Tite litt OF INDIA Pe Re Tes M.S. KOHLI MR ea eta) Omar N Cy TN) PEO Watt) NS FRO: agile EXPERTSMOUNTAIN OF INDIA Tourism, Adventure and Pilgrimage M.S. KOHLI WITH FOREWORD BY JAGMOHAN AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM EMINENT EXPERTS di INDUS PUBLISHING COMPANYForeword Mountains of India, especially the Himalayas, serve as vast reserves of our resources—water, energy and biodiversity. They have contributed to the growth and development of myriad cultures and ethnic groups, some in isolation but others blossoming into living faiths for millions. In the north we have the 2,400 km long majestic Himalayas which have held a strange fascination for men all over the world. and have drawn people from all walks of life—pilgrims, climbers. trekkers. artists, writers, poets and scientists. Their pristine glory lies in their blue and emerald lakes, pine forests, swift mountain streams, rugged rocks, grassy meadows resplendent with multi-coloured flowers, snow bridges spanning gurgling torrents, deep and narrow gorges, high passes enveloped in mist and snow-clad peaks rising above masses of clouds, reaching out to the deep blue sky. Many of the great Himalayan rivers— the Indus, the Sutlej, the Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda are known to be older than the mountain ranges. We have a large number of hill stations. The modern concept of the hill station is evidently a phenomenon of the expansion of European imperialism in the Orient. The French established Da Lat in Indo-China, the Spanish built Baguio to escape humidity of Manila and the Dutch founded similar getaways in Indonesia. But most spectacular are the number of hill stations built by the British in India. Not only are these nostalgic reminders of home to the British but also the institution of the hill station fitted most comfortably and perfectly in the subcontinent. Besides the mountain ranges and hill stations, India possesses a unique heritage of mountain shrines. In the mighty Himalayas. since time immemorial, hundreds of shrines dot the Himalayan foothills and the lofty snow-covered peaks. Most of these shrines are very closely associated with the epics that form the backbone of Indian culture and