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Trans-Himalaya #1
Trans-Himalaya, Discoveries and Adventures in Tibet Volume 1
One of the most important works by the famous explorer providing an account of his expedition through Tibet from 1906-1908. On his third expedition, 1905-08, Hedin investigated the Central Persian desert basins, the western highlands of Tibet, and the Transhimalaya, which for some time afterward was called the Hedin Range. He visited the 9th Panchen Lama in the cloister city of Tashilhunpo in Shigatse, and was the first European to reach the Kailash region, the sacred Lake Manasarovar and the sacred Mount Kailash, the midpoint of the earth according to Buddhist and Hindu mythology. His most important accomplishment was the sources of the Indus and Brahmaputra Rivers. "Traversing the Chang-tang in Tibet through Srinagar and Leh he reached to Shigatse. Thence he went back to Lake Mana sarowar along the Tsangpo and descended the Indus, and then towards Leh and returned to Simla by the Sutlej route" (Kakushi) Hedin was responsible for putting Tibet on the map, literally. His surveys and mapping expeditions helped to discover for the world the physical geography of the region.
436 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1909
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About the author
Sven Hedin
147 books50 followersSven Hedin was a Swedish geographer, topographer, explorer, photographer, travel writer, and illustrator of his own works. During four expeditions to Central Asia, he discovered the Transhimalaya (once named the Hedin Range in his honor) and the sources of the Brahmaputra, Indus and Sutlej Rivers, Lake Lop Nur, and the remains of cities, grave sites and the Great Wall of China in the deserts of the Tarim Basin. In his book Från Pol till Pol, Hedin describes a journey through Asia and Europe between the late 1880s and early 1900s. While traveling, Hedin visited Constantinople (Istanbul), oil-rich Azerbaijan in times of the Nobel Brothers, Teheran, Mesopotamia (Iraq), lands of the Kyrgyz people, India, China, Asiatic Russia and Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 3, 2019
The first of two volumes explaining the 1905-08 trans-Himalaya expedition, carried out against the wish of the British (and the Tibetans). At the start of the book Hedin explains that he must restrict the writing and therefore details his journey only from India onwards (omitting a seven month journey on the way from Britian), and also omits various side journeys and Monastery descriptions which he 'postpones until a future publication'.
Largely influenced by luck, circumstance, bluff and confusion Hedin bypasses all restrictions and while politically unwelcome, he enjoys the company and protection of a number of well placed Tibetans, allowing him more success in his travels than was perhaps expected or warranted. And while the British government would not provide permission, many individuals in the British administration certainly assisted him with all means.
A warm relationship with the Tashi Lama (the 9th Panchen Lama) assisted him, as did a passport to Eastern Turkestan issued by China - which was surprising as it was for a different country! The end goal of this expedition is Shigatze, where the Tashi Lama resides, but Hedin's mapping and breaking of new routes is probably more important to him, including locating the sources of the great rivers (although this will occur in the second volume). As a trained geologist, his sample collecting and mapping southern Tibet's rivers, mountains and sacred lakes was his main passion on this expedition.
Hedin's writing maintains the interest fairly well, but there is no doubt he fixates on some detail, such as keeping a log of his horses and mules as they perish, and his altitudes and place names. It seems obvious, given he drew a prodigious number of maps on this expedition, but the lack of a map is incredibly frustrating, and makes it very hard to keep a track of his route, which seemed quite a zigzag from the way he wrote. In general however, he shares his thoughts honestly, he does a good job of explaining how he wrangles his expedition, and he also gives credit to those expedition members who manage aspects for his, and carry out his commands.
The few photographs in the book are great, but as with the maps, we writes about taking many photographs, explaining the portrait or view, and yet we don't get to see many (in this publication anyway - it seems like later editions, or the three volume edition may have included more).
Nevertheless, if you enjoy a historic expedition, this will be compelling reading, and after a short spell, I will tackle the second volume.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Largely influenced by luck, circumstance, bluff and confusion Hedin bypasses all restrictions and while politically unwelcome, he enjoys the company and protection of a number of well placed Tibetans, allowing him more success in his travels than was perhaps expected or warranted. And while the British government would not provide permission, many individuals in the British administration certainly assisted him with all means.
A warm relationship with the Tashi Lama (the 9th Panchen Lama) assisted him, as did a passport to Eastern Turkestan issued by China - which was surprising as it was for a different country! The end goal of this expedition is Shigatze, where the Tashi Lama resides, but Hedin's mapping and breaking of new routes is probably more important to him, including locating the sources of the great rivers (although this will occur in the second volume). As a trained geologist, his sample collecting and mapping southern Tibet's rivers, mountains and sacred lakes was his main passion on this expedition.
Hedin's writing maintains the interest fairly well, but there is no doubt he fixates on some detail, such as keeping a log of his horses and mules as they perish, and his altitudes and place names. It seems obvious, given he drew a prodigious number of maps on this expedition, but the lack of a map is incredibly frustrating, and makes it very hard to keep a track of his route, which seemed quite a zigzag from the way he wrote. In general however, he shares his thoughts honestly, he does a good job of explaining how he wrangles his expedition, and he also gives credit to those expedition members who manage aspects for his, and carry out his commands.
The few photographs in the book are great, but as with the maps, we writes about taking many photographs, explaining the portrait or view, and yet we don't get to see many (in this publication anyway - it seems like later editions, or the three volume edition may have included more).
