Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Golden Temple. Amritsar

The Golden Temple at Amritsar was built by the Sikhs in 1604 A.D. Interestingly the temple has four entrance in four directions signifying that people belonging to every walk of life, irrespective of religion are welcome. Amritsar is about six hours north of Delhi and is well worth a visit.








Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Markha Valley Trek, Ladakh


The Markha Valley is one of the most popular treks in Ladakh. It is relatively short, located close to Leh, the walking is mostly below 4000 metres with  night stops around 3500 metres and has the best of Ladakh thrown in: Sculpted canyons and fantastic rock formations, medieval villages,  Buddhist gompas and snow-peaks. When approached from Chilling there is only one pass to cross the Kongmaru La which comes on Day 8 of the trek by which time most trekkers are properly acclimatised. The cost of the trek is Rs 50,000 (USD 925) Leh to Leh - exclusions apply. For further details please do e-mail us at sujoyrdas@gmail.com or check our web site at Markha Valley trek.

September 4th to 13th 2013

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Everest Sixty Years After - Part II

Noel Odell photographed by John Noel


On June 8th 1924, around 12.50 pm, a British geologist was collecting fossils at around 26,000 feet on the north ridge of Everest. Noel Odell was climbing to Camp VI through the mist when suddenly the entire summit ridge and the final peak of Everest were unveiled.  Odell sighted two climbers on a rock step far above and as he watched their dramatic appearance, the mountain became enveloped in cloud. The climbers were Mallory and Irvine, who were never seen again and to this day there is intense speculation on whether they reached the summit.   

Ever since that fateful day, Everest has fired the imagination of mountaineers, trekkers, historians, photographers and arm-chair enthusiasts. Every year in May, the exploits of the climbers are followed with deep interest and fascination the world over. Though more than three thousand people have climbed Everest, the number of climbers and expeditions swell every year.

May 2013 marks the sixtieth anniversary of the first ascent by Hillary and Tenzing as well as the fiftieth anniversary of the first West Ridge climb by the American team of Unsoeld and Horbein. In an astonishing feat, they reached the summit at 6.15 pm after climbing for eleven hours and then descended at night by the South Col route, thereby completing the first traverse of the mountain.

Everest seen from the top of Kala Pattar 

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...