Whenever one talks about the Himalaya, mighty mountains and deep valleys come to mind. It has been perceived that the Hima-laya can stop any conqueror, and its snow, glaciers and steep trails are too formidable. But there is more to the Himalaya than this. There are people who live there, they have their own culture; there are legends associa-ted with gods and temples; there are people who have travelled across the Himalaya for generations.
The Himalaya has witnessed four wars in its ranges. The highest battlefield in the world, the Siachen glacier, is in this range. The explorations that began with the arrival of the British continue even today—the last miles of the explorations of the Tsangpo gorge were trod upon as recently as 2004. There are Gaddis and Gujjars who roam the Himalaya with their flock; there are forests and forestry movements by the people; there are trekkers and tourists who enjoy the Himalayan range; there are indigenous tribes with their age-old traditions. The Himalaya has been a subject of religious travels and has been visited by famous mountaineers and explorers who opened this range for today’s trekkers. The railways in India were first dreamt of in the Himalaya, and narrow gauge trains on its slopes are a wonder.
The Himalaya has been classified in sections for better understanding, observing its flowers and wildlife and various other activities, including mountaineering. The Himalaya has influenced the Indian thought and life for long. This book studies its various aspects to understand and bring to the fore the knowledge about the Himalaya.
With 12 maps, 17 sketches and 81 photo-graphs, the book will be an invaluable guide to trekkers, tourists and Himalayan lovers. |
