Photography

TIBET PHOTOGRAPHS, 35 mm film

While working on her novel, Vandana spent six months in Dharamshala, where the Indian government houses the Tibetan refugees, including the Dalai Lama. This introduction to the Buddhist community and culture inspired her to visit Tibet—which turned out to be an almost impossible task as she was simply turned away at the Chinese embassy in Delhi. After some research, she found a route on land via Nepal by obtaining a special permit. She began her journey in Lhasa and traveled across Tibet, photographing the monasteries, the mountains, and the Tibetans who live in a beautiful land at difficult crossroads. This is a selection of portraits from that visit.