Finding Shangri La: Visions of Ladakh and Spiti

Awesome picture.. jst go for it.. dnt get confused wth negative comments.. i was also confused before buying this book. When i received it and saw the Pictures in this book it was really mesmerizing. Great book with full of pictures.. go for it..

Finding Shangri La is a magnificent gallery of art… The subject is mystical… The landscape is vast, mysterious, icy, ascetic… Time itself stands still… And Mahendra Singh brings it all across with skill of a Carl Sagan describing intergalactic space.When you see the magnificent photographs spreading across the large book, you are literally transported there. You just stop and gaze. Kinnar Kailash range at sunrise, sunset at Sangla valley, icy waterfalls created by melting snow, Maitreya Buddha lording over the landscape, cave monasteries, dragon-magic murals, snow leopard on the rocks, agricultural fields in the colors of a Van-gogh painting, Bactrian camel shedding its winter coat, pashmina goat with ‘soft gold’ coat, beautiful natives of different races, lion figures and cham dance moves, mysterious manuscripts in ancient monasteries…. And so much more… This is a coffee-table picture book at its best…And the flow of words… Mahendra Singh is as good an author, as he is a photographer. A natural story teller, he has a penchant for history, nature, wildlife, sociology, and more… Traversing time with ease, he relays a running commentary on the plate tectonic movements of a hundred million years ago, the tensions of a culture whose land cuts across different countries, the incredible story of Colonel Chhewang Rinchen, who was the youngest soldier – in the history of India – to be decorated with the Mahavir Chakra…Which he went on to win twice… The story of the ‘glacier man’ Chewang Norphel; the mysterious origins of a tribe with Caucasian features; the story of Rinchen Zangpo (958 – 1055 ) who established 108 monasteries and temples… The Kargil war memorial… And the world’s highest post-office, at 14567 feet…Indeed, there is so much information packed in this book that you wish there was index at end. Which wish you then retract… Best to leave it just as it is… For you cannot index the valley of flowers, can you?Buy the book…Om mani padme hum !G Kameshwar

Tibet, known as the roof of the world, allured writers and travelers alike over many centuries. The mythical Shangri-la has become synonymous with an earthly paradise nestled in this region. Through its beautifully-framed photos and well-crafted text, the book captures the essence of the life and times of Tibetan Buddhists in the 'Little Tibet' - Ladak & Spiti Valley area, which is to the Southwest of the Tibetan plateau and lies within the political boundaries of India. The author combines his extraordinary photography skills with incisive research to create a beautiful coffee table book that can adorn the living room.The author's broad canvas includes information on geology, geography, architecture, religion, agriculture et al., accompanied by vivid visuals that capture the region's hues in all its colours. And it includes many interesting tidbits. For example, not many of us know that there is living evidence of the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates that created the mighty Himalayas. What is known as the Fossil Capital of India bears the fossil remains of sea creatures that lived in the once-existing sea there. The forbidding cold desert landscape, the various geological features like the 'moonland' landform are all captured in brilliant photos. The hardy people residing there subsist on patches of green that support agriculture during the short summer season. The book illustrates agricultural innovations like artificial glaciers and ice stupas that support irrigation, discusses different monasteries that are central to the life of people there etc. There is an insightful discussion on the evolution of the Tibetan form of Buddhism. Altogether the book is an excellent addition to the literature on the Tibetan plateau.If you plan to go to the Ladak region, the book prepares you for a successful trip. If you have already been there, the book provides ready material for nostalgia and living room conversations. And if the high altitude of the area dissuades you from visiting, it is all the more reason to buy the book for that unique experience!

Mahendra Singh has done a fantastic job in bringing to life (and into our living rooms!) the sights of the beautiful locales of Ladakh and Spiti. His photographic talent is unmatchable and the well written accompanying text helps us to know more about these places, their people, and their diverse cultures. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about our lovely country and its less travelled parts. I can verily say that after going through this book, I found my own Shangri La!

It's a storehouse of researched information about Ladakh and Spiti with stunning photographs. This book is the next best thing to actually visiting 'Little Tibet'. An excellent book for everyone in the family and guests in your drawing room. A must buy!!

Amazing research and excellent photography. Just got my copy and flipped through the entire book. What breathtaking photographs. Can't wait to read and will write another detailed review soon.

It is an absolutely delightful & amazing reading & visual experience.The brilliant & concerted research behind the book is a testimony of the fact that it is much more than a coffee table book.It takes you through the mystical journey of knowing the mystery, history & background of Shangri La.After reading this book I am very keen to visit & relish the beauty of God’s creation in the form of Tibetan plateau.A must read for the connoisseurs of Nature & artistry magic of camera by the writer.

Images are almost alive- jump out from the pages- you can almost feel the cold spray of the river (Indus/ Zanskar)Images grab you- demanding attentionStunning photographyA fast-paced immersion in the history, geography and geology of the regionAn account of the political history of the region; local economy (agriculture, tourism, livestock);Forms of life- from the local flora and faunaLife survives even in this inhospitable terrain.Tales of human ingenuity – Glacier Man created artificial glaciers; the creator of the ‘ice stupas’

This may be the perfect travel book. Not only are the many photographs stunning and capture the myriad aspects of this fascinating and beautiful area, the text is imminently digestible and provides a perfect overview of the physical, social, economic, political and religious history of the Tibetten plateau and, more importantly, of the elusive Shangri La. It easily conveys the unique mix of people and culture in this most mystifying yet charming and awe-inspiring locations. If you didn't want to go in search of Shangri La before seeing this wonderful book, you will, after reading it.

Bel ouvrage comme souvenir-photo de voyageurs qui y ont été en voyage organisé qui ne se prêtent guère à la recherche des meilleures perspectives