Silk Road NCERT Solutions Class 11 PDF Download 2026

Ans: The article is titled 'Silk Road' because the author’s journey to Mount Kailash takes him through the high mountain passes and vast terrains of Tibet that historically formed a part of the ancient Silk Road network. This route connected Asia with Europe for trade and cultural exchange. The title reflects the historical, geographical, and cultural significance of the path the author was travelling on.

Ans: Tibetan mastiffs were extremely huge, pitch-black dogs with massive heads. They were ferocious, fearless, and could run as fast as bullets. When guarding nomadic tents, they would charge aggressively at approaching vehicles without hesitation. Because of their sheer size, intimidating appearance, and fearless loyalty, they were highly valued as hunting dogs and watchdogs, and were brought to China’s imperial courts as tributes along the Silk Road.

Ans: Earlier travelers, like the Japanese monk Ekai Kawaguchi (1900) and the Swede Sven Hedin, were so moved by the sacredness of Lake Mansarovar that they burst into tears upon seeing it. However, the author found Hor, a town on the lake's shore, to be a dismal, miserable, and ugly place. It had no vegetation, was covered in dust and rocks, and was littered with years of accumulated rubbish, completely shattering his romantic expectations of the holy lake.

Ans: The author was disappointed with Darchen because it was dusty, partially derelict, and filled with heaps of rubble. Moreover, he had arrived too early in the season, so there were absolutely no pilgrims around. His plan to do the kora required the company of other pilgrims for motivation and safety. Being alone in a grim town while suffering from altitude sickness made him deeply disappointed.

Ans: The author felt utterly lonely and demoralized in Darchen after Tsetan left. He didn't want to do the kora alone. Just when he was losing hope, he met Norbu in a cafe. Norbu was a Tibetan academic from Beijing who also wanted to do the kora but was unaccustomed to physical labour. They decided to team up and hire yaks to carry their luggage. Finding a perfect, English-speaking companion made the author realize that maintaining a positive attitude had finally paid off.

Ans: Lhamo was a local Tibetan woman the author met in Ravu. Seeing that the author was heading to Mount Kailash where it would be freezing, she gifted him a long-sleeved sheepskin coat, normally worn by the local drokbas (herders).

Ans: The drokbas were solitary nomadic herders tending their flocks on the vast plains. Both men and women were wrapped heavily in thick sheepskin coats to protect themselves from the biting cold, pausing to stare at the passing car.

Ans: 'Kyangs' are Tibetan wild asses. When the author’s car approached the vast plains, a great herd of kyangs would suddenly gallop away together in a tight formation, kicking up huge clouds of dust.

Ans: When a thick strip of snow blocked their path, Tsetan stopped the car, grabbed handfuls of dirt and soil from the side, and flung them over the snow. The author and Daniel joined in. The dirt provided enough friction for the car tires to drive safely over the slippery icy surface.

Ans: The author was suffering from severe altitude sickness. One of his nostrils was completely blocked due to a cold. Every time he tried to lie down and sleep, his chest felt heavy, and he would wake up abruptly, feeling as if he was suffocating and gasping for oxygen.

Ans: The doctor at the Darchen medical college diagnosed him with a cold and the effects of high altitude. He prescribed a five-day course of Tibetan medicine, which consisted of various dark brown powders and pills that tasted like cinnamon, to be taken with hot water.

Ans: Tsetan was an expert, reliable, and highly practical Tibetan driver. He knew the complex shortcuts across the mountain passes perfectly. He was calm under pressure, demonstrating quick thinking when he used dirt to cross the icy snow-blocks safely. Beyond driving, he was deeply caring and responsible. When the author fell severely ill in Darchen, Tsetan took him to the medical college and stayed until he was assured the author would recover. Also, as a devout Buddhist, he believed that while death wasn't bad, it would be "bad for business" if his passenger died. He was the backbone of the author's physical journey.

Ans: As they ascended the high mountain passes (over 5,200 meters), the author started experiencing severe physical strain. His head throbbed painfully, and he had to take gulps of oxygen from a cylinder. The real horror came in Darchen. Due to the extreme altitude and a severe cold, his sinuses blocked. Whenever he lay down, his breathing stopped, and he woke up gasping for air. He spent the entire night propped against a wall, mentally terrified that if he fell asleep, he might literally die. This intense physical suffering made him question the entire purpose of his pilgrimage until he received medical help.

Ans: Before meeting Norbu, the author was depressed. Darchen was dusty, derelict, and empty of pilgrims. His health had suffered, Tsetan had left, and he dreaded doing the dangerous kora alone. Then he met Norbu in a local cafe. Norbu was a Tibetan scholar working in Beijing who also wanted to do the kora but was out of shape and didn't want to walk it alone. They instantly clicked. Norbu's suggestion to hire yaks to carry their luggage, combined with his English-speaking companionship, lifted the author's spirits immensely. It transformed a lonely, daunting task into an exciting, shared adventure.

Ans: The chapter vividly illustrates that the journey to Mount Kailash is not a simple tourist trip but an extreme test of endurance. The terrain is incredibly rugged, featuring vast, barren plains and treacherous, snow-blocked mountain passes. The altitude (over 5,500 meters) causes oxygen deprivation, leading to severe headaches and life-threatening sleep apnea. The weather is brutally cold, cutting through regular clothing. Furthermore, the infrastructure is rudimentary, with "miserable" towns like Hor and Darchen offering little comfort. Surviving this journey requires immense physical stamina, mental resilience, and the right guidance to push through the punishing conditions of the Himalayas.

Ans: His determination shows that he is a highly resilient and adventurous individual who seeks personal challenges over pure religious devotion. Despite severe altitude sickness, lack of sleep, and isolation in a bleak town, he did not abandon his goal. He viewed the kora as a profound physical and mental challenge—an opportunity for personal growth, cultural exploration, and pushing human limits.

Ans: 'He' refers to Tsetan, the driver. The statement is humorous because it abruptly mixes high spiritual philosophy (Buddhism accepts death as a natural transition) with blunt commercial reality (a dead tourist ruins a driver's reputation). It profoundly reflects the practical, grounded nature of the Tibetans who balance deep faith with everyday survival.

Ans: Daniel had only accompanied the author for the initial leg of the journey. When they reached Hor, he found a ride in a truck heading back to Lhasa, which was his intended destination, and parted ways with the author and Tsetan.

Ans: The author's head began to throb severely when they reached an altitude of exactly 5,210 meters above sea level, as indicated by his altimeter watch.

Ans: Norbu was overweight and an academic unaccustomed to heavy physical exertion. Since walking the kora with heavy luggage would be practically impossible for him, they decided to hire yaks to carry their bags, making the pilgrimage physically manageable for both of them.