Tibet, dream destination: Indian journalis

As a journalist based in Nepal, Sudeshna Sarkar was excited when the world's highest railway service connecting Beijing with Lhasa was inaugurated two years ago.

"I wished I could have been part of the first historic journey but was unable to go," she said, when interviewed by Xinhua on Monday.

However, three years later, when she received an invitation from the Chinese government to visit Lhasa, the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, she was "thrilled".

"It was like a dream coming true," the Indian journalist said, "Tibet is a dream destination for Indians. Every year, thousands of Indian pilgrims brave high altitude sickness and the biting cold to undertake the parikrama of the sacred Kailash mountain in Tibet."

Mt. Kailash is called Mt. Gang Rinpoche by Chinese Tibetan people, regarded as one of the holiest destinations by Buddhists, Hindus and Jains alike. The mountain is revered by Indians, hundreds of whom flock to offer their worship every year.

Travelling with a group of seven journalists, who were from Nepal and India, she said they were awed by the scenic beauty of Tibet as well the infrastructure once they entered Lhasa. "The roads were wide and clean," she said, "The highrises are remarkable."

The famed sights of Lhasa -- the Potala Palace, Norbulingka, Jokhang temple and the Tibet Museum -- were treasure troves. "The Potala will have a special place in Indian hearts," she said, adding that the statue of Guru Padmasambhava, the India-born master who introduced tantric Buddhism in Tibet, is a timeless reminder of the deep religious tie between India and Tibet of China.

As China is to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in October, Sarkar suggested more sign boards in English be set up so that tourists who flock to Lhasa at that time would benefit.

"Language still remains a barrier," she said, "While most sign boards are in both Tibetan and Chinese, foreign tourists find both incomprehensible. Also, the fact that not many people speak English makes communication difficult."

Sarkar cited an example that when she went to the beauty salon of her hotel and asked for a haircut, unfortunately, she had to go away without one since no one could understand what she wanted.

"It would also help Indian tourists if the restaurants had menus in English or staff who understood English," she said, "Many Indians -- and even some westerners -- are vegetarians. Since Tibetan cuisine abounds in meat dishes, an English menu would ensure that vegetarians were not ordering the wrong dish."