Explorations of the esoteric dreams of the Himalayas

The Himalayas - perceived as both a geographical and spiritual space - became a remarkable source of inspiration for many generations of esoteric thinkers, as well as a tempting travel destination for adventurous individuals searching for new dimensions of occult knowledge. The ancient Buddhist myth of Shambhala was rethought in the late 19th and early 20th century, influencing esoteric doctrines and inspiring dreams about finding the (physical and spiritual) ways to this hidden domain. The paper presents chosen attempts to conceptualize the Himalayas as a mystic space as well as a place of esoterically - inspired excursions. Among many esoteric currents focused on Eastern myths, Theosophy plays a crucial role in the transmission of the Himalayan dream to Western culture as it appears in early writings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky. Russian artist and thinker Nikolai Roerich gained particular prominence as an explorer of various dimensions of the Himalayan myth; the mountains were also an important theme in his paintings. Shambhala legends inspired some notable political figures participating in the so-called "Great Game" of world powers for the control over Asia to support and organize expeditions to Tibet in order to gain control over this mysterious land. The aim of the paper is to analyze various aspects of perception of the Himalayas through esoteric imagination.