Himalayan reading

mountainman · Sep 30th, 2006, 22:56

Hi can anyone recommend good books on the himalayas... i love to read about travel experiences in the mountains be it by a professional traveller or spiritual soul. be it Ruskin Bond or swami Rama.

Thanks.

kullukid · Sep 30th, 2006, 23:15

The French writer Michel Peissel's wrote some great Himalayan tales such as: Mustang, Zanskar The Hidden Kingdom, Ants Gold etc
or try Penelope Chetwodes Kulu End Of The Habitable World
or F.M.Baileys No passport to Tibet
or Spencer Chapman's Memoirs Of a Mountaineer
or Charles Allen's Secret Mountain
To name but a few

KK

sam371 · Oct 4th, 2006, 21:15

Spy on the roof of the world by Sydney Wignall

Almoraboy · Oct 4th, 2006, 21:31

harish Kapadia's books - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harish_Kapadia

http://www.indus-intl.com/harish_kapadia_books.cfm

batistuta · Oct 5th, 2006, 10:46

Himalaya by Michael Palin.
Well written laced with dry wit.

machadinha · Nov 28th, 2006, 10:31

Another book that should be mentioned is Ekai Kawaguchi's Three Years in Tibet. He was a Japanese Buddhist monk who, in the very beginning of the 1900's and in search of original manuscripts, traveled through North India and Nepal and into Tibet (on foot!) and managed to stay there pretending to be a Chinese monk at a time when foreigners were not allowed, eventually meeting the Dalai Lama even. There was something of a rush at the time by different nationalities to be the first to have visited Lhasa and he seems to have beaten them all to it, but because he was an oriental he was largely ignored and forgotten by the West at least. (There's a memorial plaque to him somewhere in Nepal, and he seems to be remembered in Japan still.)

It's an entertaining and insightful (and bulky) read. Unencumbered by PC considerations this Zen monk is quite frank in describing his disgust and frustration at Tibetan superstitions and lack of hygiene; sometimes hilarious, sometimes irritating depending on your mood. At the same time he exhibits a deep interest in the culture he meets however, and he mustn't have managed to stay for three years incognito for nothing. His way of light-heartedly dealing with incredible hardships with next to no resources should also be uplifting to the modern traveler.

The book is or used to be available in India for a few hundred Rupees.

Scott Berry retraced his steps in the 1980's in his A Stranger in Tibet, which can be read separately or as a welcome addition to Ekai's book. I think it was Berry who also suggests that Ekai may have not gone all that unnoticed after all, but was rather silently given the go-ahead by (some of) the Tibetan authorities.

Recommended.

drzog · Nov 28th, 2006, 10:47

2 well known titles, both immense and breathtaking, available in many indian bookstores of course

Peter Matthiessen
The Snow Leopard
http://www.salon.com/july97/wanderlu...ssen970708.gif

and
Andrew Harvey
A Journey in Ladakh

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...ZZZZZZ Z_.jpg

kullukid · Nov 28th, 2006, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

Another book that should be mentioned is Ekai Kawaguchi's Three Years in Tibet. He was a Japanese Buddhist monk who, in the very beginning of the 1900's and in search of original manuscripts, traveled through North India and Nepal and into Tibet (on foot!) and managed to stay there pretending to be a Chinese monk at a time when foreigners were not allowed, eventually meeting the Dalai Lama even. .

Recommended.

Both excellent books Macha especially Ekais own full version,a few other books along similar lines are Alexandra David-Neels "Journey To Lhasa" & "With Mystics & Magicians in Tibet" & "In the Forbidden Land" by Henry Savage Landor. KK

pillimosan · Dec 8th, 2006, 00:46

"Flash ou le grand voyage" by Charles Duchaussois....get a copy now if you haven't read it yet. It's a true Bible for "certain" travellers!!

milan · Jan 9th, 2007, 06:03

Autobiography of a Yogi!

batistuta · Jan 9th, 2007, 06:17

Autobiograpthy of a yogi cnt be considered as either a travelogue or a book by spritual soul on the himalays as it just contains a few references in a few chapters on the himalayas IMHO.It is a good read nevertheless.

tacita · Jan 9th, 2007, 06:23

i received as a christmas gift a book entitled "the heart of the world: a journey to tibet's lost paradise," by ian baker, a world-class climber and buddhist scholar, with an introduction by h.h. the dalai lama.

the book is a memoir of baker's journey with a national-geographic-sponsored team to find the long-hidden source of the "shangri-la myth." i confess i've not yet had a chance to read it, but it received stellar reviews from the san francisco chronicle, men's journal, adventure magazine, asian affairs, publisher's weekly, the wildlife conservation society, and a plethora of others as both spiritual and "up to its chin in physical adventure."

looks like a very good read!

palais · Jan 9th, 2007, 08:16

yes it is wonderful.

ploink · Jan 10th, 2007, 20:51

I've also been fascinated by Alexandra David-Neel's "My Journey to Lhasa". I've also read Heinrich Harrer's "Seven Years in Tibet", and "Return to Tibet". Interesting books have been suggested - I have to go to the library!

Sadanand Kamath · May 10th, 2007, 12:30

I reccomend the following two books for reading:

'Wanderings in the Himalaya" by Sri Swami Tapovanam is an unique combination of travelogue with sprituality.

