SIKKIM

For thousands of years, Tibet lay under the ancient Sea of Tethys. Eighty million years ago, India crashed into Asia, pushing up the Himalayas, lifting the ocean bottom above water, and creating this magical land.

Tibet has many names and inspires an air of mystical dreams. However, Tibet is a real and beautiful place to travel to. It possesses a unique culture, firmly rooted in religion, with strong influence from the geography of the Himalayas, and the neighboring civilizations of India and China geographically, Tibet can be divided into three major parts - north, south and east.

The eastern part is forest region, occupying approximately one-fourth of the land. Virgin forests run the entire breadth and length of this part of Tibet.

The northern part is open grassland, where nomads and yak and sheep dwell here. This part occupies approximately half of Tibet.

The southern and central part is agricultural region, occupying about one- fourth of Tibets land area. All major Tibetan cities and towns such as Lhasa, Shigatse, Gyantse and Tsedang are located in this area and is considered the cultural center of Tibet.

Tibet Himalaya... Catch phrases by past travellers when describing the Tibet Himalaya: