Written by Austrian baron Karl Alexander Anselm von Hügel (1795–1870), this travelogue was one of the first western books published on the Kashmir region. Von Hügel, who worked as a soldier, diplomat, botanist, explorer and ethnologist at various stages in his life, embarked on a trip to India in the 1830s as part of an extensive world tour. His account of his time in Kashmir and the Punjab was first published in German as a four-volume edition from 1840. He aimed to 'lift the veil' on Kashmir in an attempt to resolve the contentious reputation among Europeans of this unfamiliar region, and the book serves as a thorough guide to its history, geography, climate, culture and politics. This English translation and abridgement was prepared by Thomas Best Jervis (1796–1857) and published in 1845. Von Hügel was later awarded a medal from the Royal Geographical Society for his Indian explorations.