| Ngari Prefecture | |
 | |
Location  | |
| State | China |
|---|---|
| Capital | Shiquanhe |
| Surface | 304,683 km² |
| Inhabitants | 95.465 (2010) |
| [link not working]Institutional website | |
Ngari Prefecture (阿里 地区, Ālǐ Dìqū) is a prefecture Chinese of the Tibet in the province of Southwest China.
To know
It is an extremely remote area with almost no infrastructure of any kind and nicknamed "The top of the roof of the World".
Territories and tourist destinations
Urban centers
- Shiquanhe (阿里; Ālǐ or Sengge Khambab) - Capital of the prefecture. A small town of no interest to tourists, except for stocking up on supplies and taking a hot shower.
- Rutog (日 土 县; or Rudok) - Small town on the border of Tibet picturesquely situated on the side of a hill.
- Tholing (托林; Tuōlín or Tsanda) - The Tholing monastery was important for the spread of Buddhism in Tibet.
Other destinations
- Mount Kailash - The reason most people take a long journey to this part of Tibet is Mount Kailash, which is the holiest mountain for Tibetans.
How to get
How to get around
THE independent travelers keep in mind that generally the Ali police issue travel permits without any problems, the only difficulty is that they will get you fined in the absence of a permit. Fines and permits are around ¥ 400.
By car
Typically a Jeep tour it consists of a group of some jeeps and a support truck. The itinerary can be deviated and unexpected due to river crossings and vehicle breakdowns that often cause delays.
By bus
Here, getting around is one of the great difficulties. The only asphalted roads are a few kilometers away from Sengge Khambab. Anyone who is not part of a jeep tour will likely end up traveling by truck. This is often very expensive and ending up in the back of the truck is an unpleasant way to travel as you won't be able to appreciate the spectacular scenery. It could also mean getting stuck for a couple of days, waiting for a ride. In the most inaccessible areas, the road could also be wiped out, remaining unusable for a week or two; in these cases, camels have been used as a short-term replacement.
What see
What to do
At the table
- Momo - Tibetan ravioli.
Safety
The main safety problems concern the extreme remoteness of the area. Always carry food supplies for a couple of days when traveling outside a village, and carry a couple of liters of water when traveling by truck. The driver will likely have a large container, but it's best not to be addicted to it. In the summer it can be hot when it's sunny, but as soon as it's cloudy the conditions could be even wintery. Hail is common and snow is not uncommon in midsummer. Bring a good sleeping bag and warm cloths.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Ngari Prefecture
Commons contains images or other files on Ngari Prefecture
