Trekking in the Himalaya

Trekking in the Himalaya takes you away from the madding crowd to the white and silent core of the Himalaya. It lures you to Ladakh; Himachal; garhwal and Kumaon; Bhutan, Sikkim and Darjeeling; and Nepal- five regions that make up a trekker's paradise. There are nineteen mesmerizing treks to choose from - jungle- riddled, summit-strewn, flower-rich, colour-mad passages of thrill and adventure.

Comprehensive and informative, the book traces each trek, starting with invaluable data on travel preparations and emergencies. A well-planned out day-to-day itinerary along with suggested short walks and restful campsites is complemented by a map outlining the trail, and earmarking rest houses and night halts. There is even a trekking guide that prepares you for the trek.

Written by expert trekkers, those who have been there and come back, every crag, peak, stream and inch familiar to them, with brilliant photographs by Hashmat Singh, the book is a stimulating and certain invitation to trekkers.

About the Author

Hashmat Singh is a photographer and writer who works for an American adventure travel company. He organizes and leads trips to almost the entire subcontinent including India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. Having traveled extensively in the Himalaya for over two decades, he has walked all the trails described in this book and many more.

The source of much inspiration, the Himalaya have guided me and shaped my whole life, he says. My work today is guiding other people to the wonders that exist there - both physical and spiritual. He lives in Delhi with his family, within shooting distance of the Abode of Snow.

Pallav Das has known the Indian Himalaya quite intimately since the mid-70s. Starting with regular treks in the western Himalaya, he gradually took more interest in its ecology and wildlife. As a member of Kalpavriksh, an environmental action group based in Delhi, he studied the grassroots ecological movement called Chipko in the Uttaranchal Himalaya.

Later, he studied the ecology of the endangered snow leopard and the blacknecked crane in the trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh. His chief interest lies in the understanding of land-use patterns in the mountains and their impact on critical wildlife species. Pallav Das is currently based in Washington D.C. U.S.A., and works as a documentary filmmaker and freelance journalist focusing on South Asian issues.