When Our Photography Tour Met the Burang Peacock Costume...

The western prefecture of Ngari, also known in Tibet as Ali Prefecture, is one of the most heavenly places in Tibet for photographers. Famous for the sacred Mount Kailash, the stunning Lake Manasarovar, and the ancient ruins of the Guge Kingdom, this amazing area of the Tibet Autonomous Region is filled with intriguing local cultures and customs.

One of the most interesting and most unusual is the Peacock Costumes, which are found in Burang County, on the border with India and Nepal. And for anyone planning to take photographs in Tibet, there is nothing more amazing than the sight of the locals in their full costumes. One of our latest groups of photographers, who hailed from Indonesia, were lucky enough to have the opportunity to get some astounding photos of the locals in full peacock regalia.

Our Photography Tour Group with “Peacock Costume” Owners in Burang, Ngari, Tibet

What on Earth is a “Peacock Costume”?

Three “peacocks” in full dress pose for our photographers

This unique and exquisite local costume has a history that dates back more than 1,000 years, and has a direct link to the peacock after which it is named. There is a local legend in Burang County of how, thousands of years ago, a kind-hearted and beautiful princess lived in the town. Bullied by the other wives of her husband, she sought to escape, and her prayers were granted when she was turned into a peacock and flew away, never to be seen again. In memory of the princess, the local residents created a costume that was modelled on the famous bird, recreating the shape of the bird in the clothing.

Thousands of beads go into making up just the headdress of the peacock costume

The costume of the peacock is renowned in Burang for having many luxurious accessories. The cloth of the clothing is made locally by hand, and the decorations on the costume make it a priceless national treasure in Ali Prefecture. >> Learn more about Tibetan culture through its traditional clothes.

The adornments on the costumes are made from thousands of pieces of dried beeswax, hundreds of small pearls and kallaites (also known as Turquoise), huge bunches of red corals, and many delicately-crafted gold and silver decorations. The whole suit of clothes weighs around 25 kilos, fully decorated. They have become an indispensable part of many of the celebrations in Burang.

However, these are not common, even in Burang. Currently, only seven families, who all live in nearby Kegya County, have the peacock costumes. These costumes, which would be inordinately expensive to make now, have been handed down from their ancestors for many generations.

Keldor, our Tibetan guide and two of the heirs in their peacock costumes

Photo Gallery of Peacock Costumes and their Heirs

A portrait photo of a local woman in her inherited peacock costume

The beaded veil can make it a little hard to see properly…

Gathering for a photoshoot for our Indonesian travelers…

Taking a break from the photoshoot, but still getting photographed…

Expert’s Tips for Going for a Photography Tour in Tibet

For any photography tour of Tibet, you need to make sure that you have the right gear, and not too much of it either. The travel across the plateau to Burang, and indeed anywhere else in Tibet, is long and arduous. And while walking around the attractions, you do not want to be lugging too much gear with you. And your photography equipment should be as light as possible. High altitudes puts serious constraints on photographic equipment. To get around the weight issue, take fewer bodies and more lenses, to give you more scope for photos.

Film is less useful at higher altitudes, so while you may prefer the old-style celluloid, digital cameras are more practical at high altitudes. Celluloid film at high altitudes can often produce low-quality photos, especially if it is cold. Celluloid works best at temperatures between 15 and 35 degrees.

Digital cameras are not free from problems, though. Batteries can last for shorter periods due to the cold leaching out the charge. And if your lenses have lubricants, it can freeze at the low temperatures on the plateau. You need to change the lubricant almost daily, and always carry plenty of spare batteries for your day of photography.

For anyone planning a photographic tour in Tibet, we can help with the arrangements, and provide specific tours that are well-tailored to suit photographers. We can also tailor your individual trip to meet your needs, and take you wherever you need to go to get your best photos.

Recommended Places and Attractions for Photographing in Tibet

Tibet is a vast land, and has thousands of stunning attractions and sights across its huge immensity. Yet there are still certain sites that are more popular and highly recommended for a photography tour of Tibet.

Lakes are ideal for photos, especially in Tibet where the mountains provide the perfect backdrop. The three sacred lakes of Manasarovar, Yamdrok, and Namtso are the perfect examples of this. Lake Yamdrok is widespread and varied, and has some amazing landscapes in between its many branches. Lake Namtso, on the other hand, is almost round, and is backed by the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains on one side and the vast Changtang Grasslands on the other. In Ngari Prefecture, Lake Manasarovar is backed by the Gangdise Range of the Transhimalaya, the centerpiece of which is the sacred Mount Kailash.

Incidentally, Mount Kailash, the most sacred mountain in the world, is the perfect location for photos. Standing a little over 6,000 meters, this medium-height mountain is made from an unusual black rock, and has deep gouges in its slopes, which vaguely resemble a swastika. There has never been a more interesting mountain to photograph, especially since it has never felt the tread of mortal feet. >> Check the popular tours to Mt.Kailash.

Mount Everest is the obvious choice for taking photos, and this is no reason to exclude it from your tour. While there may be millions of photos of this massive peak out there, it is always worth taking a side-trip to EBC to get some great shots of the highest mountain on the planet.

While you may not consider Lhasa to be overly photogenic, this amazing city is stunning, and perfect for great shots of Tibetan culture and life in general. Just remember to get permission from the locals before you take their photos, as it is not always permitted.

Mountains and lakes may be great backdrops, but the many monasteries of Tibet make for just as good a photo as any massive peak or vast lake. Tibet still has hundreds of great monasteries to photograph, from the highest monastery in the world at Rongbuk near EBC and the beauty of the Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse to the famous monasteries of Drepung, Sera, and Ganden in Lhasa and the astounding monasteries that lie around the arduous Kailash Kora in Ali Prefecture.

Conclusion

Photography in Tibet is all about being in the right place at the right time, and out Indonesian photographers were just that. Stopping in Ali in Burang County at just the right time to get to see these amazing peacock costumes was a stroke of luck. Yet they came away with some of the most fantastic photos of any tour of Tibet. And if you are planning on taking a tour of Tibet to add some of the great shots to your photographic portfolio, then we can help. Our expert consultants can help with where to go, when, and how, and can make all the arrangements for you, leaving you free to relax and enjoy the trip.

All Photos are taken by our Tibetan guide, Keldor.

So if you’re ready to a Lifetime Tour to Tibet, our dedicated and professional teams are expecting you in Tibet! Please feel free to reach us, sharing your great ideas. We would like to offer the most useful Tibet tour advice, For Free!