Pilgrims to benefit from new Tibet airport near Mt Kailash

Beijing: Lord Shiva's abode Mount Kailash and Mansarovar lake, revered by Hindus across the globe, can now be accessed by air as China today inaugurated a high- altitude airport in Tibet near the two holy places.
An Airbus 319 landed at Gunsa Airport in Ngari Prefecture of the Tibetan Autonomous Province at 10:20 am local time, marking the airport's formal opening, Chinese official media here reported, without referring to the two ancient holy places.
Mt Kailash and Mansarovar are situated in the Ngari Prefecture close to India and Nepal borders in the South. The airport built at the cost of USD 242 billion by China is located at more than 4,200 meters above sea level and has a 4,500-metre runway. It is expected to handle 1.2 lakh passengers by 2020. It is the fourth operational civil airport in Tibet after Gonggar, Lhasa and Bamda in Qamdo Prefecture and Nyingchi. A fifth airport called 'Peace Airport' in Xigaze is expected to be inaugurated in October.
01/07/10 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Jul 2010, Foreign Jul 2010, New Jul 2010