'Touching upon the Himalaya' by Bill Aitkin is the collection of his articles which appeared in 'Himalayan Journal'

Sadanand

Sep 30th, 2006, 22:56	#1
mountainman Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 13	Himalayan reading Hi can anyone recommend good books on the himalayas... i love to read about travel experiences in the mountains be it by a professional traveller or spiritual soul. be it Ruskin Bond or swami Rama. Thanks.

Oct 4th, 2006, 21:31	#4
Almoraboy Trekker Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London.....Himalayas in between Posts: 918	harish Kapadia's books - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harish_Kapadia http://www.indus-intl.com/harish_kapadia_books.cfm __________________ Trek blog over here

Nov 28th, 2006, 10:31	#6
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,581	Another book that should be mentioned is Ekai Kawaguchi's Three Years in Tibet. He was a Japanese Buddhist monk who, in the very beginning of the 1900's and in search of original manuscripts, traveled through North India and Nepal and into Tibet (on foot!) and managed to stay there pretending to be a Chinese monk at a time when foreigners were not allowed, eventually meeting the Dalai Lama even. There was something of a rush at the time by different nationalities to be the first to have visited Lhasa and he seems to have beaten them all to it, but because he was an oriental he was largely ignored and forgotten by the West at least. (There's a memorial plaque to him somewhere in Nepal, and he seems to be remembered in Japan still.) It's an entertaining and insightful (and bulky) read. Unencumbered by PC considerations this Zen monk is quite frank in describing his disgust and frustration at Tibetan superstitions and lack of hygiene; sometimes hilarious, sometimes irritating depending on your mood. At the same time he exhibits a deep interest in the culture he meets however, and he mustn't have managed to stay for three years incognito for nothing. His way of light-heartedly dealing with incredible hardships with next to no resources should also be uplifting to the modern traveler. The book is or used to be available in India for a few hundred Rupees. Scott Berry retraced his steps in the 1980's in his A Stranger in Tibet, which can be read separately or as a welcome addition to Ekai's book. I think it was Berry who also suggests that Ekai may have not gone all that unnoticed after all, but was rather silently given the go-ahead by (some of) the Tibetan authorities. Recommended. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Nov 28th, 2006, 10:47	#7
drzog Based On A True Story Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 100	2 well known titles, both immense and breathtaking, available in many indian bookstores of course Peter Matthiessen The Snow Leopard http://www.salon.com/july97/wanderlu...ssen970708.gif and Andrew Harvey A Journey in Ladakh http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...ZZZZZZ Z_.jpg __________________ yours in health http://drzog.blogspot.com Last edited by machadinha : Dec 6th, 2007 at 15:47. Reason: removed image tags

Jan 9th, 2007, 06:23	#12
tacita Maha Mutant Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gotham Posts: 1,413	i received as a christmas gift a book entitled "the heart of the world: a journey to tibet's lost paradise," by ian baker, a world-class climber and buddhist scholar, with an introduction by h.h. the dalai lama. the book is a memoir of baker's journey with a national-geographic-sponsored team to find the long-hidden source of the "shangri-la myth." i confess i've not yet had a chance to read it, but it received stellar reviews from the san francisco chronicle, men's journal, adventure magazine, asian affairs, publisher's weekly, the wildlife conservation society, and a plethora of others as both spiritual and "up to its chin in physical adventure." looks like a very good read! __________________ Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. ~Helen Keller

Sep 30th, 2006, 23:15	#2
kullukid Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: u.k. Posts: 981	The French writer Michel Peissel's wrote some great Himalayan tales such as: Mustang, Zanskar The Hidden Kingdom, Ants Gold etc or try Penelope Chetwodes Kulu End Of The Habitable World or F.M.Baileys No passport to Tibet or Spencer Chapman's Memoirs Of a Mountaineer or Charles Allen's Secret Mountain To name but a few KK

Oct 4th, 2006, 21:15	#3
sam371 Dreaming of India... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New York Posts: 377	Spy on the roof of the world by Sydney Wignall

Oct 5th, 2006, 10:46	#5
batistuta Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,729	Himalaya by Michael Palin. Well written laced with dry wit.

Dec 8th, 2006, 00:46	#9
pillimosan Utopian Automatic Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 81	"Flash ou le grand voyage" by Charles Duchaussois....get a copy now if you haven't read it yet. It's a true Bible for "certain" travellers!!

Jan 9th, 2007, 06:03	#10
milan Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 52	Autobiography of a Yogi!

Jan 9th, 2007, 06:17	#11
batistuta Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,729	Autobiograpthy of a yogi cnt be considered as either a travelogue or a book by spritual soul on the himalays as it just contains a few references in a few chapters on the himalayas IMHO.It is a good read nevertheless.

Jan 9th, 2007, 08:16	#13
palais Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NYNY Posts: 28	yes it is wonderful.

Jan 10th, 2007, 20:51	#14
ploink ...thori si pagal hai vo... Join Date: May 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 339	I've also been fascinated by Alexandra David-Neel's "My Journey to Lhasa". I've also read Heinrich Harrer's "Seven Years in Tibet", and "Return to Tibet". Interesting books have been suggested - I have to go to the library! __________________ But rather, ten times rather, die in the surf, heralding the way to that new world, than stand idly on the shore! -Florence Nightingale

May 10th, 2007, 12:30	#15
Sadanand Kamath Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 853	I reccomend the following two books for reading: 'Wanderings in the Himalaya" by Sri Swami Tapovanam is an unique combination of travelogue with sprituality. 'Touching upon the Himalaya' by Bill Aitkin is the collection of his articles which appeared in 'Himalayan Journal' Sadanand

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