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> Adventure Travels in the Himalaya
> Meeting the Mountains
> The Himalayas: Trekking, Climbing, Adventure
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> Exploring the Hidden Himalaya (Out of Print)

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In the age of satellite pictures there exit many valleys in the Indian Himalaya, unseen by the human eye. These valleys, like the peaks around them, have never been trodden. Now that Everest has been climbed many times, the future of mountaineering lies in these smaller peaks, by no means easy to climb.

The book contains articles covering the author's treks and climbs in the remote valleys during the past thirty years. It contains stories of exploration of the areas in Sikkim, Kumaon, Garhwal, Kinnaur, Spiti, Lahaul, Zanskar, Ladakh and East Karakoram. There are stories of crossing passes and climbing peaks, accidents and deaths, personal injury and agony. These articles give an insight into the Himalayan areas, their history, its people and the period of development of Himalayan climbing in India during the last three decades.

For a trekker there are various suggestions in this book, for discovering different passes, many unknown valleys, and the history of travel, people, culture and nomenclature of the area. There are invaluable references to hordes of peaks, both most challenging and easy, between 6000 m and 7000 m range. Many of these peaks were climbed for the first time by the author and some of the climbs have not been repeated yet. For an explorer there are suggestions for things to be done, unexplored regions to set eyes on. And for an armchair mountaineer there are personal stories, and interaction with climbers of different nationalities. And all this is based on the experiences of the author.

With 29 maps, 17 line sketches, 32 photographs and many references, the book will be an invaluable guide to all present and future mountaineers.

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"High Himalaya Unknown Valley takes the reader on a journey that is both delightful and immensely informative; as enjoyable as the expedition, I was lucky enough to share with Harish".
— Sir Chris Bonnington, C.B.E. in Foreword to the book

"How does a 48-year old cloth merchant from Bombay fit this vast mountain glove? Quite comfortably, judging by Harish Kapadia's exuberant account of his high attitude quests from 1969 onwards. Wether with Bombay comrades or his beloved Brits, Kapadia is in his element on the altitude trail, always eager to peer round the corner". — Sudhir Sahi in India Today

"The range of his travels along the Himalaya must put Kapadia in the ranks of the greater explorers . . . Throughout these treks the reader is given hard local information almost impossible to come by elsewhere and likely peaks are pointed out to stimulate other parties who may follow".
Kapadia's comprehensive coverage is valued by the international climbing community. These collected explorations can be considered one of the most significant Himalayan publications since Kenneth Mason's Abode of Snow . . . This book is a must for any serious student of Himalayan lore. Kapadia proceeds beyond where most trekkers turn back." — Bill Aitken in The Hindustan Times

"This book, like the expedition shared with Harish, is a symphony".
— Paul Nunn in The Himalayan Journal

"This is a book for both the active climber and the armchair mountaineer".
— H. Adams Carter, Editor, The American Alpine Journal

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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.