Tibetan and Himalayan Library - THL

Description: Mapping the Tibetan World is set apart from most other guidebooks on Tibet by its breadth and geographic detail. Mapping is one of the few guidebooks that covers nearly the entire Tibetan plateau, with details on traveling to Kongpo, Eastern Kham, and Amdo, as well as the more well traveled areas of central Tibet. As the title implies, this books contains maps for nearly every significant site it describes (not only popular tourist destinations but a great numerous small towns as well).

Table of Contents: Travel in Tibet 8 -- Roads to Tibet 8 -- Borders 10 -- Visas 10 -- Visa Extensions 11 -- Permits to Enter Tibet 11 -- Alien Travel Permit 12 -- In Closed Areas 12 -- Making Arrangements in Your Own Country 12 -- Making Arrangements with a Travel Agency in Chengdu 13 -- Changing Money & Exchange Rates 13 -- Budgets 13 -- Guesthouses 13 -- Transport 14 -- Hitchhiking in Tibet 14 -- What to Bring 14 -- Altitude Sickness 15 -- Dogs & Rabies 15 -- Vaccinations 15 -- Hospitals 20 -- Language 20 -- Other Guidebooks 20 -- Other Maps Available 20 -- Post & Telecommunications 22 -- Safety in Tibet 22 -- Illegal Matters 22 -- Customs & Taboos 23 -- Model Tours 24 -- Tibet in China 24 -- Ladakh (North-West India) 25 -- Encounter Tibet in Nepal 26 -- Darjeeling & Sikkim 27 -- Bhutan 27 -- Country Information -- China 64 -- India 280 -- Nepal 320 -- Bhutan 376 -- Nature in Tibet 28 -- History of Tibet 30 -- Tibetan Buddhism 36 -- World of Tibetan Buddhism 36 -- Four Greatest Schools of Tibetan Buddhism 38 -- Keywords for Prayer 40 -- Prayer Scene 40 -- Entering the World of the Gompa 41 -- A Monk's Life 43 -- Buddhas, Deities, etc. in the Mandala World 46 -- Buddhas, Bodhisattvas & Deities 47 -- Unraveling the Thangka Message 49 -- Buddhist Goods 49 -- Lucky Omen Symbols 50 -- Animals Found in Thangkas 51 -- Appreciating the Mandala 52 -- Fashions 54 -- Keywords for Tibetan Life 55 -- Lives in Tibet 55 -- Things to Wear 55 -- Food 56 -- Customs 57 -- Tibetan Festivals 58 -- Festival Dates 61 -- Lhasa 63 -- Access 65 -- Practical Information 67 -- Around the Barkhor 71 -- Around the Potala Palace 78 -- Around Lhasa 82 -- Around Lhasa 85 -- Ganden Monastery 85 -- Lhokha (Shannan) Prefecture 88 -- Samye (Sangye) 88 -- Chimphu Hermitage 92 -- Dranang Valley (Zhanang) 92 -- Tsethang (Zedang) 92 -- South of Lhasa 95 -- Nyetang Dolma Lhakhang & Rock Image of Shakyamuni 95 -- Gongkar (Gongga) 95 -- Gongkar Choede (Gongkar Dorjeden) 95 -- Mt. Chuwori 96 -- Shugseb Ani Gompa 96 -- Drakyul Caves & Dorje Drak Gompa 97 -- Upper Reaches of the Kyi-chu (NE from Lhasa) 98 -- To the North of Lhasa 99 -- Toelung (Duilongdequingxian) 100 -- Yamdrok Yumtso Lake to Lhakhang 100 -- Lhodrak (Luozha) 103 -- Lhakhang (Lakang) 103 -- To the East of Tsethang 