Tibet has a long and complex history, written records have survived from the 7 th Century A.D. however it is known that nomadic tribes populated Tibet as early as the 2 nd Century B.C. and discoveries suggest a much longer history of human kind...More recent times have seen the invasion of China in 1959 and the inevitable dilution of Tibetan culture. Tibet however has proved over the years since, that its way of life has been able to withstand this influence. Power of thought and life itself overcoming the modern ravages of politics.

The journey to unlock the complexities posed by this arid mass of discovery (almost the size of Europe) begins with probably the most dramatic flight in the world. From Kathmandu, you journey the huge backbone of the High Himalayas to land deep in the heart of the Tibetan plateau. A further two hours drive by road through barren wilderness Lhasa, the capital and home to the famous Potala Palace unfolds. Lhasa remains the major focus of Buddhist worship anywhere in the world, a place for the traveler to cast away any preconceptions he or she may have and join in Tibet's journey of discovery along the way... at least for a while.

Inhabitants were probably in existence in Tibet since the later part of the Paleolithic Age, considered as the opening curtain of Tibetan history. By the Neolithic Age these inhabitants had scattered around the region which formed the basis of the Tibetan race as we know it today.

In the 7 th century a famous Tibetan king Songtsen Gompo united the whole of the region and established the Tubo Dynasty. In the 7 th and 8 th centuries respectively two princesses from the Tang Dynasty married two Tibetan kings, as a consequence the two tribes as such, the Hans and Tubos formed a much closer relationship. Further exchanges of culture flourished and a political and economic framework was established between them and so the first collective (Tibet) was formed. This period was a truly wonderful time in the growth of the Tibetan culture . 

Tibet fell into a de centralisation from around 842 to 1260 A.D. following the fall of the Tubo Dynasty caused by a revolt of the common people. This period saw the region split into smaller Monastic pockets of influence. Tubo society was changing from one of bonded labour to a more open society where people had a little more independence. In the mid 13th Century Tibetan leaders had submitted to Ghenghis Khan whose central administration passed the power to  Sakya Pandita who became Viceroy to Tibet. Khuble Khan himself became a convert to Tibetan Buddhism in 1270. Around 1350 Tibet had been welded back into some sort of political unit after the collapse of the Mongal Empire the power and influence of the Sakayapa Lamas declined.

In the 14th Century a reformist movement led by Tsongkapa challenged the Sakayapa,. The new school known as Gelukpa (yellow hats) gained the support of the local rulers and Mongal chiefs. In 1578 Alton Khan the Mongal ruler conferred the title of Dalai Lama (ocean of wisdom) on the third high priest of the Gelukpa sect  Sonam Gyatso, this title was passed on to his two predecessors. During this period Tibet was still in dispute regarding overall power.

Between 1617 and 1682 the Great fifth Lobsan Gyatso managed to reunify Tibet and extended his authority to the borders of the region introducing a harmonious blend of Religion and Politics. With its strategic position between the great civilisations of India and China, Tibet increasingly became a pawn in the power game. It was once again plunged into chaos, in 1720 the Chinese tore down the walls of Lhasa and quartered a large garrison there whilst annexing part of  Northern Tibet. They left two Viceroys to direct foreign affairs under a Manchu leadership. In 1788 Tibet turned to China for support when faced with an invasion of the Ghurka Army in a dispute of trade and boundaries. Following a period of stalemate the Tibetans and Ghurkas made a peace pact in 1792 and Chinese influence began to expand.

By the mid 19th Century Manchu power was waning and in 1856 when faced with another Ghurka invasion the Chinese did not respond. The Nepalese exacted an annual tax on Tibet. A period followed of intense rivalry between the British Raj in India and the Russians. The British fearing that the Russians wanted to control Tibet as a gateway to India.

In 1903 a British force invaded Tibet and reached Lasa and the 13th Dalai Lama fled to Mongolia before his return in 1907 by which time Tibet and the British had somehow become close friends. In 1910 the Chinese once again invaded Tibet, this time the Dalai Lama took refuge in India, only to return  following the demise of the Quing dynasty. Tibet expelled the remaining Chinese troops to an area which roughly defines the border of Autonomous Tibet and China today. There followed a period of peace for over twenty years and although Tibet was not officially recognised by other nations it maintained a De Facto status.

Tibet remained neutral during the second World War but following Indian independence in 1947 and without the threat of British resistance the Chinese invaded again in 1949.Tibetan forces were no match for the invaders. The 14th Dalai Lama had no choice but to find an agreement with the Chinese and in 1951 a seventeen point peaceful liberation agreement was signed. This agreement left Tibet to handle its internal affairs allowing freedom of religion, whilst China took control of the military and broader political affairs of the country, Tibet also agreeing to give up any right to independence.

The following few years saw the Chinese gradually carving off bits of the country whilst growing in influence all over Tibet. New roads and projects were being constructed and it was evident the Chinese had little time for Religion. Increasingly Human rights were being suppressed which culminated in a major uprising by the Tibetan people in 1959 .This was brutally put down by China with the Dalai Lama fleeing to India where he still resides today. Tibet today still remains under Chinese control despite condemnation from all parts of the free World.

Geographically Tibet can be divided into three parts; the East, the South and the North. The Eastern part is forest region which occupies around 25% of Tibet. The Southern part is open grassland  occupying  almost a half of Tibet. The Southern and Central region is an agricultural region occupying the rest of Tibet as well as containing all the major cities  Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse, Gyatsa, and Tsedang . This area is also considered as the cultural center of Tibet and Buddhism.

Buddhism, has a history dating back over 1300 years, these years have shaped a unique form "Lamaism". Tibetan history, culture and religion are mixed together and infiltrated into every aspect of social life. Buddhism in Tibet came into prominence after Songtsen Gompo, the 33rd Tibetan King married Bhrikuti, a Nepali Princess. After the marriage, Buddhism slowly started to replace the Bon religion but really gained momentum after the king's minister translated the first Buddhist scripture. Buddhist scripture is believed to have descended from heaven around 5th century A.D. and was written in Sanskrit. Now Buddhism is the soul of Tibet and Tibetans. 

A small number of the population are Muslim but there is little suggestion of any other religion. Tibetan religious arts have a distinctive style which has adopted both Nepalese and Chinese influence, it is regarded as a pearl of oriental Buddhist art in Chinese Buddhism. Tibetan architecture is rich in design, sumptuous and full of noble aspiration. The Potala Palace, built on the top of a hill is a classic example of the wealth of Tibetan architectural structures. These buildings include wonderful sculptures, carvings, murals, "thangkas" and skilled butter sculptures alongside a vast array of historical monuments

People living on the Tibetan plateau, Tibetans, Monpas, Lhopas and Muslems, have their different ways of living, marriage, burial and other ceremonies. Tibetans call themselves "Bodpas" with a total population of 3.4 million (1992) among which 2.2 million reside in the Autonomous Region. Tibetans mainly engage in agriculture, husbandry and handicrafts. Tsampa (barley flour), beef, mutton, butter tea and barley beer are their most common food and drink. Traditional Tibetan clothing is made from wool and lambskin. They have a passion for ornaments with women wearing traditional striped aprons. Nomads and people living in remote areas depend on Yaks for their transportation, although  donkeys and  horses are also used.. Their marriage system is mainly monogamous. Tibetans do not have surnames, their names consist of four or two syllables mainly adopted meanings from Buddhism. Festivals in Tibet are numerous, the grandest being the Tibetan New Year, (Lhosar) followed closely by "Wangkor" Festival and horse races.