“If there is a heaven on Earth, it is here, it is here, it is here,” uttered Mughal Emperor Jahangir when he first set his eyes upon Kashmir in the 17th century A.D. There have been no dearth of expressions to describe the most prolific of all Himalayan regions since then. The state’s highways abound with signs reading Kashmir is [...]
I set out on a rainy morning for Kibithu – the eastern most settlement in India that can be accessed by road. It was a picturesque drive on a well maintained road, valleys on one side and lush green mountain faces on the other. Bamboo houses and rivers completed the postcard settings. A sign post near Kibithu announced I was [...]
Day 32 of the Great Himalayan Drive marked what would be many days of adventurous, and sometimes dangerous driving, into the lesser known after I left Pasighat. After an hour of driving, I came across a broken bridge with little choice but to drive over a dry river bed. It took another hour to negotiate a rock strewn path, going [...]
How do you cross a suspension bridge? Just walk across it, right? In theory, yes. In practice, a very different proposition – at least in the case of the one at Pangin, 29 kms from Aalo (formerly Along) on the way to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. [View more photos on Facebook even if you are not a member] Built for [...]
Have you ever driven through a jungle? I have, at the Bardia National Park in Nepal. Trust me, it is sheer fun. These images were taken on Day 3 of The Great Himalayan Drive I am undertaking from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh starting January 29, 2010. View more images on Facebook even if you are not a member.
If you are in Himalayan country, religious myths can never end. The Lake Betkot near Mahendranagar is no exception. Locals believe it was created by Nag Dev (Snake King) out of devotion for Hindu God Shiva. You will thus see many temples around the lake devoted to Lord Shiva. There are always a few Hindus who go through a miles [...]
This very interesting bridge in located in Mahendranagar in Nepal – claimed to be one of the largest suspension bridges in Asia with a length of about 1.45 miles (2.3 km). And it is used only by foot and two wheeler traffic You cannot find it easily without a guide either. And it connects the villages around Mahendranagar to the [...]
The Great Himalayan Drive took off on January 29 and I was at the Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Mahendranagar in Nepal on Day 2 itself. Wow, did not take too long to be transported into another world within a day. I drove my SUV into the park – the first time I have done so – and the experience was [...]
This set of photos were taken at the Maha Kumbh Mela (fair) at Haridwar, a once-in-12-year event. The 2010 edition started on January 14 to end on April 28. This photo was taken on January 15. Click on any image for a larger view. It is an occasion for Hindus to come to Haridwar and take a dip / bath [...]
Even Tolkien couldn’t have just imagined a place so stunning. His fabled Misty Mountains in Middle Earth, those lofty sentinels of Rivendell, seem inspired by the forever fog-draped mountains of… no not Switzerland, not New Zealand… but Nagaland. Yup, Tolkien was there. Why Nagaland, you ask? Why not, we say! The mountain peaks are perennially enveloped by magical mists. The [...]
Half way between Kullu and Manali, adventurers can get an adrenaline rush by jumping from a 2000M cliff and enjoy Paragilding. Those who dare are rewarded with a birds eye view of the most incredible scenery – snow capped mountains, the river Beas in the Kullu valley, the villages of Sarsei and Chakri and the neighboring pine forests.. Beginners needn’t worry – tandem jumps with experienced jumpers are available.
I spotted these children in the Khonoma Village of Nagaland, located 20 km from the state capital Kohima. They were weaving cloth on the roof of their homes. The residents here belong to the Angami tribe. Scroll down for more images of these children; click on any for a larger view.
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I have just returned from the north-eastern state of Nagaland, for long a state affected by political violence and underdevelopment. Even before I left, friends and family expressed concerns over my decision to explore this volatile region. The usual expression was, Why Nagaland? I could not answer this before I left, but now I can. For starters, safety is currently [...]
This image of the setting sun behind a Saunf Tree (no higher than 6 feet) was taken in Abbott Mount in the Indian Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Click on the image for a larger view. You can view and order more such images at the Kunzum Gallery.
Many monasteries in Ladakh were plundered by invaders over the centuries. The one at Chemde, or Chemrey stayed safe. How? A tale worth telling. Seems the Mongols laid siege on Chemde in the late 17th century. He was outnumbered but that didn’t stop the head lama from outsmarting the outsiders. From afar, he shot the Mongol king’s tea cup with [...]
This shot of Buddhist nuns was captured during the annual festival of the Hemis Monastery in Ladakh. Click on the image for a larger view. You can view and order more such images at the Kunzum Gallery.
This photograph of the masked dancer was taken at the annual festival of the Hemis Monastery in Ladakh. It has also been selected for a permanent display at the Museum of Cannes, France. Click on the image for a larger view. You can view and order more such images at the Kunzum Gallery.
This image was taken in Munsiyari, located in the Indian Himalayan state of Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal). Click on the image for a larger view. You can view and order more such images at the Kunzum Gallery
This image was taken at the Druk White Lotus School in Shey near Ladakh in the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. Click on the image for a larger view. You can view and order more such images at the Kunzum Gallery.
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