103 -- Chusum (Qusong) 103 -- Lhamo Latso Lake 104 -- Gyatsa (Jiacha) 104 -- Nang Dzong (Lang) 105 -- Tsari 105 -- Sangak Choeling 106 -- Lhuntse (Longzi) 106 -- Tsona (Cuona) 106 -- Namtso Lake and Nakchu 106 -- Namtso Lake 106 -- Nakchu (Naqu) 108 -- Amdo (Anduo) 108 -- Lhasa-Kathmandu 109 -- Tsang (Shigatse & Gyantse) 109 -- Shigatse (Rikaze) 109 -- Gyantse (Jiangzi) 114 -- Around Shigatse 118 -- Sakya (Sajia) 120 -- Lhatse to Dram 122 -- Lhatse (Lazi) 122 -- Shelkar (New Tingri) 123 -- Jomolangma Trekking 123 -- Tingri (Dingri) 126 -- Lapchi 126 -- Nyalam (Nielamu) 126 -- Dram (Khasa) [Zhangmu] 127 -- To Nepal 128 -- Lhatse to Saga 129 -- Kyirong Valley to Nepal 130 -- Chumbi Valley to Sikkim & Bhutan 131 -- To Kailash 133 -- Route to Mt. Kailash 137 -- Ali (Shiquanhe) 140 -- Mt.Kailash (Kang Rinpoche) 141 -- Mt.Kailash Khora (Pilrimage Circuit) 143 -- Nangkhor (Inner Pilgrimage Circuit) 145 -- Lake Manasarovar (Mapham Yutso) 145 -- Langa Tso (Lake Rakshas Tal) 145 -- Memo Nani (Mt. Nemo Nanyi) 146 -- Sources of Asia's Great Rivers 146 -- Border Crossing Purang-Simikot 147 -- Guge Ruins 149 -- Tsamda (Zhada) 149 -- Tsaparang 152 -- Dungkar & Piyang 153 -- Tirthapuri 153 -- Rutok (Ritu) 156 -- Kashgar to Mt. Kailash (Xinjiang-Tibet Highway) 156 -- Kongpo & Chamdo -- (Eastern Part of TAR) 159 -- Kongpo [Nyangtri (Linzhi) Prefecture] 159 -- Lhasa to Bayi 162 -- Bayi 162 -- Basong Tso (Lake Draksum Lhatso) 163 -- Nyangtrio (Nyingtri) [Linzhi] 165 -- Mt. Bonri 165 -- Menling (Milin) 166 -- Mt. Namcha Barwa 167 -- Pemako (Metok) [Motuo] 167 -- Bayi to Pome 167 -- Lunang (Lulang) 167 -- Tang-me [Tongmai] 167 -- Pome (Powo) [Bomi] 168 -- Chamdo (Changdu) Prefecture 169 -- Rawok (Ranwu) 169 -- Dzayul (Chayu) 169 -- Pasho (Basu) 169 -- Pomda (Bangda) 169 -- Yunnan to Bayi 170 -- Yanjing 170 -- Markham (Mangkang) 170 -- Chamdo to Nakchu 171 -- Chamdo (Changdu) 171 -- Riwoche (Leiwuqi) 173 -- Tengchen (Dingqing) 173 -- Sok Dzong (Suoxian) 173 -- Lhorong (Luolong) 174 -- Pelbar (Bianba) 174 -- Lharigo (Jiali) 174 -- Dege in Sichuan to Chamdo 174 -- Chamdo to Pomda 174 -- Amdo -- (Gansu, Qinghai & Sichuan) 175 -- Gansu Province 177 -- Lanzhou 177 -- Linxia 179 -- Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 181 -- Xiahe (Sang-chu) 182 -- Hezuo (Tsoe) 183 -- Luqu (Luchu) 184 -- Taktsang Lhamo (Langmusi) 185 -- Lintan 186 -- Zhuoni (Cho-ne) 186 -- Maqu (Machu) 187 -- Diebu (Thewo) 187 -- Zhouqu (Drukchu) 187 -- Boyu (Boeyul) 187 -- North-west of Gansu 187 -- Tianzhu (Pari) 187 -- Sunan Yugurzu Autonomous County (Zhangye Diqu) 189 -- Qinghai Province 190 -- Xining 190 -- Around Xining & Haidong Diqu (District) 193 -- Huangzhong (Tsongkha) 193 -- Huzhu Tu Autonomous County (Gonlung) 194 -- Ping'an (Tsongkha Khar) 194 -- Ledu (Drotsang) 195 -- Hualong Hui Autonomous