The Land of Snows, the roof of the world. For centuries this mysterious Buddhist kingdom, locked away the high Himalaya ranges, has always fascinated the Western World. For explorers and traders it was a forbidden mysterious land of treasure and riches. Once, the Bon religion was practiced on this Himalayan plateau until the Guru Padmasambhava from Swat valley, travelled to Tibet and introduced Buddhism in 8th century. Tantric buddhism flourished in Tibet. Due to Chinese invasion Buddhism saw the dark age in recent times, for a while images of the Buddha were replaced by icons Chinese icons. Today, Tibetan pilgrims across the country are once again murmuring mantras and swinging their prayer wheels in temples with burning juniper incense and yak butter. Monasteries have been restored across the country, along with some limited religious freedoms.

For travellers, Tibet is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable places to visit in Asia. It offers fabulous monastery sights, breathtaking high-altitude treks, stunning views of the world's highest mountains and one of the most adorable peoples you will ever meet. Gyantse, in the Nyang-chu Valley is famous for the largest chörten (stupa) in Tibet. Your visit will take you past snow capped mountains, turquoise lakes and over high passes fluttering with prayer flags. Find a tranquil corner in a prayer hall full of chanting monks, hike past the ruins of remote hermitages or make an overland trip along some of the world's wildest roads. The scope for adventure is limitless.

For many people, Tibet is a uniquely spiritual place. Those moments of peace, fleeting and precious, when everything seems to be in its proper place, seem to come more frequently in Tibet, whether inspired by the devotion apparent in the face of a pilgrim or the dwarfing scale of a beautiful landscape. Tibet can truly claim to be on a higher plain.

This remarkable place is changing at fast pace. Investment and tourism are flooding into the region,. Lhasa is changing and even small towns across the plateau are being modernised and revamped. It's a place that's likely to change very fast and it is right moment to visit the roof of the world, before the authencity of place vanishes.