Romancing the Mall

February 12, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

The British established Hill Stations, as they were called in the Himalayas as places where they could escape the heat of the Indian Plains. These Hill Stations acquired a European flavor and the Mall Roads in these Hill Stations became the playground of Scandals and Romances. My personal ode to my favorite Mall Road.

High Altitude Gear from the Hall of Fame in Leh

January 21, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

The Hall of Fame Museum near Leh in Ladakh has a section dedicated to the Equipment used by High Altitude Mountaineers generally and the Indian Army specifically while guarding the high frontiers in the Himalayas and the Karakorams. We have a look at some of the great Gear on display.

The Muztagh

January 18, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

People who read Books about old explorations in the Western Himalayas and Karakoram and the Hindu Kush come across a term quite often “Muztagh”. The first time I read this name, and though I was unaware of the meaning I knew it was a strong word. For a long time Muztagh was the name given to the almost impenetrable wall of Mountains which separate Kashmir from Central Asia. An of course with everything in Central Asia the word has Turkic origins.

The Kashmir Mammoths : A Tragic Comedy Almost

January 14, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

Kashmir was once home to the Woolly Mammoths at the time of the last Ice Age. To date there have been remains of two Mammoths that have been found in the same area in Kashmir at the Interval of 70 years. And tragically both were taken out of Kashmir. One set of the Mammoth remains were subsequently returned while a struggle is on to get the other set.

Himalayan Geology / Tectonics

January 11, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

Source: An Yin 2005

A detailed Map explaining the Plate Tectonics and the Geology of the Himalayas and their formation. Helps us understand the basic fault lines between the Indian and the Eurasian Plate. Many other smaller details make it a good guide to understanding the formation and the evolution of the Himalayas.

The Map Shawl of Kashmir

January 9, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

One of the most exquisite creation of man on Fabric, arguably the finest. The Legendary Map Shawl of Kashmir commissioned by Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir for Queen Victoria of the British Empire and it took 30 years to create this masterpiece. We present for the first time, the Map deciphered as shown on the Shawl which is now on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

New Routes Opened in Ladakh

January 7, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

The Government has announced the Opening of some new Routes in Ladakh which were earlier Off Limits to the General Public except with Special Permits. Hopefully in the near future more such areas would be opened up for Tourism in Ladakh.

The Elusive Kashmir Sapphires

January 5, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

The Story of the Kashmir Sapphire, the finest Sapphire that exists. Very few true Kashmir Sapphires exist today and are mostly held in Museums and Private Collections. We delve into the fascinating history of when and where did these Kashmir Sapphires came from and why they are so rare.

Mahasu Temple Hanol

January 4, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

Mahasu Devta is the main Devta / Deity of the people living in the Jaunsar Bawar region of Uttarakhand as well as in the neighboring districts of Himachal Pradesh. The main Temple to Mahasu Devta is located in Hanol in Uttrakhand close to the border with Himachal Pradesh. Interestingly Mahsu Devta has a Kashmiri connection. We explore.

The Last Queen of Kashmir

January 3, 2019 Prashant Mathawan

The story of Queen Kota or Kota Rani as she was also known. The trials and tribulations that she witnessed during a very volatile period in History. And of course the tragic end of the Last Queen of Kashmir.

Kiki