Thangka painting is an ancient Tibetan Buddhist art form, which has been practised in Tibet for much more than one thousand years. Thangka, simply is the Tibetan word for painting. In the paintings of this Tibetan Buddhist art form the many and various deities and venerable teachers such as the historical Lord Buddha Shakyamuni are shown. These images inspire through their beauty, but also, a painted deity is a visual support for those practising meditation.

The origins of Thangka painting go back to Lord Buddha Shakyamuni and stretch even further beyond into the past. Lord Buddha lived about 2600 years ago in India, where He taught the Holy Dharma to a large following and also instructed and inspired many artists. As Lord Buddha‘s Teachings flourished in India beyond His lifetime, His Teachings spread to neighbouring countries like Tibet, too.

To establish Buddhism in Tibet, the innovative Tibetan king Songsten Gampo married the Chinese princess Kongjo in early seventh century. She brought scriptures of LordBuddha’s Teachings, Buddhist sculptures and paintings, and also introduced a Chinese style of painting with the artists, who came with her from China. This early stage of Tibetan Thangka painting has been referred to as the old Gadri style.

Another style of Tibetan Thangka painting, Menri, was introduced in Tibet from Nepal in the 9th century. And these are the two main traditions with their varying schools, found in Tibetan Thangka painting. Gadri has been established in the Eastern part of Tibet, whereas Menri is in Central and Western part of the country.

In the year 1500, the Gadri style experienced a renaissance due to the influence of the artist Namka Tashi, who was linked to the Great Saint Mikyo Dorje, the 8th Karmapa. Further significant contributions came through the artists Cho Tashi and then Kasho Karma Tashi. These three artists established what has been known as the Karma Gadri style of Tibetan Thangka painting, which is still true today.

A natural wonder in itself with loads of scenic splendor and racing whitewater action, kayaking the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet is indeed a kayaker’s dream come true. The enormously deep gorges, foamy cascading whitewaters, larger than life canyons and the kaleidoscopic beauty and mystique of the whole region add even more allure to the invigorating expedition.

Into the Blue

Fondly known as the “Everest of Rivers,” though unlike the Everest, it has never been completely accomplished, the Yarlung Tsangpo has always been a favorite destination for travelers interested in Tibet adventure holidays. The bone chilling thrills associated with the extremities of the headstrong unchartered river tend to attract adventure lovers in their joy ride. The massive river meanders through half the Tibetan Plateau and provides kayakers with various terrains. It showers foamy white waterfalls at one point and glassy calmness at another. While vertical rapids ensure breathtaking paddling on one end, the other end encompasses bouncy cascades, providing a bumpy ride on the canoe.

Kayaking in Yarlung Tsangpo River is definitely on the list of must-do destinations for any adventure loving kayaker. Being a good swimmer should be the foremost criterion for planning on kayaking the electrifying Tsangpo. An athletic and fit body is less prone to accidents in the stormy waters of the river. Hazards or accidents can always be best avoided with safety kits and expert guides on the go.

Attractions In and Around the Yarlung Tsangpo

Kayaking in the Yarlung Tsangpo River is the foremost activity attracting adventure lovers to this region. There are, however, plenty of other things to do in this adventurous and spiritual land:

• Visiting the Tsangpo Gorge; known as the “Last secret place on Earth,” this gorge is thought to be the deepest canyon in the world. Within a mere 50 km distance, hundreds of waterfalls meet to cascade wildly into the river.

• Bird Watching and botanical tours in the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo are very popular here. the Great Bend boasts the richest area of biodiversity on the planet.

• Enjoying the mesmerizing sunset in the Yarlung Tsangpo River Valley.

The beauty of the river and its environs will take your breath away no matter which area you navigate. The range of river turns and bends make this one of the most exciting rivers for kayakers while the stunning beauty of the region only enhances the kayaking experience on the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

If you are planning to travel to Tibet, we suggest that you follow the tips given below. They will help you prepare for the tour and avoid common problems at the same time. Read on to know more.

1. Plan in Advance

Make sure you book the tour a minimum of 20 days ahead of the day. Usually, it takes between 48 to 72 hours to confirm bookings. You will have to wait an additional 10 days for the Tibet Entry Permit. Also, you should get an Entry Permit to deal with new restrictions.

