Tibetan Muslims

Entrance to old mosque in Lhasa - 1993.

The Tibetan Muslims, also known as the Kachee (Kache) in Tibet, are Tibetans who follow the religion of Islam. They are a minority in Tibet. The Tibetan word Kachee literally means Kashmir and Kashmir was known as Kachee Yul (Yul = Country) to the Tibetans. Islam in Tibet came through Kashmir.

Despite being in small number, Tibetan Muslims live throughout Tibet. Many of them can be found in Lhasa and Shigatse. Some also live outside the Tibet Autonomous Region. Ethnic groups such as the Baltipa and Purigpa are Tibetans too, and are known as Tibetan Muslims as well. These other groups, however, are mainly found in the Baltiyul, and Ladakh areas of Pakistan and India.

Gallery

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  An old Balti Tibetan woman praying in a mosque in Khaplu, Pakistan
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  Dalai Lama with Tibetan Muslims.
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  A Tibetan mosque in Lhasa.
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  Amdo Tibetan Muslims photographed in Tibet, China
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  Songpan Mosque in Tibet, China.
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  Balcony of the 700 years old Chaqchan Gonma (Mosque) in Khaplu, Baltistan.
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  An old Balti Tibetan man in Khaplu making traditional wooden basket.
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  One of the biggest mosques in Tibet, the Lhasa Mosque.