#stephenalter

[valleyofstories]

Stephen Alter writes he often feels like an endemic species (the very first line of the Prologue 'Oakville,' his ancestral house). Many times in the book, and certainly towards the end, it truly dawns on the reader what he means by that. To me, he's a true native, nothing short of a hero. He satisfies our scientific inquisitiveness by writing about glaciers, stones, geology and wildlife. He also lets us in on the mystical aura of the Himalaya by sharing riveting tales, local folklore, myths and legends. And this is the greatest mountain range on Earth; 2500kms of nothing but terrifying and awe inspiring grandeur.

Here in this book, we meet Scholar of Stones, D.N. Wadia, a geologist who could discuss poems of Thomas Moore just as easily as he could discuss Himalayan Stratigraphy. We also meet the Divine Mad Man, Drukpa Kunley, who offered a prayer to a donkey, the most pitiful of beasts!

All this beauty described in the unrivalled mastery of English language, but of course, this is Stephen Alter we're talking about. 

Perhaps it's because I am reading this book along with Anthony Gaston's book on the Great Himalayan National Park, that I can't help but feel the urgent need of preserving this paradise on Earth. I am lucky to be able to call Himalaya my home, and I feel I must protect its wildlife, its flora and fauna. Preservation is the need of the hour, and in capturing selfies and being awed by snow capped mountains, we must look at the foreground, too. Plastic waste at the edges of the curves of a road perched at 7,000 feet is heartbreaking. We must travel, but do so carefully, cautiously and responsibly. 

This is a book that will be close to my heart. This is what it truly means to be a native to not just Himachal but Himalaya.

#stephenalter #himalaya #himachalgram #uttarakhand #india #preservenature #preservewildlife #authors #bookreview #bookreader #bookworm #traveler #saynotoplastic #travelblogger

[hippieinhills]

Wild Himalaya: A Natural History of the Greatest Mountain Range on Earth. Anyone who wishes to know more about the enchanting Himalaya, this book by award winning author Stephen Alter is the go-to-book. Wild Himalaya brings alive the greatest mountain range on earth in all its terrifying beauty, grandeur and complexity. ‘In a Thousand Ages of the Gods’ the author examines the essence of Himalayan art, folklore and mythology as well as enigmatic mysteries such as the existence of the Yeti, along with key questions of conservation. A great study of Himalaya's highest peaks and beautiful valleys. #wildhimalaya #stephenalter #alephbookcompany #himalayas #himalayan #india #pakistan #bhutan #nepal #china #bestbookonhimalayas #hippieinhills (at Himalayas) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2a-h6wgyPw/?igshid=1qdrzwnro2dc8

#wildhimalaya #stephenalter #alephbookcompany #himalayas #himalayan #india #pakistan #bhutan #nepal #china #bestbookonhimalayas #hippieinhills