. The Tibetan people are mesmerizing, having developed a gentle, mysterious culture where everywhere you can see the influence of Tibetan Buddhism, but also shamanistic practice. The Capitol Lhasa means literally ‘Holy Land’ and also ‘Sunlight City’ as the sun’s radiation in Tibet is extremely strong making the sunlight intense in the city. The Tibetans call Mount Everest Chomolungma – Mother Goddess of the Earth.

Yak (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.

Doorway (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.

Lhasa (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.

Potala Palace, Lhasa (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.

Many Buddha (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.

Mountains, Tibet (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.

House (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.

Prayer wheel, Lhasa (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.

Kitchen, Depung Monastery (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.

Jokhang Monastery, Lhasa (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.

Secret Mantra Palace, Lhasa (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.

Gyantse Dzong (C) Dennis Jarvis Halifax, Canada.