Author: Janet Rizvi
Publishers: Oxford University Press
Pages: 264
Janet Rizvi’s book on Ladakh provides comprehensive information on every aspect of Ladakh – the life of it’s people, history, geography, religion, culture and economy. It is meant for people with serious interest in knowing about the region and understand the local culture and way of life, or to the non-casual traveller who is keen to get a detailed understanding of his or her destination before travelling. It can even serve as a guide, not in terms of where to stay and what to see, but giving in depth knowledge of every place visited.
The book is divided into chapters related to geography, history, culture, present day Ladakh and religious affiliations. Each chapter can be read independently and it should be easy to skip sections that the reader may not be interested in. How-ever, names from history are repeated in many chapters, making reading the chapters on history worthwhile. If a good introduction to everything related to Ladakh is what you are looking for, look no further than this book.
I spent a quick evening wandering around Qutub Minar in Delhi, while I was on my way to Rajasthan a couple of months ago. We did not have much time, and spent the evening wandering in the enclosure, without trying to know much of the history or intricacies of the monument. So I don’t have anything to say on it, and it makes no sense to describe something in words when there are pictures to do the talking. Here we go.
Map: Location of Qutub Minar in Delhi
The last picture – I was about to take a picture of this plaque for my records before leaving the place. This little girl, I don’t know where she was, came and stood right in front of it as though she is posing, and gave a shy, innocent smile. She stood there hardly for a second or two while I quickly clicked.
Summer is the time to be in the mountains. And if Himalayas are in your mind, look no further than India Travel Blog for bounty of information. There is much stuff on Indian Himalayas, from as far east as Arunachal Pradesh to Himachal Pradesh. Kashmir/Ladakh is one place missing, but be assured that you will have all-you-want-to-know information on Ladakh before the arrival of next summer. Here is the list.
Images
* Himachal
* Auli – 1, Auli – 2
* Rishikesh
* Corbett National Park
* Sikkim
* Arunachal Pradesh
Goecha La, Sikkim
Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim
* Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
* Eaglenest National Park, Arunachal Pradesh
* Yumthang Valley and Gurudongmar Lake, Sikkim
* Goecha La Trek, Sikkim
On the way to Tawang
Uttaranchal – Garhwal and Kumaon
* Corbett National Park, foothills of Kumaon
* Skiing and walking in Auli, Garhwal
* Foothills of Rishikesh and Haridwar and Rajaji National Park.
At Auli
Himachal
* Lower regions – Shimla and around
* Manali and around
* Lahaul and Spiti
* Kinnaur and around
Chandratal Lake in Himachal Pradesh