It is the “land far, far away” of a fairy tale. Its unknown corners have the call of an adventure. The beauty here changes your definition of beautiful. Its in-your-face isolation has the power to transform. Zanskar is a valley in the higher Himalayas, about 250 km and an 8-hour drive from Kargil, which is its only connection to the outside world in the summer. In the winter (if they […]

Imagine yourself touring the snow clad mountains of the Himalayas along with an extremely friendly five hundred foot tall Yeti! This whacky yet interesting idea has been turned into reality by tech giant Google’s latest offering – Verne: the Himalayas. The app uses Google Earth’s view of the Himalayas and presents it in a child-friendly format. One of the best features of the app is the tour guide Verne. He […]

In the high and hostile peaks of the Himalayas where sustaining life is a challenge in itself, Indian scientists say they have found a “wonder herb” which can regulate the immune system, help adapt to the mountain environment and, above all, protect from radioactivity. Rhodiola, a herb found in the cold and highland climate, has led India’s leading scientists to wonder if it is the end to the quest for […]

Media in India say that more than 20 students are feared dead in Himachal Pradesh state due to the “appalling negligence” of authorities at a hydropower dam. A group of 24 students was on a holiday in the Himalayan state when they were swept away by a sudden surge of water released from the upstream dam. The students, who were on a college trip, had reportedly left a bus to […]