Alexandra David-Néel
French Explorer of Tibet
Alexandra David-Néel
Alexandra David at Age 3
"Precocious" Alexandra as Child
Alexandra David at Age 18
Alexandra David at Age 20
Promotional Poster of Alexandra in Her Mid-20's During Her Career as an Operatic Soprano
Alexandra David-Néel in 1910, the Year She Began Her 14-Year Journey Through Tibet and Beyond
Philippe Néel, Alexandra's Husband, in 1910
The "Bo Tree" (aka, "Sacred Fig" and "Bodhi Tree") in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Alexandra Visited the Bo Tree in the Fall of 1911. This Tree is Believed to Have Been Grown from a Cutting of the Original Fig Tree Under Which Siddhartha Gautama Buddha (the Founder of Buddhism) Received His Enlightenment in the 5th Century, BC. The Original Bo Tree is In Northern India.
Major Stops in the First Year of Alexandra's 14-Year Journey (1911) were Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka), Madurai, Madras, and Pondicherry.
The Menakshi Temple in Madurai, India. In 1911, Alexandra Visited the Menakshi Temple and Secretly Watched Highly Erotic Tantric Rites.
Location of Prince Sidkeong's Palace in Gangtok, India
Prince Sidkeong, a Member of the Sikkimese Royalty. Alexandra Met 33-Year Old Sidkeong in Early 1912, just Before Visiting with the 13th Dalai Lama.
Another Photograph of Sidkeong
Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama. Alexandra Met the 13th Dalai Lama on April 15th, 1912, Becoming the First Woman Ever to Have an Audience with Him.
Tibetan Nuns at a Tiny Tibetan Monastery called Chorten Nyima. Alexandra Spent the Winter of 1913-14 at Chorten Nyima. This was Alexandra's First Trip into Tibet.
Alexandra in Lama's Robes (1913)
Alexandra and Nuns of the "Red Hat" Sect
Aphur Yongden. Alexandra Met Yongden in Late 1914 when He was 15-Years Old.
Aphur Yongden When He was 34-Years Old
The Abbot ("Gomchen") of the Monastery in Lachen, India. Alexandra and Yongden Spent Two Years (1915-1916) at the Lachen Monastery. Alexandra Learned Much About Tantric Buddhism from the Abbot.
Alexandra Sitting Outside of Her Cave Dwelling at the Monastery in Lachen
"Camp Kanchenjunga", One of Alexandra's Camps on the Tibetan Plateau
Alexandra and Yongden Spent Over Two Years at the Kum Bum Monastery Near Koko Nor (Quinghai Lake) Before Eventually Reaching Lhasa
Alexandra and Yongden Made it All the Way to the Yunnan Province in 1923 Before Finally Heading To Lhasa
Alexandra David-Néel, Aphur Yongden, and Unknown Person at the Potala Palace, Lhasa (Early 1924)
Alexandra David-Néel in India (1924), After Her Trip to Lhasa
Alexandra David-Néel in Bombay, India (1924)
Alexandra David-Néel in 1933
Alexandra David-Néel in 1938
Alexandra David-Néel at Age 87
95-Year Old Alexandra David-Néel in 1964
Louis David, Alexandra's Father
Alexandrine Borghmans, Alexandra's Mother