‘Himalaya’ derives from the Sanskrit for ‘Abode of Snow’. An immense 2,400 kilometre mountain range running east-south-east in a great curve between the Tibetan Plateau to the north and Indian sub-continent to the south, it constitutes three systems, the Outer Himalayas (av. 900-1,200 metres); the Lesser Himalayas (av. 3,600-4,500 metres) and the Great Himalayas (av. 6,000 metres). Formed by the collision of the Indian sub-continent with Asia, this youngest and highest of the world’s ranges rises from tropical valleys watered by the monsoon through diverse forest regions to permanently snow-covered peaks. It checks the northward progress of the monsoon and also shelters India from cold north winds.

On the southern slopes of the Himalayas are Darjeeling, the Indian Hill Station which lies in the shadow of Kanchenjunga (8,698 metres), the Kingdom of Bhutan, and the Kingdom of Nepal which is dominated in the north-east by Everest (8,848 metres) and Kanchenjunga (8,568 metres). Seventy per cent of Bhutan (pop.1,600,000) is forested. Less than 10% of Bhutan and Nepal - their tropical southern strips and fertile central valleys - supports crops (maize, rice and millet). The steep slopes above this arable land sustains only semi-nomadic yak-herders. Ninety-four per cent of the population of Bhutan and 88% of that of Nepal is nevertheless involved in agriculture, the rest of the population lives in monasteries or in towns which have been little-touched by modern urbanisation. The majority of people in Bhutan are Buddhists of the Tibetan Drukpa Kagya school, reflecting the influence of invaders and refugees who have entered the country from Tibet since the 7th century. The Nepalese, on the other hand, are predominantly Hindu.

The Himalayas are sacred to Hindus and Buddhists. A number of their lofty peaks are the abodes of deities and Bhutanese Buddhists in particular consider the lush Himalayan valleys, deep forests and grand ascents of their realm a ‘sacred landscape’, giver of life deserving reverential care. Isolation has protected these regions from foreign influence and has restricted progress; until 1961, Bhutan was an almost completely isolated feudal state with no electricity, government education system, modern medicine, or major roads. This world of monasteries and shrines has thus preserved its sacral nature. Bhutan’s oral history is dominated by the contests between gods and holy men with evil spirits; a number of the country’s beautiful monasteries were built to pin down the limbs of demons.

This tour explores the sacred landscape, agricultural practices, religious and secular architecture, customs, stories and crafts of Darjeeling, Bhutan and Nepal. It visits hallowed cities, shrines, monasteries (gompas) and fortresses (djongs) everywhere, and explores the fusion of religious status and secular power in their history. It visits the architectural remnants of the British in Darjeeling and government centres in Bhutan and Nepal which reflect a unique fusion of tradition with the responsibilities of a modern Nation State. It allows ample time to explore local markets, for despite inaccessibility and isolation, the valleys of this region have been conduits of trade between India and Tibet. You will also study the flora and fauna of the region and of course admire its majestic landscapes, framed by a number of the highest peaks in the world.