Nevertheless, if you enjoy a historic expedition, this will be compelling reading, and after a short spell, I will tackle the second volume.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
August 18, 2017
It's another good book that makes feeling sad once completed. A part, in extracts of a chapter I had the chance to read once I was a school going boy. As many of that age adventure stories were fascinating and the writing created a long lasting memory on itself. I longed to read the book and got the same a couple of years back. This was another idle volume in my book shelf and I was just seeing and turning over the pages once now and then and kept to read later. Now this is finished a couple of days back.
This is a nice account of author's 1906-1907 journey in Tibet from India. For political reasons he had to travel through Chinese Turkistan crossing the great mountain lands and the infamous Chang Tang region of north western Tibet. The book narrates the journey from North Western Tibet to the far eastern Tibet to the holy city of Shigatze by the side of the holy river Tsangpo Brahmaputra and back to India. The book narrates the geography of the land together with the people the custom, their rituals and festivals in very details, but the details never make the reader monotonous or go slow. Every bit is enjoyable. The book presents a couple of chapters on the pilgrim place Sigatze and Tashi Lunpo Monastery and the great Tashi Lama himself.
I can not resist myself from quoting a few lines about Tashi Lama. "Wonderful, never-to-be-forgotten Tashi Lama! Never has any man made so deep and ineffaceable impression on me. Not as a divinity in human form, but as a man, who in goodness of heart, innocence, and purity approaches as near as possible to perfection. I shall never forget his expression: it displayed unbounded kindness, humility, and philanthropy; and I have never seen such a smile, a mouth so delicately formed, so noble a countenance. His smile never left him: he smiled like a sleeper dreaming of something beautiful and desirable, and whenever our eyes met, his smile grew broader, and he nodded kindly and amiably, as much as to say: “Trust in my friendship implicitly, for my intentions are good towards all men.”
The incarnation of Amitabha! The earthly shell in which the soul of Amitabha lives on through time! Therefore a deity full of supernatural wisdom and omniscience. The Tibetans believe that he knows not only what is and has been, but also all that is to come. Can he be Amitabha himself?....."
Apart from writing the book bears numerous invaluable photographs and paintings painted by the author. This is indeed a a great attraction of this book.
This is a nice account of author's 1906-1907 journey in Tibet from India. For political reasons he had to travel through Chinese Turkistan crossing the great mountain lands and the infamous Chang Tang region of north western Tibet. The book narrates the journey from North Western Tibet to the far eastern Tibet to the holy city of Shigatze by the side of the holy river Tsangpo Brahmaputra and back to India. The book narrates the geography of the land together with the people the custom, their rituals and festivals in very details, but the details never make the reader monotonous or go slow. Every bit is enjoyable. The book presents a couple of chapters on the pilgrim place Sigatze and Tashi Lunpo Monastery and the great Tashi Lama himself.
I can not resist myself from quoting a few lines about Tashi Lama. "Wonderful, never-to-be-forgotten Tashi Lama! Never has any man made so deep and ineffaceable impression on me. Not as a divinity in human form, but as a man, who in goodness of heart, innocence, and purity approaches as near as possible to perfection. I shall never forget his expression: it displayed unbounded kindness, humility, and philanthropy; and I have never seen such a smile, a mouth so delicately formed, so noble a countenance. His smile never left him: he smiled like a sleeper dreaming of something beautiful and desirable, and whenever our eyes met, his smile grew broader, and he nodded kindly and amiably, as much as to say: “Trust in my friendship implicitly, for my intentions are good towards all men.”
The incarnation of Amitabha! The earthly shell in which the soul of Amitabha lives on through time! Therefore a deity full of supernatural wisdom and omniscience. The Tibetans believe that he knows not only what is and has been, but also all that is to come. Can he be Amitabha himself?....."
Apart from writing the book bears numerous invaluable photographs and paintings painted by the author. This is indeed a a great attraction of this book.
May 1, 2022
Bit too long. The most fascinating part is the description of the "demonic" lamaist ceremonies.
Father Huc only said that Lamaism is mystic and Lamas would fight each other during New Year, but never explained it in detail.
Father Huc only said that Lamaism is mystic and Lamas would fight each other during New Year, but never explained it in detail.
September 11, 2013
Amazing account of a long journey through Southern Tibet, this first volume represents a detailed travelogue based on Sven Hedin's third big expedition.
Starting on the Indian city of Srinagar; he travelled from there to Leh and then all across the different valleys and ranges of Southern Tibet up to Shigatse. Then, due to political reasons, he had to stay in Shigatse for nearly 2 months. But his sojourn there was not in vain, as he visited and sketched the legendary Tashi-Lunpo monastery and made acquaintances with the Panchen Lama.
Summarizing, there´s a lot to marvel about in this book as it is packed with adventures, a lot of geography content (albeit a tad outdated), and even some ethnographic information on the Tibetans.
I could not recommend this book highly enough to any reader who has previously read any book written by Hedin.
Starting on the Indian city of Srinagar; he travelled from there to Leh and then all across the different valleys and ranges of Southern Tibet up to Shigatse. Then, due to political reasons, he had to stay in Shigatse for nearly 2 months. But his sojourn there was not in vain, as he visited and sketched the legendary Tashi-Lunpo monastery and made acquaintances with the Panchen Lama.
Summarizing, there´s a lot to marvel about in this book as it is packed with adventures, a lot of geography content (albeit a tad outdated), and even some ethnographic information on the Tibetans.
I could not recommend this book highly enough to any reader who has previously read any book written by Hedin.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews