Witness History 'I taught the Dalai Lama'
6 snips
Feb 19, 2026 
Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountaineer who spent seven years in Tibet and taught the young Dalai Lama, recalls reaching Lhasa and traveling remote high passes. He describes Lhasa’s mix of modern goods and deep Buddhist ritual. He speaks about religious festivals, teaching the Dalai Lama English and skating, and the lasting bond formed before Tibet’s geopolitical changes.
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Epic Escape To Forbidden Lhasa
- Heinrich Harrer and Peter Aufschnaiter escaped Indian detention and trekked nearly two years to reach Lhasa in 1946.
- They entered a forbidden, largely isolated Tibet that had seen little of the wider world.
Lhasa: Modern Bits Amid Ancient Rituals
- Harrer described Lhasa's mix of small modern goods and deep-rooted Buddhist ritual he witnessed in markets and ceremonies.
- He vividly recalled festivals, prayer wheels and ephemeral butter sculptures made by monks.
From Skates To Tutor Of A Young Leader
- Harrer became practical in Lhasa, teaching ice-skating and working as a translator and engineer.
- His ice-skating on the lake led the ten-year-old Dalai Lama to request lessons and English tutoring.