County (Bayan Khar) 195 -- Xunhua (Xunhua Salar Autonomous County) [Dowi] 195 -- Xining-Golmud-Lhasa 195 -- Qinghai Hu (Lake Kokonor) 196 -- Golmud (Ge'ermu) 197 -- Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 198 -- Tongren (Repkong) 198 -- Zeku (Tsekok) 200 -- Henan Mongol Autonomous County (Sogwo) 201 -- Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 202 -- Gonghe (Chabcha) 202 -- Xinghai (Tsigorthang) 203 -- Guide (Trika) 204 -- Guinan (Mangra) 205 -- Tongde (Kawasumdo) 206 -- Guoluo (Golok) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 207 -- Maduo (Mato) 207 -- Maqin (Dawu) 210 -- Gande (Gabde) 211 -- Dari (Jimai) [Darlag] 212 -- Banma (Padma) [Parma] 213 -- Jiuzhi (Jigdril) 214 -- Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Jyekundo) 214 -- Yushu (Jyekundo) 214 -- Chengduo (Trindu) 218 -- Sumang (Zurmang) Region 218 -- To the Source of the Mekong River 218 -- ABA (Ngawa) Tibetan & Qiang Autonomous Prefecture (Sichuan) 219 -- Wenchuan (Lungu) 220 -- Maoxian (Maowen Qiang Autonomous County) 220 -- Heishui (Trochu) 221 -- Songpan (Zungchu) 221 -- Huanglong (Sertso) 222 -- Jiuzhaigou 223 -- Nanping (Namphel) 224 -- Lixian (Tashiling) 224 -- Ma'erkang (Barkam) 225 -- Jinchuan (Rabden) 226 -- Xiaojin (Tsenlha) 226 -- Rangtang (Zamthang) 227 -- Aba (Ngawa) 227 -- Hongyuan (Mewa) 228 -- Ruo'ergai (Dzoge) 229 -- Eastern Kham -- (Ganzi Prefecture & Muli County, Sichuan Province) 231 -- Chengdu 233 -- Ganzi (Kandze) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 237 -- Kangding (Dartsedo) 237 -- Mugecuo Lake (Yeren Hai) 241 -- Around Kangding 242 -- Luding (Chakzamka) 242 -- Mt. Minya Konka (Gongga Shan) 243 -- Hailuogou Glacier Park 243 -- Kangding to Ganzi, Dege, etc. (Sichuan-Tibet Highway North) 245 -- Danba (Rongtrak) 245 -- Jiulong (Gyezil) 246 -- Xinduqiao (Dzongzhab) 246 -- Tagong (Lhagang) [Hargong] 246 -- Bamei (Garthar) 247 -- Daofu (Tawu) 248 -- Luhuo (Drango) 249 -- Seda (Sertal) 250 -- Ganzi (Kandze) 250 -- Xinlong (Nyarong) 253 -- Baiyu (Pelyul) 253 -- Manigango 254 -- Xinluhai (Yilhun Lhatso) 254 -- Dege (Derge) 254 -- Monasteries around Dege 256 -- Shiqu (Sershul) [Serxu] 257 -- Kangding to Litang and Batang (Sichuan-Tibet Highway South) 258 -- Yajiang (Nyakchuka) 258 -- Litang (Lithang) 258 -- Batang (Bathang) 260 -- Yunnan to Litang (Lithang) 260 -- Xiangcheng (Chaktreng) 260 -- Daocheng (Dabpa) 260 -- Derong 260 -- Muli Tibetan Autonomous County, Sichuan Province 260 -- Dechen --u (Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province) 263 -- Yunnan to Tibet 263 -- Kunming 263 -- Dali (Dali Gucheng) 267 -- Lijiang (Jang Sadam) 268 -- Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 270 -- Zhongdian (Gyalthang) 270 -- Deqin (Dechen) [Jol] 274 -- Weixi (Balung) 275 -- Lugu Hu (Lake) 276 -- Ninglang 278 -- Yongning 