Book Review: Journey to the Forbidden City by Deepa Agarwal

Journey to the Forbidden City
Author: Deepa Agarwal
Publisher: Puffin Publishers

How many of us are aware of the expedition stories of Nain Singh Rawat, the first of the late 19th century Indian explorers? Surveying a trade route through Nepal to Tibet, he calculated the altitude and location of Lhasa. Journey to the Forbidden City is the story of grit and determination of Nain Singh Rawat in overcoming all odds and exploring the mighty Himalayas for the British.

This story explores how a young man, who had committed to himself, explored the harsh terrain and made his way to Tibet by taking a road less travelled. His wit, patience and street smartness took him to a faraway land. Although his name is not a part of the history textbooks, it is imperative to know about the man who accurately placed Lhasa on the world map and also identified the actual source of the river Brahmaputra.

Journey to the Forbidden City is a short story that will definitely inspire young children. Lucid narrative and impressive illustrations make this a very quick and enjoyable read.

Best wishes to the author!

Buying link: Amazon