New Delhi, 1999, 1st edition. 271 pp, 62 col. & B/W plates and 17 maps. Ladakh for tourists and Ladakh for trekkers and climbers are two different worlds. There is nothing in this world like Pangong lake or Tso Moriri lake which change colour every hour with the sun, and the brown hills behind make it appear as if from a Tolkein story world.
The experience of walk across the valley of Ladakh, Zanskar and Kishtwar over High Mountain passes is quite near to nirvana. Leh, the headquarters of Ladakh, is at the crossroads of Asia. Being the central place of Ladakh and on the trade route, caravans met here in the past. Today even with plane-loads of tourists landing here, it has not lost any of its charms. There are many unknown places in the valley for trekkers and mountaineers.
Across the highest motorable pass, north of Leh, lies the Nubra valley which is now easily accessible due to new roads. It is a paradise for tourists and climbers. The new trekking and climbing areas are just a couple of days away. Ahead lies the East Karakoram range with the historic Siachen glacier and trade route across Saser la. This book, based on author's several visits to different areas of Ladakh, Zanskar and East Karakoram, tells you how to proceed about for trekking and climbing peaks. It concentrates most valuably on the wealth of extremely rewarding summits, unknown passes and remote valley, which have been hitherto neglected due to lack of information or difficulty of access.
Complete with several maps, sketches, photographs, tables of road distances and trek routes, this book is an exhaustive reference work on this area. The author's experience in Ladakh takes one to transformation of this region from an ancient civilization to a tourist destination. The book will be essential reference for all travelers, trekkers, mountaineers and historians or as a simple arm-chair travelogue.
Contents :- List of Illustrations My Himalaya: An Introduction 1. Valleys of Kashmir 2. Valleys of Kashmir 3. Valleys of Zanskar 4. From Lamayuru to Adam Kishtwar 5. Trek to Shingo La and Phirtse La 6. Valleys of Ladakh 7. A Trek to Nubra Valley and Pangong Lake 8. Climbing and Trekking in South-east Ladakh, Rupshu 9. Valleys of East Karakoram 10. Exploring Valleys East of Saser La 11. Climbing and Trekking in Chong Kumdan Glaciers 12. Climbs in the Terong and Rimo Groups 13. Mountaineering and War on the Siachen Glacier Appendices 1. Regions and History of the Indian Himalaya 2. A Note on Climbing Mountains in India 3. Major Passes in Ladakh, Zanskar and East Karakoram 4. Major River Valleys in Ladakh, Zanskar and East Karakoram 5. Nomenclature and Notes 6. Major Peaks in Ladakh, Zanskar and East Karakoram 7. Major Road Distances in Ladakh Zanskar and East Karakoram. Hardcover, DJ, New.
