Swami Pranavananda. 
 
Calcutta University: 1950.Hardcover in a jacket. Octavo. November 1950 printing, an expansion of the first edition. 12 maps in the rear pocket attached to the back board. Spine is cocked due to the presence of the back pocket. Mild soiling to the fore edge of the text block. Unclipped jacket has clipping to the crown of the spine. 302 pages. Very good. Scarce. 
 
Geography, the hydrology of lakes, animal habits, human history and temples - the mysteries herein described and revealed are of the Himalayas and Tibet, borne of the arduous and happy years Pranavanda spent there. This is a wonderful book for collectors of nature writing when lyrical meditation and clear scientific observation were one and every quest took place both in the sphere of the actual and in the sphere of the celestial. The twelve maps in the back are worth the price of admission. 
 
"Discoveries in the domain of geology or geography of the Mount Kailas or study of the hydrographic relation of this unique Lake or lakes similarly situated in other parts of the world are no doubt extremely pleasant pastimes ... but how could the Kailas and Manasarovar be the objects of Divine honor from two different religions so different as Hinduism and Buddhism, unless it be that their overpowering beauty and charm have not only so appealed to but also made an indelible impression on the human mind, that they seemed to belong rather to heaven than to earth!"