Mapping the Tibetan World (Paperback)

by Kotan Publishing (Author) "In general, these days the use of the term 'Tibet' refers to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC)..." (more)
Key Phrases: incarnated lama, dormitory bed costs, minibus stop, Guru Rinpoche, Tibetan Buddhism, Land Cruiser (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Although this book has about 300 very detailed maps everything from a map of Potala Palace to downtown Cheng-du it is essentially a travel guide rather than a history of mapping the Tibetan region, as the title may suggest. In the first chapter, the authors, all experienced travelers captivated by Tibet, are admirably forthright about the drawbacks of travel there (e.g., Tibetan mastiffs that bite on sight, the need for vaccinations, altitude sickness, and the absence of gourmet meals) and then spend the rest of the book focusing on the good points, such as the many monasteries and cultural sites and the ability to travel on $12 a day. Pages are filled with practical tourist information, basic tours, very detailed instructions (e.g., the building in front of which a bus leaves), and plentiful photos. Recommended for all travel collections specializing in Asian geographic areas. Mary Lynette Larsgaard, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
A genuinely distinct travel and cultural guide to Tibet, Bhutan, and the Tibetan areas in Nepal, W.China, and N.India. -- Book News, February 2001

A little gem of a guide, gives excellent synopses that help one prepare for a trip to the Himalayan region. -- Shambhala Sun, May 2001

A little gem of a guide, gives excellent synopses that help one prepare for a trip to the Himalayan region. -- Shambhala Sun, May 2001

Recommended for all travel collections specializing in Asian geographic areas. -- Library Journal, February 15, 2001

The 'Bible' for independent travel in the region. Laminate your copy against the rigours of the Tibetan road now! -- Free Tibet Campaign, Spring 2001

This is a highly comprehensive publication with all the latest information,covering even the remotest areas. -- Tibet Society, Spring 2001

This wonderful guidebook which contains almost 300 detailed maps is the Bible for Tibetan freaks. -- Tibet Aid, Japan, January 2002

Tibet-bound travelers will find no better guide than Mapping the Tibetan World. This is a must-have if you're seeing Tibet. -- Big World Travel Magazine & Hostels.com, December 2000

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Kotan; 1st edition (February 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970171609
• ISBN-13: 978-0970171603
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #540,900 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #17 in	Books > Travel > Asia > Bhutan
  #46 in	Books > Travel > Asia > Tibet
  #52 in	Books > Travel > Asia > Nepal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The first guidebook to the whole Tibetan world, November 14, 2000

By	Tony Williams (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This is the first guidebook to include the whole Tibetan world. Roughly one third of the main body of the book is devoted to the Tibetan "Autonomous" Region, one third to other Tibetan lands governed by China, and one third to Bhutan and the Tibetan areas of Nepal and India.

It is an intensely practical book, directed to the independent traveller using public transport. It includes information about public transport which is readily available nowhere else; it does not include the telephone numbers of bus stations - an unfortunate omission.

The many excellent maps include regional maps, and no less than 126 maps of towns, many of them mapped in no other available book.

Important improvements would be: the inclusion of Chinese characters where appropriate in the text; the addition of markers to every Chinese word or name wherever it appears to indicate the tones, without which they cannot be pronounced; and a guide to the pronunciation of Tibetan, without which the section Survival Tibetan is scarcely useful.

Some travellers will want more information about the furnishings and images in Tibetan temples. In most of the territory covered, although not for India, Gyurme Dorje's "Tibet Handbook with Bhutan" (Footprint Handbooks) will provide that information, and be a complementary companion book.

The book will be indispensable for the serious traveller who wishes to understand the extent and the diversity of the Tibetan world.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So good I bought it twice!, November 26, 2001

By A Customer

At first glance, I thought this guide would be difficult to use as I was so used to the layout of Lonely Planet. However, I quickly adapted to it and found it very informative and reasonably up to date. Most useful was the section on Buddhism when visiting the extraordinary temples in Tibet, as well as advice on routes to take and how to get places. Unfortunately, after a vehicle accident just outside of Lhasa, my book went missing somewhere between the side of the road and the hospital bed (don't let that put you off visiting this remarkable country!). So I was overjoyed when I discovered the guide again in Kathmandu, and bought another copy so I could continue to use it!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars portable encyclopedia of the Tibetan world i was waiting for, September 18, 2001

By	Roger Garin-Michaud (Saint-Priest, Rhône-Alpes France) - See all my reviews

Mapping the Tibetan World is the portable encyclopedia of the Tibetan world i was waiting for !
I have now this wonderful little book always close to me so that i can read a bit here and a bit there whenever i have five minutes to spare.
It has informations on all aspects of Tibetan life, culture, history and geography as well as Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and symbols.
The many maps included makes it easy to plan your trip in Tibet and other Tibetan cultural regions.
The only suggestions i could make to the publisher would be a LARGE PRINT version for people who like me have bad eyesight, and may be a color coding to distinguish the various regions (chapters).
A wonderful job done by this team of young explorers, many thanks to them !