2. Get a Tibet Entry Permit

If you are a non-Chinese traveler, you have to apply for a Tiber Entry Permit. Besides, the only way to make your way into Tibet is to join a group. These days, individual travelers are not allowed to enter Tibet for tourism. Also, your tour should be booked in advance through a reliable travel agency. Besides, you should be accompanied by an experienced and licensed tour guide.

3. Opt for the Best Months to Travel

Generally, the best time to go to Tibet is between May and October. During these months, there is plenty of oxygen content and the weather is quite comfortable. It’s a good idea to visit Tibet where there are not a lot of visitors.

Typically, Tibet is closed for February and March. Therefore, you may want to plan your tour during other months to be on the safe side.

4. Get your Supplies

You should get warm clothes like fleeces and sweaters even if you are going to travel to Tibet in summer. The reason is that nights are usually quite cold over there. If you want to climb Everest, you must have a thick down coat with you. Besides, you must have sunglasses on you for protection against the strong sunlight.

You should also use good quality lip cream as well. Wearing comfortable walking shoes is also a good idea. If you are going to go on long road trips, you should also keep snacks with you.

5. Keep Healthy

If you are slightly sick before entering Tibet, don’t even think about climbing a mountain. The reason is that higher altitudes can worsen your sickness. So, what you should do is take it easy, keep warm, have lots of water and take your meds. Once you are back in good shape, you can go as high up there as you want.

6. Catch a Train or Fly

The most convenient way to enter Tibet is to fly. However, if you want to enjoy the amazing views, taking a train is a better idea. But it’s not recommended as it will be a long journey and it will take you ages to reach your destination.

In short, these are a few tips that you may want to follow if you are planning a trip to Tibet this year. By following these tips, you can rest assured that your trip will be comfortable, enjoyable and safe. Hope these tips will help.

Tibetan silver jewelry represents the traditions of Tibet. Tibet people love their silver jewelry. They strongly believe that by wearing any kind of Tibetan silver they will be safe from anything hazardous or harmful. They also believe that by wearing silver jewelry bad luck turns into good luck. In most places it is also treated as a symbol of dignity, prosperity and style.

Changing fashion trends – embracing traditional

With changing fashion trends even non-Tibetans own Tibetan jewelry, as it is very attractive. They also believe that this jewelry can bring good days back into their lives, so it is popular with both Tibetans and non-Tibetans.

It is interesting that people who like traditional jewelry and wholesale wooden buttons have a very romantic view of Tibetan jewelry. They believe that these are the really delightful, mysterious, beautiful and unusual ornaments. Many people who admire this jewelry say that they like it because it is not just attractive but also has some mystery about it. The people of Tibet believe that if someone wears this jewelry, they can avoid disease. They also have a strong belief that having it can bring prosperity in life and can remove the fear of death.

Benefits of buying it from wholesale dealers

Because this is very popular, many jewelry lovers like to own wholesale Tibetan jewelry, as wholesale jewelry is available at cheaper prices. Tibetan silver jewelry is so beautiful that it is increasingly sold at a number of trade publications on the Internet. It is possible that you may not get genuine stuff or you may get poorly made designs. Even if you are buying it in bulk, it is always good to buy it from genuine merchants.

Unique silver

Tibetans mostly wear jewelry made of silver, and the silver that they wear is not the .925 silver that we are familiar with. The quality of silver that they wear is very rare and unique and is, in fact, a combination of nickel and copper. People who know about traditional jewels, especially wooden buttons, understand the importance of Tibetan jewels. It is often seen that Tibetan style jewels, like Tibetan connectors, clasps and stylish beads, are made of a very unique type of silver.

Most of the Tibetan jewelry is handmade

If you have ever worn Tibetan jewels you must have noticed that most of them are handmade. Handmade jewelry and ornaments are popular with people in modern society. Many of the artists or the designers make Tibetan jewelry because they receive plenty of orders for different styles made in different patterns. It is very simple to make Tibetan style jewelry; those people who have a little experience of beading or jewelry can make it very easily.

Tibetan jewelry became big business as Tibetan people, for various reasons, began to sell their handmade family jewelry in the mid 20th century. As the demand for it increased, it sold for more, so export of this jewelry increased at a phenomenal pace until cheap exports took their place. This became the trend, and so Tibetan silver underwent a dramatic change in quality from the traditional to the modern fashion jewelry.