278 -- Ladakh & Zanskar 279 -- Delhi 279 -- From Manali to Leh 283 -- Manali 283 -- From Srinagar to Leh 284 -- Srinagar 286 -- Ladakh 286 -- Leh 287 -- Leh to the South: Gompas in the Indus Valley 291 -- Leh and the West: Gompas on the Kargil Route 292 -- Trekking from Leh 293 -- Dha/Hanu Villages 294 -- Nubra Valley 295 -- East Ladakh 297 -- Zanskar 298 -- Padam (Padum) 298 -- Padam (Padum)-Phugtal-Darcha 299 -- Padam (Padum)-Zangla-Lamayuru 299 -- Padam (Padum)-Sani-Kargil 302 -- Lahaul 303 -- Keylong 303 -- Spiti 305 -- Kaza 305 -- Kinnaur 308 -- Shimla (Simla) 308 -- Sarahan 308 -- Rekong Peo 310 -- Kalpa 310 -- Sangla 310 -- Kanam 311 -- Puh 311 -- Nako 311 -- Chango 311 -- Shalkar 312 -- Dharamsala 312 -- Other Areas Settled by Tibetan Refugees in India 315 -- Himachal Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh [North-west India] 315 -- Karnataka State [Southern India] 317 -- Central India 317 -- Nepal 319 -- Road to Nepal 323 -- Kathmandu 324 -- Trekking to the Tibetan World 333 -- Route to Bigu Gompa & Surrounding Area 336 -- Everest Trekking 336 -- Lukla to Hile 338 -- Mt. Kangchenjunga Area 338 -- Langtang 338 -- Manaslu North 339 -- Pokhara 342 -- Annapurna Area Trekking 343 -- Annapurna Sanctuary 343 -- Jomsom & Muktinath Area 346 -- Manang Area 349 -- Lo Manthang (Mustang) 351 -- Dolpo 354 -- Lumbini 355 -- Sikkim 357 -- Kolkata (Calcutta) 357 -- West Bengal 360 -- Darjeeling 360 -- Kalimpong 364 -- Sikkim 365 -- Central & Eastern Sikkim 367 -- Gangtok 367 -- Northern Sikkim 370 -- Western Sikkim 371 -- Geyzing 371 -- Yoksum 372 -- Arunachal Pradesh 372 -- Bhutan 375 -- Phuntsholing ('Free Zone') 383 -- Western Bhutan 384 -- Paro 384 -- Thimphu 386 -- Shopping in Thimphu 388 -- Punakha 390 -- Central Bhutan 391 -- Trongsa 391 -- Bumthang Valleys 391 -- Eastern Bhutan 392 -- Mongar 392 -- Lhuntse 392 -- Tashigang 392 -- Samdrup Jongkhar 393 -- Tashi Yangtse 393 -- Articles -- Be Careful with Mountain Sickness 21 -- Dalai Lamas 35 -- Tibetan Buddhist Culture Outside Tibet 54 -- Losar in Kathmandu 62 -- 10th Panchen Lama 132 -- Hitchhiking in Tibet 189 -- Dolpo Flight Request 354 -- Tibet Photos 262 -- Survival Tibetan 395 -- Survival Chinese 398 -- Chinese Place Names 400 -- Embassies 404 -- Tibet & China 406 -- India, Nepal & Bhutan 411

Other Editions: The publisher URL links to the 2nd edition (2004) of this book.

Associated Information: "Covering Tibetan Autonomous Region; Western China: Gansu, Sichuan & Yunnan; Northern India: Ladakh, Zanskar & Sikkim; Bhutan; Nepal"--Cover.

Review: A helpful and detailed guidebook on cultural Tibetan areas in and around the Himalayas. Of note are the extensive maps of not only large cities but smaller rural towns as well, although unfortunately many are already out of date since the first edition.