The famous Swedish explorer Sven Hedin after his third expedition to Central Asia

Dr. Sven Hedin and his Tibetan servants at the mission Poo on the border between Tibet and India in the fall of 1908. During the expedition Hedin was dressed as a Tibetan in order not to be detected. (Hedin's own photograph). 

In the early 20th century the Swedish explorer Sven Hedin was one the most celebrated personalities in Europe. In the fall of 1908 he had completed his third daring expedition to Central Asia, which took him  to the western highlands of Tibet and Transhimalaya, which for a time was called the Hedin Range after its discoverer.

In Simla Dr. Hedin was warmly received by the Lord Minto, Viceroy of India and Lady Minto. 

Before his return to Europe Dr. Hedin visited Japan, where he received this traditional Japanese dress as a gift.

At the height of the British Empire: The 1911 Imperial Durbar in Delhi

The temporary Royal Yacht Medina in 1911. After the voyage to India, the P & O liner had only two years of ordinary service. It was torpedoed by a German submarine on April 28, 1917. 

A few months after their coronation in London in 1911, King George V and Queen Mary embarked on a journey to India, in order to mark their coronation and allow their proclamation as Emperor and Empress of India. 

At the time, the British Empire was still at the height of its power. The voyage was consequently planned as a grand international event, projecting an image of British might worldwide. 

In order to make the long journey as comfortable as possible for the Royal couple, the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company's brand new ocean liner Medina was temporarily commissioned to the Royal Navy as the Royal Yacht. She was provided with an extra mast, necessary to maintain Royal flag etiquette, and bands of royal blue and gold were added to the white hull. Several large rooms intended for public use were redecorated as Royal apartments. 

A number of adjustments in the beds, suggested by the Queen herself, were made in order to minimize the effects of lurching. 

Medina left Portsmouth for India in November 1911. Another ocean liner carrying a great number of British nobility and other dignitaries left for India at about the same time.

On the way to India, the Royal couple made a stopover in Port Said, where they met a number of local dignitaries on board the Medina. The man sitting on the right side of the Queen is the former Grand Vizier of Turkey, Kiamil Pasha. Lord Kitchener is the man with the sword. King George is next to him, and the man on his left side is prince Zia-ed-Din,  successor to the Turkish throne and Khedive of Egypt.

The Royal couple on their way to the coronation ceremony, which took place in Delhi in December 1911. This was the first time a British Monarch visited India.

The royal tent at the coronation ceremony, which was attended by
more than 100,000 people.

After the coronation ceremony the Royal couple appeared at the balcony of the Red Fort to receive more than half a million common Indians who had come to greet them. The King-Emperor was wearing the Imperial Crown of India, which contained 6170 diamonds in addition to a number of sapphires, emeralds and rubies. 

The Royal couple in Bombay.

The Imperial Durbar was also documented on film:

Even in color: