The British, long intrigued by the mysterious land of Tibet, finally sent one of their most trusted and decorated envoys. Sir George Bogle, to initiate dialogue and explore trade opportunities. Bogle met the Panchen Lama, and the two connected instantly. It marked Britain's first official engagement with Tibet, but it would not be the last.

Meanwhile in China, the Manchus, after toppling the previous dynasty, didn't abandoned their vows to protect Tibet and found themselves in direct conflict with yet another Himalayan kingdom.

The Great Game was underway, played by rival empires with competing interests in the Tibetan plateau. We’ve covered a lot in this episode, so sit back, listen, and seep into the mystique of the Land of Shangri-La.

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