The treatise ‘Exploring the Mystical Himalaya: Cultures, Economies and Environment’ is composed based on the collection of empirical data, extensive field visits, and thereafter my personal observation through travelogue of the entire Himalaya from Pamir’s knot to the Arakan Yoma (including Tibet, Bhutan, and Nepal) with aspects of nature and culture. It presents a comprehensive illustration of the Himalaya. There are nine chapters – the Introduction: the Mystical Himalaya; Ladakh: The Land of Lamas; Hari Ki Dun: The Valley of Lord Vishnu; The Legends of Kedarkhand: A Journey through the Himalayan Abode; Manaskhand: The Climax of Nature and Culture; Kathmandu to Muktinath: Unity and Continuity Through the Kali Gandaki River; Harmony in the Himalaya: Buddhism and Bhutan; Beyond Borders and Culture, and the Conclusions. Various aspects of the Himalaya – natural, economic, social, cultural, and finally the customs and rituals performed during the off-time were illustrated in all chapters. I observed that the Himalaya is not only a natural entity but also it holds high cultural significance. It is the land of thousands cultures, customs, rituals, fairs, festivals, human races, and faunal and floral species. Furthermore, it holds thousands of mountain peaks, rivers, river basins, streams, rivulets, and trails. The Himalaya preserves the mankind through supporting lives of thousands of people in upstream and downstream river valleys. It has been preserving the culture, customs, rituals, and human races since the prehistoric time. It is a warier, protector from the neighbouring countries. The book is valuable for all stakeholders – students, researchers, academicians, policy makers, pilgrims/tourists, and the Himalayan lovers.
