From Heaven Lake is Vikram Seths first non-fiction book. First published in 1987, it tells the story of his travels through China, Sinkiang and Tibet in the summer of 1981. Seth was a graduate student at Nanjing University and decided to hitchhike home to New Delhi via Tibet and Nepal. He kept a journal during his travels, and this book is the result. With his command of the Chinese language and his garb, he was able to journey through places not usually accessible to tourists. His observations of the people, customs and modes of travel and his encounters make very interesting reading.