UTSANG is the cultural heart of Tibet which occupies the upper reaches of the Bharmaputra valley, It has some of Tibet's biggest farming lands and agricultural communities, as well as monasteries and temples of historic importance.
Lhasa , the capital city of Tibet lies on the Kyichu river. Gyangtse and Shigatse are on the Nyangchu river, Tsetang on the Yarlung river and Kongpo on the Gyamda Nyangchu river. The high land of Utsang is bordered by the great Himalayan range including Mt Everest, to the south, all the way to Nyingtri, in the forested eastern region of Tibet.
The far west of Tibet is called Ngari and is the least populated part of Tibet. It comprises the great Changthang plateau as well as sacred Mount Kailash, (6714Meters) Rakas and Mansarovar lakes, Tholing monastery, and the ruins of the Guge Kingdom, Dungkar Peyang etc.
KHAM, the easternmost region of Tibet is more densely populated than the central plateau. The inhabitants are different from other Tibetans, not only in their colorful attire and striking physiques, but also in dialect and custom. The Kham region is rugged and densely forested in places with many gorges, snow capped mountains, numerous lakes as well as vast grasslands. Sights include Keldan Jampaling monastery in Chamdo, Derge Printing house, Ganze monastery etc.
AMDO, the northeast of Tibet is the lowest region of Tibet in elevation, yet it is mostly plateau with huge, spacious grasslands, nomads, lakes, and snow capped mountains. The inhabitants of the Amdo region closely resemble the Khampa. Amdo is the birthplace of many famous Tibetan scholars such as Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa yellow hat sect, Gedun Choepal, a famous writer and scholar, the fourteenth Dalai lama, (Nobel peace prize winner in 1989), the late 10th Panchen Lama etc. The monasteries of Labrang Tashi Kyil, Kubum monastery etc. lie in Amdo.
