'Tibet's Sacred Mountain To Get Ring Road'

Yesterday's Observer carried a worrying article by Ed Douglas reporting that 'the Chinese authorities are planning a ring road' allowing vehicles to be driven around Tibet's sacred Mount Kailash.

The 35-mile high altitude circuit of the mountain on foot is a classic pilgrimage for Tibetan Buddhists and has also become an exotic trekking destination for westerners. Kailash is also viewed as sacred by Hindhus as the home of Shiva.

The road is apparently being planned to facilitate tourism, most of which is generated by visitors from other parts of China, according to the newspaper. Ironically, as well as being offensive to many Tibetans, the planned road would also reduce the appeal of the area to western trekkers.

See the Observer article.