Journey to the Forbidden City

Nineteenth-century Tibet was an unknown entity, a complete geographical mystery to the West.

Where did its capital city Lhasa lie?Which rivers, lakes and mountains stretched across this land?Where were its fabled monasteries and legendary goldfields?And did the magical flying lamas actually exist?It was next to impossible for a white man to enter this rigorously guarded territory. And so was chosen an intrepid Indian explorer from the mountains of Kumaon-Nain Singh Rawat.

Trekking across this country, he risked life and limb and donned innumerable clever disguises as he surveyed the vast expanses and identified countless villages, cities and people.

From putting Lhasa accurately on the world map to earning the title of Pundit, his eventful and often arduous travels led to his name being permanently engraved in the annals of Indian exploration. Based on his actual diaries, this gripping narrative is also a tribute to the indomitable spirit of this fascinating man, who rose from being an impoverished village schoolteacher to a legendary hero.