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> Sikkim: Society, Polity, Economy & Environment

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The Sikkim Himalaya were one of the first Himalayan range to be explored during the early period. It contains some magnificent flora and fauna and that was the first attraction to visit the valley. Many of the pre-war Everest expeditions passed through nothern valleys of Sikkim en route to Tibet. The valleys and peaks of Sikkim are lovely to trek in.
The centrepiece of the Sikkim Himalaya is certainly the Kangchenjung range, with the main peak beging the third highest peak in the world. Visits to this range opened up secveral intersting trekking routes.
This book is based on author's several visits to Darjeeling and Sikkim, exploring its valleys and climbing the peaks. It concentrates most valuably on extremely rewarding summits, unknown passes and remote valley, which have been hitherto neglected due to lake of infotmation or difficulty of access.
Complete with several maps, illustrated with many photograhs, tables of road distances and trek routes, this book is an exhaustive referience work on this area. The author's experience in DarJeeling and Sikkim takes one to trans formation of this area from an ancient civilisation to a tourist destination. The book will be an essential reference for all travellers, trekkers, mountaineers & historians interested in Darjeeling and Sikkim or as a simple armachair travelogue.

 

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Harish Kapadia began climbing and trekking in the range around Bombay, the Western Ghats. His first visit to the Himalaya was almost 35 years ago. He has never looked back since, still trekking and climbing actively. His main contribution to Himalayan climbing has been to explore unknown areas and, in a number of cases, to open up climbing possibilities. Some of his major ascents have been of Devtoli (6788 m), Bandarpunch West (6102 m), Parilungbi (6166 m), and Lungser Kangri (6666 m). He has led five international joint expeditions, four with the British and one with the French.
Harish Kapadia has made a unique contribution to our knowledge of the Himalaya: as editor of the Himalayan Journal, one of the most authoritative and comprehensive records of exploration activity in the Himalaya; and through his numerous books and as a leader and organiser of countless expeditions over the years. He has written with deep knowledge about his Himalayan journeys in his 12 books and several articles that are erudite and practical, skillfully combining historical, geographical and practical guidance to increase our understanding of the region. His books Exploring the Hidden Himalaya (with Soli Mehta), High Himalaya Unknown Valleys and Meeting the Mountains cover his various trips to the Himalaya, climbing and trekking in different regions. He is the editor of the prestigious Himalayan Journal for the past 20 years.
He was elected Honorary Member of the Alpine Club, London. He was a Vice-President of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (1997-1999) and was awarded the IMF Gold Medal in 1993. He was honoured with the Royal Medal the “Patron’s Medal”, by the Royal Geographical Society ‘for contributions to geographical discovery and mountaineering in the Himalaya’. He was the first Indian to receive this award after 125 years. He was invited to several countries to lecture on his Himalayan exploits and is a member of several organisations.
Harish has a degree in Commerce, Law and Management from Bombay University.