A review of the book "Walking the Himalayas"

 A review of the book "Walking the Himalayas"

Image Source: Flipkart 

In all honesty, this is one of my first attempts at writing a review for a book that I've read and enjoyed very much. One glance at the title, and this is what popped into my mind:

Levison Wood – ‘a man who will stare danger in the face and soak up a lot of pain without complaint’.

Walking the Himalayas is an adventure-travelogue written by British adventurer, photographer, and journalist Levison Wood. This book is an account of Levison’s expedition of crossing a stretch of the Himalayas from the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan to Gangkhar Puensum in Bhutan on foot.

Inspired by the historical expeditions of ancient explorers and his fascination with the ancient Silk route, Levison strays away from the tourist trail to explore the lesser-known and authentic world of the Himalayan region. Crossing steep mountains and trekking through narrow passes, his journey of nearly 1700 miles focuses on understanding the geographical and historical significance of several places across 5 countries – Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan from a humane perspective, where we get to witness his experiences of meeting the locals, understanding the environment and the harsh conditions they have to endure - in terms of the climate and the ever-present tensions between the neighboring countries, all the while encountering dangers from nature, extreme groups, insurgencies and armed forces at the border outposts.

The reader is instilled with a sense of adventure right from the beginning where Levison narrates his experience as a 19-year-old backpacker, nearing the end of his first solo-trip abroad, stuck in Nepal due to the sudden emergency declaration. 14 years later, having achieved a remarkable feat of trekking along the world’s longest river, he presents his desire to “settle down” and attain a more stable, relaxed life. However, he decides to embark on yet another walk after being persisted by his best friend and fellow explorer Ash Bharadwaj, who motivates him to experience more of ‘the simple life’. After considering his own fascination with Central Asia and the irresistible charm of the Himalayan peaks, he soon finds himself mapping out different routes, considering various possibilities for the journey and realizes the actual magnitude of what this trek would mean.

Levison is a true storyteller, who combines his love for history and culture with his passion for travelling and connecting with people around him to make the reader feel immersed in his adventures and experiences. His words bring the visuals of the rugged landscapes, the snowy peaks, scenic valleys, and remote villages to life. Throughout the trek, the reader gets to experience trudging along with Levison, whether it’s crossing a river across an extremely deep gorge or camping out in sites with plenty of wildlife lurking about. The greatest strength in his travel lies in his ability to empathize and emotionally connect with the local guides, nomads, the soldiers, the farmers, and shepherds to discovers their way of life, especially during periods of political and economic uncertainty and weathering the harsh, extreme weather conditions. Journeying on foot provided him an opportunity to get up close and real with the marvels of nature, the beauty of the towering mountains and gain deeper insights into the lives of those who call these wondrous yet treacherous regions their home. We also get a glimpse of his perseverance, positive spirit, and dedication to carry on with his journey despite facing several setbacks, fearful omens from acquaintances and encountering a spine-chilling, near-death experience, that is bound to shake up the confidence of any ordinary traveler.

He is accompanied by several guides throughout his journey, including his friend Ash and an old-friend and associate Binod, whose kindness and hospitality was vital for Levison to escape the 2001 riots in Nepal, when the members of the royal family were massacred. The book provides an intuition into the challenges of crossing the borders, where he is forced to take detours to cross into the same land belonging to another territory, the instability due to the activities of the Maoist and extreme groups while also focusing on important issues of environment conservation and the impact of tourism for the local communities. On one hand, he narrates his fascination of getting to meet his holiness the Dalai-Lama and hear his words of wisdom, his philosophical reasoning and understanding of the human world. And on the other hand, he also exposes the reader to situations where it’s so easy for a foreign to cross the borders and enter a different country when hundreds of people, though belonging to the same land, are forced to cut ties with their families and are stranded on either side, unable to meet or interact at all. 

Overall, “Walking the Himalayas” is packed with action and adrenaline. His invaluable friendships with the guides and attitude to resolve issues of conflict which are bound to occur on such long travels spanning several months, displays his friendly demeanor and positive attitude. It provides an incredible account of an extraordinary adventure across some of the world’s most magnificent and dangerous landscapes. This book is a must-read for those who are deeply passionate about travel, discovering nature’s wonders, understanding the diversity and culture of the people in the Himalayas and have an insatiable thirst for thrill and adventure.

THE END

P.S: Hope you liked the little GIF I made!! - with the help of digital drawing software and a gif maker