“Shangri-La” – just the mere mention of this name would conjure images in my mind of a mystical city located in some highly inaccessible ranges of the Himalayas and filled with secrets, known to but a few chosen ones. Though in realty, it is located in the northwest Yunnan Province, in the Dechen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Called Zhongdian in Mandarin and Galthang in Tibetan, Shangri-La is the name given by the Chinese tourism authorities to this city after James Hilton’s novel – The Lost Horizon. Though I haven’t read the book, I recently got a chance to visit this city and drive around its surrounding countryside. This area provides a quick glimpse into the Tibetan life and culture, and I am sharing these via a photo essay with you today –
1. Stunning Vistas – Shangri-La is at an average height of around 3,000 – 4,000 m and has beautiful mountain ranges and views as far as the eye can see.
2. Stupas and Prayer Flags – Tibetans follow Buddhism and you can see many small white stupas and prayer flags all around.
3. Farms and Drying Hay Racks – Farming seemed to be the primary source of income here and when we visited, there were huge drying racks outside every house with hay, corn, mushrooms etc drying for storage and subsequent winter consumption.
4. Local Tibetan Houses – Tibetan houses are huge, made of wood, of 2 – 3 floors with a large courtyard and intricate wooden carving throughout the structure. Some houses also have traditional Tibetan motifs painted around the door and window frames.
5. Local Flora and Fauna – Tibet has many unique plants and animals of its own that you see all around. But when we were there, there was this red bush / grass growing everywhere.
Stunning and unique, isn’t it?
Wow that sky is gorgeous
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Thanks 🙂
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Ah Tibet!!!! So cool 😀
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That it is 🙂
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Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
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Thanks 🙂
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Such beautiful images in such beautiful country. Thank you for taking me there!
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Thanks 🙂
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Very beautiful
We heard last here that a fire ravaged the old tibetan town. Could you see how is it now and tge extent of damages? Already reconstructed?
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Hi, yes the old town was burnt down by a fire…The reconstruction work is in progress but a lot of it has been reconstructed…
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Stunning captures…one from amazing post from you 🙂
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Thanks Jatin 🙂
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Loved it..thx for sharing.
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Thanks Vic 🙂
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Thanks for liking my post on Istanbul’s Süleymaniye Mosque. The mysteries of the East and old places with history attract me. Thanks for this post.
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Thanks for visiting my blog too 🙂
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Thank you for sharing. I can’t wait to experience the beautiful landscape for myself next week! :))
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Hey Esther. have a great trip 🙂
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Tibet is on my list of places to go, so I enjoy seeing this post with your photos.
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Thanks and I hope you make it there soon 🙂
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Great images.
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Thanks 🙂
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Beautiful beautiful shots…
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Thanks 🙂
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The colours are so striking and so calm …
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Gorgeous, aren’t they?
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Fantastic! 🙂
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Thanks 🙂
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What beautiful photos … Always wanted to visit it !
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Thanks 🙂
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Great pics. This area of the world is calling me more and more.
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Thanks and I hope you make it there soon 🙂
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Reblogged this on James' World 2.
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Beautiful pictures!
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Thanks 🙂
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Amazing photos! The landscape looks gorgeous, it must have been so much fun to explore ^_^
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Thanks and it was 🙂
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Your photos are gorgeous. Would you mind telling me what kind of camera you use to get these amazing images?
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Thanks and I use a Nikon P510 and a Canon D500… And of course my iphone 🙂
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