Dehradun, June 28 -- (A Journey from Almora to Patal Bhuvaneshwar)

The Himalaya is not merely a landscape to be seen; it is a living world that must be understood. Its ridges and summits, rivers and forests, and the hardworking communities that have lived alongside them for centuries together form a complex and enduring civilisation. A recent journey from Almora to Gangolihat and onward to Patal Bhuvaneshwar offered an opportunity to reflect upon this intricate relationship between nature, history, culture, and time.

Dawn had only begun to spread across the hills of Almora. The mountains were slowly awakening from their slumber. The first rays of sunlight touched distant ridgelines while a veil of mist lingered over the valleys below. A...