Framed Himalaya: Lachen Valley

The Coffee Table Book 

An illustrated book with scientific insight and splendid photographs featuring the mystical valley of Lachen in the Eastern recesses of the Himalaya.

"The authors of this marvelous book on the Lachen Valley have elegantly succeeded in capturing the rich tapestry of life, culture and traditions in this out-of-the-way-corner of the Himalaya....We need such photo-documentaries to constantly remind ourselves about the fragility of life on Earth, and our obligation to maintain the integrity of our common natural heritage to safeguard our future"- Kamal Bawa (Distinguished Professor, University of Massachusetts Boston)

Our journey into the mountains began in the year 2011 as researchers working on different ecological and social aspects of the valley of Lachen. The Valley is situated on the rooftop of the world stretching through the steep Himalayan range and the magnificent Tibetan plateau, along the international border of India and China. 

We had a very pedantic understanding of the people, their governance system, forest type, and the landscape of this region, based on articles and books. As we spent more time living with the people, understanding their surroundings, culture, beliefs, the mountains, and its rich biodiversity, we gained insight on more than what we had originally bargained for. At the end of our four years of research work in this landscape- we bear in our heart immense awe and at the same time a haunting melancholy for the people and the land. This book aims to capture a glimpse of our experience in the Valley we called home.


Our Team

Dr. Tenzing Ingty is an ethnobiologist and studies the response of socio-ecological systems to climate change in the Himalaya, as part of his doctoral studies at University of Massachusetts, Boston. A firm believer in communicating science with non-academic groups he has published articles in popular magazines and book chapters. His passion for  photography has resulted in his photographs being featured in leading media outlets. 


Born in the lap of the Himalaya, Dr. Barkha Subba, is well versed in local customs, biodiversity, and landscapes of the mountains. A researcher in the field of Conservation Science, she has a keen interest in the Himalayan flora and fauna, history, culture, and society. Travelling, photography, finding, and studying frogs, documenting stories of ethnic people is her passion. 


Samar Momin is a Civil Engineer by training, a footloose traveler, explorer, and Everest base camp summiteer. As an outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys high altitude treks in the Himalaya, wildlife and landscape photography. He possesses an uncanny knack for negotiations and has worked on several projects in the fields of construction management, solid waste management, and healthcare services. 


Dharmendra Lamsal is a senior research fellow at the National Centre for Biological Sciences and works on alpine ecosystems. He has worked in the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, on projects about glaciers and climate change. As a local from the State of Sikkim he plays a critical role as a link to the local communities and government agencies besides being a rich source of information on local knowledge 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SAMPLE PAGES 

Updates

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Framed Himalaya: Lachen Valley now available at Rachna bookstore and Tag along backpackers - Development Area, Gangtok, Sikkim, India.

Jane Schukoske, Darshan Shankar, Kamal Bawa, Balachander Ganesan, Rohini Nilekani  at the book launch of Framed Himalaya: Lachen Valley

Book release featured in leading news outlets

Book release in Bangalore  

Framed Himalaya reaches Gokarna

Tenzing Sherpa Singalila West Bengal with Framed Himalaya

Prakash Tamang of Darjeeling 

The Dokpas peruse the book delighted to see their vital contributions to the project

Kassang translates parts of the book to fellow Dokpas