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For
centuries, people have
been captivated by the
Tibetan legend of
'Shambhala' - or
'Shangri-La' - a mystical
earthly paradise hidden
beyond the Himalayan
mountains.
Today, Tibet is still one
of the world's least-known
places, and one with a
rich tradition of unique
culture and mythology.
Known as the 'roof of the
world' due to its
breathtaking average
height of 13,200ft
(4,060m) above sea level,
Tibet is home to more
Himalayan peaks than
anywhere else: Mount
Everest lies on its border
with Nepal.
As befits such a
remarkable land, Tibet's
capital Lhasa is home to
an amazing UNESCO
registered collection of
spectacular palaces and
temples. These include the
Potala Palace, once the
residence of the Dalai
Lama, a unique building
that includes, among other
things,chapels, a library
of scripture - and 10,000
shrines. Lhasa's temples
and monasteries are key
centres of Buddhist
teaching.
Yet Tibet has been
virtually inaccessible -
until now. That only
changed with the building
of the awesome Golmud to
Lhasa railway, which
opened in 2006. More than
600 miles (960 km), over
80% of the railway is at
an altitude of more than
13,000ft (4,000 m) and
much of this magnificent
line runs over permafrost.
With the summit, the
Tangula Pass, at 16,640ft,
(5,072m) it is also the
world's highest railway.
To travel on it is a true
pioneering adventure: an
experience as unique as
the places it takes us to.
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