Order with us or any of our distributor/stockist or buy online from any of the stores below:
IndusBooks.com	Rediff Books	Amazon.com	Amazon.co.uk

> Across Peaks & Passes in Himachal Pradesh
> Guide to Trekking in Himachal: Over 65 Treks and 100 Destinations
> Travels to Highlands of Himachal
> Exploring Kinnaur & Spiti in the Trans-Himalaya
> Tourism in Himachal Pradesh
> Myths, Rituals and Beliefs in Himachal Pradesh

>^ Top

Spiti, which literally means the 'middle land', is a grey and barren landscape situated to the north of Shimla. It is the Trans-Himalayan land with Tibet to its east, Ladakh to its north, Kullu to its west and Kinnaur guarding the south. Due to restriction of inner line and difficulties of travel not many have visited this fascinating land. Now with all the restrictions removed Spiti is the most sought after tourist destination.

There are many a mountains to be climbed, valleys to be trekked and passes to be crossed. Isolated from civilization, the monasteries in Spiti are unique and remotely placed. Some of them, like the Tabo Monastery, are almost 1000 years old.

This book is based on author's several visits to Spiti, exploring its valleys and climbing peaks. It concentrates most valuably on the wealth of extremely rewarding summits, unknown passes and remote valleys, which have been hitherto neglected due to lack of information or difficulty of access.

Complete with several maps, illustrated with many photographs, tables of road distances and trek routes this book is the only available exhaustive reference work on this area. The author's experiences in Spiti takes one to transformation of Spiti from a protected civilisation to a tourist destination.

The book will be essential reading for all travellers, trekkers, mountaineers and historians interested in Spiti or as a simple armchair travelogue.

>^ Top

"It is a splendid book, a pertrait and a history, a record of climbs and treks and almost a guide book, all in one. I was going to say that the author, Harish Kapadia, is well-qualified to write such a book but I shall change to say that he is the only person who could have written it".
— Geoff Birtles, Editor High Magazine, UK

"Kapadia covers stories in a very readable, informative and often amusing style. His love and enthusiasm for the area are obvious to anyone reading just a few pages. This book is an absolutely essential purchase for anyone interested in this remote and exciting part of the world. I found it sufficiently inspiring to put Spiti firmly on my list of places I have to visit".
— Mike Fowler, in The Alpine Journal, London

"Now that inner line restrictions have been eased it is important that visitors should have access to an intelligent and up-to-date guide. Harish Kapadia's collection of travels through and around Spiti fits the bill exactly. This is an outstanding introduction to a challenging beautiful area, comprehensive by virtue of the author's fimiliarity with the routes and authentic by his raging concern to include all useful sources and information".
— Bill Aitken, in The Himalayan Journal

"Harish Kapadia has done once again the remote region of Spiti an immense service by describing its story upto present. All in all this excellent book which can be recommended as a thoroughly good read. Now that Spiti has opened up to all comers, this book is also timely".
— Sir Peter Holmes, in The Himalayan Journal

"Whilst this book may cover more climbing than the interested reader might want, it gives a very good picture of Spiti.... It is a valuable record in all senses and I would recommend it to those interested in this remote part of the world.".
— Adrian Steger, Royal Society for Asian Affairs, London

A TREKKER'S DELIGHT: An Empathetic First-Hand Feel of the Remote Valleys of Spiti: "Harish Kapadia's book is timely and enables a first-hand feel of this mountain habitat against the backdrop of increasing visitor impact. Spiti: Adventures in the Trans-Himalaya is a welcome edition. ".
— Sudhir Sahi, in India Today

>^ Top

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.