Ladakh Summer 2019

South Col Expeditions did two treks in Ladakh this summer in the Shang Sumdo to Rumbak region.
For detailed itineraies and route planning please do visit
http://sujoyrdas.blogspot.com/2019/09/ladakh-shang-sumdo-to-rumbak-trek.html

http://sujoyrdas.blogspot.com/2019/08/ladakh-shang-sumdo-to-stok-across-shang.html

 Here are some photos from our treks.

For more details on our treks and photo workshops do visit www.southcol.com

For more photos do visit www.sujoydas.com

Short 3-5 day Treks in the Indian Himalaya

Stok Kangri range from the Delhi to Leh flight

Rumtse to Tso Kar  / Ladakh  4 days
The popular trek crosses some high passes and then comes to Tso Kar Lake from where there is a motorable road to Leh. It is also possible to extend this trek further to Tso Moriri by adding three days to the trek. The route is Rumtse 4325m - Kyamar 4055m- Tisaling 4215m- Ponganagu 4500m-Tso Kar. The best season for this trek is July to August. You should acclimatise in Leh for two days before starting out and you need to carry full camping gear, tents and food.

The shores of Tso Kar lake, Ladakh

Indrahar Pass  / Himachal 5 days
This trek starts from Mcleodganj crosses the Indrahar Pass 4300 metres and then ends at Machetar which is a four hour drive from Chamba. The route is Mcleodganj 1650m-Triund 3000m- Lahesh Cave 3600m- Indrahar Pass 4300m- Laka Got 3850m- Chata Kuarsi 2200m-Machetar 1950m. The best season would be April-May and again September to November. You need to carry your own camping gear, tent and food.


Rupin Valley Himachal  5 days
The scenic Rupin valley is a very under trekked area which is  a pity as it offers a lot in terms of fast flowing rivers, bird life, mountains and lush forests.  The route is Netwar 1350m- Sewa 2025m- Jakhu 2600m- Camp below Rupin Pass 3500m- Rupin Pass 45400m- Kanda 3425m- Sangla 2675m. The best season would be April-May and again September to November. You should carry camping gear and food.

 Tunganath and Chandrashila / Uttarakhand  3 days
This is probably the shortest and most popular of all the easy treks in the Garhwal but with a great view from the top. The route would be Ukhimath 1300m - Deoria Tal 2100m- Chopta 2900m- visit Tunganath 3685m and Chandrashila 3900m- Dugalbitta 2347m.

Late afternoon Sandakphu - Jannu and Kangchenjunga

Sandakphu West Bengal  4 days
Though a jeepable road goes to Sandakphu it still remains a popular trek especially with first timers. It is possible to combine this with Phalut and make it a seven day trip. There are different route options but the most popular one is Manebanjan- Tumling-Jaubari-Gairibash-Kalapokhri-Bikebhanjan-Sandakphu-Rimbick.  This is one of the few locations which has views of four of the five highest peaks in the world – Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Kangchenjunga. . The best time would be March to May and again October to December. You can stay in the home stays/bungalows on the way.

Shang Sumdo to Stok Village Ladakh  4 days
This trail crosses two 4950 metres passes before descending into Stok village. The route is Leh-Shang Sumdo- Shang Phu- Gangpoche-Mankarmo-Stok. It walks in the shadow of Stok Kangri and the other peaks of the range like Golep Kangri, Matho Kangri, Pyramid etc. A good season is July to September but there may be many stream crossings in July - September would be better if you want to avoid the crossings. A detailed itinerary is here  http://sujoyrdas.blogspot.com/2019/08/ladakh-shang-sumdo-to-stok-across-shang.html

For more information on trekking in the Himalaya do visit www.southcol.com

For my photographs on the Himalaya do visit www.sujoydas.com

Everest Reflections on the Solukhumbu | Photos Book Launch Kolkata

The book launch of Everest Reflections on the Solukhumbu was held at The Harrington Street Arts Centre on October 31st 2019.

Everest Reflections on the Solukhumbu, launched to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Sir Edmund Hillary and dedicated to the sherpas reveals the historical influences, hidden seasons and current pressures in the land of Everest. Photographer Sujoy Das and writer Lisa Choegyal have collaborated in their second volume, this time capturing the essence of the majestic scenery and reality of daily life in the Solukhumbu in the shadow of Mt. Everest. A foreword by leading mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington, preface by cultural scholar Dr Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa and drawings by artist Paula Sengupta adds depth to this unusual book about a familiar destination.

In the words of Sir Chris Bonington in his Foreword “This is not just one more book about Everest, but a special celebration of the haunting beauty of Solukhumbu and its people. Civilisation depends on the health of our high places, and I wish my Sherpa friends all the best with successfully navigating their future course.”

Sujoy Das, founder of South Col Expeditions which runs treks and photo workshops in the Himalaya www.southcol.com has spent more than two decades in the Everest region and is the co-author and photographer of a number of books including Nepal Himalaya A Journey Through Time, Sikkim A Travellers Guide and Lonely Planet Nepal for the Indian Traveller.

British-born Lisa Choegyal has made Kathmandu her home since 1974, deeply involved with Nepal tourism and conservation. Author and editor of Nepal Himalaya A Journey Through Time, Kathmandu Valley Style, The Nepal Scene Chronicles of Elizabeth Hawley and Offerings from Nepal, she produced the South Asian Insight Guides series, and contributes a fortnightly column to the Nepali Times.

The book is available on line at www.amazon.com; www.vajrabookshop.com; www.amazon.in

Some photos and videos from the launch: