Western Tibet, Gyantse, Lhasa (1987) | Philip Hepp Photography

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Western Tibet, Gyantse, Lhasa (1987)

The sacred Lake Manasarovar, the Ganga Chu river and the Jiu Monastery on the hill. Tibet, 1987.

A nomad girl circumambulates the sacred Mount Kailash with her family on pilgrimage. Tibet, 1987.

The north face of the sacred Mount Kailash. Tibet, 1987.

The north face of the sacred Mount Kailash. Tibet, 1987.

Pilgrims on the high Dolma La pass during their circumambulation of Mount Kailash. Tibet, 1987.

Pilgrims on the high Dolma La pass during their circumambulation of Mount Kailash. Tibet, 1987.

A family circumambulates the sacred Mount Kailash. Tibet, 1987.

The stupa in the small settlement of Darchen, where the circuit of Mt. Kailash begins and ends. Tibet, 1987.

A tent of pilgrims in Darchen, where their circumambulation of Mt. Kailash begins and ends. Tibet, 1987.

Prayer flags and a cairn with mani stones on the path around the sacred Mount Kailash. Tibet, 1987.

Two monks wait on the road along Lake Manasarovar for their transport truck to be repaired. Tibet, 1987.

Farmers winnow their barley in a high valley in the western Tibetan region of Purang. Tibet, 1987.

A farmer from the Purang region collects yak dung in the fields for cooking fuel. Tibet, 1987.

Barley field in a high valley in the western Tibetan region of Purang. Tibet, 1987.

Farming village in a high valley in the western Tibetan region of Purang. Tibet, 1987.

Farming village in a high valley in the western Tibetan region of Purang. Tibet, 1987.

Farmhouse in a high valley in the western Tibetan region of Purang. Tibet, 1987.

A trader from the eastern province of Kham in the small western Tibetan town of Purang. Tibet, 1987.

Pilgrims arrive in the town of Gyantse after their long journey in an open truck. Tibet, 1987.

The old town of Gyantse and the fortress Gyantse Dzong on the hill. Tibet, 1987.

Residential building in the old town of Gyantse. Tibet, 1987.

A boy received a piece of sugar from his father at the market in Shigatse. Tibet, 1987.

The great monastic complex Pelkhor Chode with the Kumbum Stupa in Gyantse. Tibet, 1987.

Pilgrims visit the main temple of the monastic complex Pelkhor Chode in Gyantse. Tibet, 1987.

Pilgrims visit the main temple of the monastic complex Pelkhor Chode in Gyantse. Tibet, 1987.

In 1987, as a 26-year-old backpacker, I traveled extensively in Tibet for the first time. The photographs above offer insights into Western Tibet and the central Tibetan cities of Gyantse and Lhasa, with a focus on the people and their culture.

© 2025 Philip Hepp

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