GARHWAL

Straddling both the Himalaya and Zanskar Ranges, the Garhwal is the birthplace of two of India's great holy rivers, the Ganges and Yamuna. According to Hindu belief the pantheon of its gods reside on its towering peaks. One of these, Nanda Devi (25, 656 ft.) the regions highest peak, is "home" to Nanda, the daughter of Himalaya, another Nilkanth, is thought to be the abode of Shiva--the "blue-throated one". Along its deep-cut valleys lie ancient yatri (pilgrim) routes, which in summer months teem with devotees from the plains below. The images in this book were gathered in an all to brief visit to the Chamoli district in early April of 1977. This was a time when the local culture is at its best before the annual flood of pilgrims and, most importantly, a time when the magnificent peaks are most clearly revealed--and if you are lucky, glimpses of the gods.