From the Lion's Mouth

Shortlisted in the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2020 Iain Campbell has been fascinated by mountains for as long as he can remember. In his new book, he tells the story of a journey following the course of the Indus River from its mouth in the mudflats of Karachi through the Karakorum, Kashmir and the Himalayas to its source in Ladakh on the Indian side of the Tibetan plateau, where it springs from the 'Lion's Mouth' on Mount Kailash. His narrative paints an insightful, honest and heartfelt portrait of Pakistan, a country that through all his wanderings of the deserts and mountains of Asia kept drawing him back, and a place which combines a rich religious heritage with some of the most spectacular mountains in the world. 'I came to see how closely the Indus River is involved with Pakistani religious life and how this has been true for thousands of years' he says. 'I took four months to make this trip and was able to travel slowly... It became apparent to me as I travelled and developed personal friendships that the image of Pakistan that we are often fed by the media is distorted. I found the Pakistanis to be the most hospitable people I have ever met, to the point where I would have to allow time on my walks in the mountains for the delay caused by sitting down to tea and chapatti in every settlement.' Over the course of his journey, he is exposed to all sides of local life, from a Sufi shrine attended by crocodiles to a Holy man competing with Saudi-sponsored Wahhabi clerics in the Swat Valley, a near meeting with the fairies of Nanga Parbat and the temple of a three-year-old Buddhist lama on the edge of the Tibetan plateau. Engrossing and eye-opening, Iain Campbell's account of his travels through this mesmerising land will appeal to travellers, mountaineers, trekkers, wilderness enthusiasts, anyone interested in the culture and history of the subcontinent, and fans of quality travel writing.

'Beautifully written to wrap the reader up in the sights, sounds and smells of each new destination along the way, this book will have you lusting over places you hardly new existed and will reaffirm your faith in the human race.'
Adventure Travel

Préface
. One of only a handful of travel narratives available about Pakistan . An increasingly relevant and important title showing a positive, human side to Pakistan . Breaks the mould of one-dimensional news narrative around Islam . Taps into growing market for adventure tourism About Bradt Travel Guides . Founded in 1974, Bradt is now the largest independent guidebook publisher in the UK with over 200 titles in print . WINNER of the Gold award for Best Guidebook Series in the Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards 2018 . Bradt guides are written by authors who really know their destinations. Many are resident there, or have been visiting regularly over a number of years . Each new Bradt guide is backed by a dedicated press and social media campaign

Auteur

Iain Campbell has been fascinated by mountains for as long as he can remember and has travelled widely in the mountains of his home country of Scotland and further afield. He studied history at Oxford University where he specialised in medieval religious history. In 2002 he decided to combine these interests by travelling to the holy mountains of Asia. His first book, With Unblest Feet, tells the story of a journey among the mountain pilgrims of the Silk Road. His second book, From the Lion's Mouth, is about Pakistan, a country which combines a rich religious heritage and some of the most spectacular mountains in the world. It is the account of a slow journey through this mesmerizing country in 2004, following the Indus River from its mouth near Karachi through the Punjab and Kashmir to the Tibetan Plateau where the river finds its source. He lives with his family in Edinburgh and continues to travel frequently to Asia.

Contenu
Prologue Part I Pakistan The Plains: Sindh and the Punjab Chapter 1 Keti Bandar Chapter 2 Karachi Chapter 3 Bhit Shah and Lake Manchar Chapter 4 Mohenjo Daro Chapter 5 Kalabagh and Mithankot Part II Pakistan The Mountains: Swat and the Karakorum Chapter 6 The Swat Valley Chapter 7 Derai and Tirat Chapter 8 Kohistan Chapter 9 Nanga Parbat Chapter 10 Baltistan Part III India Kashmir and Ladakh Chapter 11 Srinagar Chapter 12 Amarnath Chapter 13 Ladakh Chapter 14 Mahe Bridge Epilogue