A popular hotel at Namtso Lake

July,29 2016 BY Master Catherine Jigme 0 COMMENTS

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Sheep Hotel has become a popular hotel at Namtso Lake. With the operation of Qinghai-Tibet Railway, more and more tourists flock into Tibet from all over the world. Namtso Lake, known as “heavenly lake" in the Tibetan language, attracts large number of tourists each year, especially in summer.

Atar, the owner of the Sheep Hotel, picked the name "Sheep Hotel" because Tibetan worshippers circle around sacred lakes, including the Nam Co, during the Year of the Sheep in the Tibetan calendar. Buddhists believe their pilgrimage and walking around the lake during the Year of the Sheep brings good fortune. The grand festival, with a huge gathering every 12 years, was last celebrated in April 2003.

This is a catchy name that is easy to remember and its allusion to a time-honored tradition that is hard to forget.

Atar, now 54, was the first in her native herding village to seize the opportunity. She started by offering basic accommodation in black tents made of yak hair. Eight people at most stayed in a tent. Her business grew and received a major boost in 2006, when the Qinghai-Tibet Railway linking Lhasa and Xining, Qinghai province, became fully operational.

She invested 800,000 yuan ($128,000) in 2009 and built the Sheep Hotel, which covers 2,000 square meters, with 39 rooms and 156 beds.

Today, the hotel has expanded to house 78 rooms and 300 beds, complete with a large restaurant and two vans used to transport tourists. The restaurant now serves Western food, local cuisine and delicacies from other parts of China.

About the Author - Master Catherine Jigme

With exceptional passion and outstanding leadership, Mrs. Catherine has dedicated herself to Tibet inbound tourism and China tour for 15 years. As one of the handful females who see great potential of Chinese inbound tourism, Catherine has made great contribution to promoting Tibet tourism and enhancing the employment of Tibetans and prosperity of local Tibetan community.

Over the years, she travelled overseas with Tibet Tourism Bureau many times to promote Tibet tourism. Currently, Catherine works as the marketing director of Tibet Vista, an opinion leader behind the whole team of Tibet Vista.

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