Literature on Kailash — especially books like The Sacred Mountain by John Snelling, which comes close to its claim of being the mountain’s complete guide — is always welcome in India. Sadly, however, this first Indian edition published by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers is a camera copy (including printing glitches!) of the second UK edition of 1990.
Inevitably, much of the 16-year-old information is irrelevant or outdated.
Still, the accounts of the travellers from 1715 onwards, which make up more than half the book’s 450-odd pages, are brilliant evergreen stuff. Snelling has a special way of compressing voluminous travelogues into extremely readable capsules, that help paint a vivid overview of the intrigue and thrill associated with travel in Tibet. He does, though, go overboard in trying to include every visitor who’s account he has been able to lay his hands on!
The balance of the book examines the ‘…spiritual and mythological associations [of Kailash]… together with their historical, religious, political and geographical contexts’. Snelling’s keen interest in eastern philosophy underpins the insight and sensitivity with which he handles these areas.
The book’s visual appeal is one of its strong points; a superb collection of colour pictures takes the reader on a stunning visual journey complemented by rare old images.
In the final analysis I would place this book on my shelf alongside other major Kailash reads, for its layered approach that appeals both to adventure travellers, and to those on another, more spiritual journey.