Traveling in 1811 to an elevation of about 12,000 feet, Thomas Manning was the first Englishman to meet this figure

The Final Jeopardy category for March 11, 2025, was “Explorers,” and the clue given was:

“Traveling in 1811 to an elevation of about 12,000 feet, Thomas Manning was the first Englishman to meet this figure.”

Who is the Dalai Lama?

Thomas Manning was an English traveler and Sinologist with a deep fascination for China and Tibet. In the early 19th century, at a time when Tibet remained largely closed to foreigners, Manning embarked on an ambitious journey across the Himalayas. His goal was to reach Lhasa, the remote and mysterious capital of Tibet, and gain insight into the region’s culture, religion, and leadership.

In 1811, after numerous hardships and navigating treacherous mountain passes, Manning arrived in Lhasa, reaching an altitude of approximately 12,000 feet. There, he became the first known Englishman to meet the Dalai Lama—who at the time was the 9th Dalai Lama, Lungtok Gyatso. This meeting marked a rare and significant cultural exchange between Tibet and the Western world, though Manning’s presence remained under strict control by Tibetan authorities.

The 9th Dalai Lama, Lungtok Gyatso

The Dalai Lama Manning encountered, Lungtok Gyatso, was the ninth in the line of Tibetan spiritual leaders. Born in 1805, he was recognized as the Dalai Lama at a young age but had a brief and largely symbolic reign due to political instability in Tibet. He was only around six years old when Manning visited in 1811. Despite this, Manning recorded his observations about the young Dalai Lama and Tibetan society in his writings, providing one of the earliest Western accounts of life in Lhasa.

Lungtok Gyatso’s time as Dalai Lama was short-lived; he passed away in 1815 at the age of nine. His death was part of a pattern in the early 19th century, where several young Dalai Lamas passed away before reaching adulthood, leading to ongoing political challenges in Tibet.

The Significance of Manning’s Exploration

Manning’s journey was groundbreaking not only because of his meeting with the Dalai Lama but also because it provided rare insights into Tibet during a period when few Westerners had access to the region. Unlike other European explorers who often traveled under official sponsorship, Manning made the journey largely on his own initiative, driven by personal curiosity and academic interest.

His experiences in Tibet were later documented in his travel accounts, which offered details on Tibetan customs, governance, and religious practices. Though Manning never achieved his ultimate goal of reaching China to study Chinese culture in depth, his adventure into Tibet cemented his place in the history of early exploration.

Manning’s Legacy in Exploration

Though not as widely recognized as other explorers of his era, Thomas Manning’s encounter with the Dalai Lama remains a historically significant moment. His journey demonstrated both the difficulties and possibilities of cross-cultural exchange at a time when Tibet was still a largely isolated region. His accounts contributed to the broader understanding of Tibetan Buddhism and the structure of Tibetan society.

Manning’s determination and pioneering spirit remain an important part of the history of exploration. His visit to Lhasa and his meeting with the 9th Dalai Lama continue to be remembered as an early link between Tibet and the Western world, shedding light on a civilization that remained elusive to many outsiders for much of history.