How to Go to Tibet – Taboos

Tibet Autonomous Region has a religion based civilization. The Tibetan Buddhism has penetrated into the daily life of the most Tibetans. They have some traditions and taboos which couldn't be violated by others. Hence, tourists should respect the local civilization and keep their taboos in mind so as to ensure a happy Tibet tour.

Don't step on threshold when entering the tent or house. Calling somebody in name please add "la" behind the name to express respects. If you are asked to sit down, please cross your legs, don't stretch your legs forward and face your sole to others.

You should accept the gift with both hands. While presenting the gift you should bend your body forward and hold the gift higher than your head with both hands. While offering tea or wine you should offer them by both hands and any fingers don't touch the inside of the bowl.

Tibetan people don't like spitting. They don't like strangers to touch the child's head. Tourists should take off their hat and sunglasses in the monastery and should not tread on the threshold of the monastery.

When the host presents you a cup of wine, you should dip your ring finger in the wine and flick the wine into the sky, in the air and to the ground respectively to express your respects to the heaven, the earth and the ancestors before sipping the wine. The host will fill the cup, and you take a sip of the wine again. After the host fills your cup again, you have to bottom it up.

Respect the local Tibetans diet; they don't take horse, dog and donkey meat as their food. Tibetans even don't eat fish in some regions in Tibet.

It is impolite to clap your palms and spit behind the Tibetan people.

No smoking in monasteries and don't touch the statue of Buddha and religious articles and take pictures of them. Besides, all people in the monastery should walk clockwise except in the Bon monasteries.

Go around the dagobas, Mani piles or monasteries clockwise and don't cross them.

Don't drive the eagles away or injure them since Tibetans take eagles as holy birds.