Himalaya - Book Review

Close your eyes - after reading this lens, of course - and imagine HUGE mountain peaks decked in permanent snow. There is a tiny road, barely motorable. You are in an open jeep. You look at the peak - as high as you can, craning your neck upwards. The next moment you look the other way - into a deep gorge. You are making this journey to meet a tribe that lives in this inhospitable land. Can you feel the rush in your blood? Then this book is just for you.

The travelogue starts at Kyber Pass, just overlooking the Afghanistan border. The journey then takes you to K2 (the most unforgiving peak in the Himalayas), Karakoram Highway (the highest in the world), Dharamashala (where Tibetans live in exile - the team gets to meet Dalai Lama), Srinagar, Everest Base camp, Lhasa, Lugu Lake, Nagaland, Assam, Sylhet - just to name a few. That essential means that this trip cuts across countries: Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet (not a country, really! But ...), China, Bhutan and Bangaldesh.

The book is therefore not only about mountains and valleys but also a documentary on the people who live along this great mountain range.

1. I wanted to immediately go out and buy rest of Palin's books.

2. I felt ashamed that being an Indian I have not yet explored the Himalayas the way I could.

3. I resolved to keep a detailed account of all my future excursions. Even if I cannot convert the notes into book, I can at least make some good lens - like these:
a) Sculptures of South Indian Temples
b) The Giant of Shravanabelagola
c) Hoysala Temple in Halebid
There are many more that I never captured in my camera. a pity!

4. I wish I could use words as cleverly as Palin.

Style: Written as a diary. Essentially a companion book to the TV series. However, the book can be read entirely on its own. (I haven't seen the TV series). Michael is witty - and that is an understatement.

Knowledge content: It does not dole out statistics like height, depth, distance. That would make it very boring. Instead it gives you a glimpse of how a common man would see Himalayas. The information about the people who live under the shadows of this great mountain range cannot be found anywhere else.

Applicability: Not unless you wish to make the trip yourself.

Recommendation: As the Guardian says: The ultimate armchair travel book. I agree. Also buy it if you want to see some breath taking photographs by Basil Pao.