Western Tibet and the British Border Land: The Sacred Country of Hindus and Buddhists

Charles A Sherring, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Deputy Commissioner in the Indian Civil Services, wrote this book in 1905 amongst a flurry of books on this topic, owing to the capture of Tibet by the British army in 1904. Taking an opportunity to travel in his capacity as Deputy Commissioner, he toured the lesser-known tracts of Western Tibet. This area of Tibet and the areas on the British boundary are most sacred to the Buddhist and Hindu because of the presence of the holy lake of Mansarovar and the venerated peak of Kailash. This area has a romance of legends and myths where quaint customs and manners appeal to all with poetic leanings.Written amidst daily duties while travelling, braving tempestuous rains and freezing winds, the object of this book is entirely non-political, and the author has omitted all controversial matter. There is also an account of a climb on the mountain, considered at that time to be the highest in the world, Gurla Mandhata. It was the first attempt to climb a mountain using the most modern methods available in 1905. The book is peppered with 175 illustrations.