The Way to Shambhala: A Search for the Mythical Kingdom Beyond the Himalayas

For centuries the people of Tibet and Mongolia have believed in the existence of Shambhala a mythical kingdom hidden in the remote mountains of Central Asia. There it is said a line of enlightened kings is guarding the highest wisdom for a time when all spiritual values in the world outside will be lost in war and destruction. At that time according to the legend a great king will emerge from this sanctuary to defeat the forces of evil and establish a golden age. Drawing on Tibetan and Sanskrit texts interviews with lamas in Nepal and India and his own experiences in the Himalayas Edwin Bernbaum gives a detailed account of this intriguing legend examining its basis in the history and religion of the region as well as exploring its symbolic meaning.