Himalayan Vignettes

In the 1950s Himalayan trekking was not as popular as it is now. The network of roads deep into the Himalayas did not exist and the hills were more pristine and undeveloped. The approaches to the high peaks were on foot from the road-heads, which were then at a comparatively low altitude, and routes to the interior took a considerably longer time than they now do. Even today the extreme northwest area of Sikkim and some hidden valleys and peaks of Garhwal are not frequently travelled or well known. In this context Kekoo Naoroji’s extensive treks in Garhwal and Sikkim are most interesting as he has presented both a written and pictorial record of the era. The spectacular black-and-white and colour photographs beautifully composed reflect those early days of exploration and the onset of interest in the Himalayas among Indian mountaineers and trekkers.