The author's first book High Himalaya Unknown Valleys covered his explorations of the Indian Himalaya between 1969 and 1991. Its success emphasised that more information was required as the interest is generated in the smaller mountains and unknown valleys. The present book continues in a similar vein. It covers expeditions and treks undertaken by the author between 1993 and 1997. It includes other writings and those lovely treks he had also done before 1969. The book encompasses almost 35 years of Himalayan travel which allows for a comparison about how it was then and how it is now. And perhaps that migh help predict what the future holds in store.
Included here are serious expeditions with Sir Chris Bonington to Panch Chuli and Rangrik Rang, the accident and rescue of Stephen Venables, climbing Manirang, exploring Spiti, climbing Lungser Kangri in Rupshu, Ladakh, and exploring passes in the Garhwal. For those less seriously inclined there are lovely treks in Kinnaur, Kumaon, Garhwal, Ladakh and Nepal. These treks and climbs are in some of the areas never heard of before, and there are new trekking suggestions to last for a long time.
It is an invaluable reference for trekkers and mountaineers. For an explorer there are suggestions about things to be done. And for an armchair mountain lover there are personal stories about climbers
Table of contents...
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List of Illustrations
Foreword by Bill Aitken
My Himalaya: An Introduction
1. The Indian Himalaya: A Brief Historical Review
KUMAON
Introduction
2. Fires on the Mountian
3. Accident on Panch Chuli
4. Climbing in Milam
5. Chiring We
6. Story of the Nanda Devi Sanctuary
7. The Valley of Friends
GARHWAL
Introduction
8. The Valley of Flowers
9. Lost in the Legends
10. The Freedom Walk
11. Temptations of Kedar
12. Rupkund, Jatropani and Gona Lake
13. Trek to Har-ki-Doon and Ruinsara Lake
SIKKIM AND NEPAL
Introduction
14. Life Begins at Forty
15. Muktinath
16. On the 'Tourist Drain' Trek
17. A Trek to Kala Pathar
KINNAUR
Introduction
18. The Language of the Mountains
19. A Dawn in Winter
20. What did you do in Sorang Valley?
21. Kinnaur: A Decade of Visits
KULLU & SPITI
Introduction
22. At Crossroads in Spiti
23. Manirang: A Mountain of Suprises
24. A Climbing Holiday at Manali
25. A Visit to Sach Pass
LADAKH AND EAST KARAKORAM
Introduction
26. Changpas are Smiling Nangpas are Flying
27. The Siachen Glacier
FOUNDATIONS
Introduction
28. The Himalayan Club: A Continuing Tradition
29. Journey of the Journal
30. The Himalayan Club Newsletter
LIFE IS MEETING
Introduction
31. Two Editors Par Excellence
32. A Meeting with Prof. Odell
33. Mountain Personalities
J.C. Nanavati / Aamir Ali / Trevor Braham / J.B. Auden / N.D. Sherpa /
S.P. Godrej / Sadashige Inada / M.C. Motwani / K.N. Naoroji / Yoshio Ogata.
APPENDICES
(A) Summary of Expeditions and Treks
(B) A Note on Climbing in India
(C) Regions of the Indian Himalaya
(D) List of Passes in the Himalaya
(E) Expeditions and Treks in the Himalaya, 1963-1997
Index
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From the reviews...
"What is true of Ruskin Bond's poem is true for Harish Kapadia's expeditions. Like all trevellers of repute (and his travels comprise the most extensive physical coverage of the Himalaya ever penned) Kapadia displays a winning eccentricity that his exotic destibations seem to encourage... His tours are valuable not just to climbers pointing out routes and possibilities but to the general mountain walker keen on acquiring information on the cultural background of the peaks".
— Bill Aitken, in his Foreword to the book
"It is refreshing to see Harish Kapadia'a new book packed full of defiantly unfashionable Himalayan peaks and obscure, forgotten trails. To have the wealth of knowledge, complete with prolific photos and Arun Samant's excellent sketch maps, all contained in one volume, is truly valuable".
— Stephen Venables, in The American Alpine Journal
"This book is really a miscellany of reports from most corners of the Indian Himalaya with a brief but valuable contribution from Nepal. Most of all, the book is packed full of information and detail from only part of a lifetime's passion and will be a useful addition to the reference sources used by potential visitors". — Ed Douglas, in The Alpine Journal
"If you are interested in exploration in the Indian Himalaya, you can't really manage without this and other books by Harish Kapadia". — The High, UK
"An informative book for aspirants wishing to attempt the Himalayan Adventure". — The Hindu
About the author...
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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.
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