High North
An assortment of scenes, high and low, Where rivers and streams ebb and flow,
A mélange of cultures, a tandem of beliefs.A flurry of faces, all smiles and relief.
...
India has the richest, most ancient and diverse landscapes in the world. This
diversity is also reflected in the multitude of cultures that one can find
across the subcontinent. It is, in turn, our knowledge of nature and our
surrounding ecosystem that have shaped our values, the food we eat & the
lifestyles that we adopt.
Our Future is from the Past
Himachal Pradesh
Situated cozily amidst the lap of the Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh,
aptly named the land of the gods, stands as one of the most
bio-diverse regions in the Himalayan Belt. With climates ranging from
tropic to semi-arctic and a wide array of flora and fauna, the Forests in
Himachal Pradesh are known for their grandeur and majesty, like a
green pearl in the Himalayan crown.
During the prehistoric era, Himachal is believed to have been inhabited
by tribes such as the Koli, Hali, Dagi, Dhaugri, Dasa, Khasa, Kanaura,
and Kirat. The foothills of Himachal were also inhabited by people from
the Indus Valley Civilization. This makes Himachal a treasure trove of
ancient knowledge, traditional practices and holistic living
Gadagushaini
Situated on the Tirthan tributary of the mighty Beas, the mountain village
of Gadagushaini is home to 500 families who earn their living primarily
from agriculture. The terrain here is as beautiful as they are unforgiving.
And the people- steadfast, strong and kind. Living at altitudes higher than
what most have ever visited, here, you feel the rawness and bounty that
nature truly exhibits.
Hemp has been a part of the culture here and the women follow in the
footsteps of their ancestors in using homemade hemp ropes to tie their
cattle, carry straw baskets and make the popular grass-slippers or Pulla.
The craft is usually taught to all the girls at a very young age and is
believed to be an essential skill to be passed down to their daughters
Kullu
Rightfully named the Valley of Gods, Kullu was known as “kulanth
peeth” which translates to “a place where all dharmic tradition and
knowledge ends” or “end of the habitable world “. References about the
Kullu valley in several mythological works like the Ramayana and
Mahabharata lend credence to the ancientness of the land, its history
intertwined with the sages and legends featured in mythology.
Lug Valley
A lush valley covered with wide meadows, streams babbling past the
herds of sheep as they graze- a sweet cacophony of sound taking over the
awe-inspiring landscapes. Nestled between them stand a small cluster of
villages peppered with wide smiles and the traditional Kath-Kuni
architecture.
A majority of the natives here carry on the age-old traditions of farming,
herding and weaving with great pride and dedication. Handlooms are
found in almost every home- where the men and women weave through
the long, cold winters of the snow-covered valleys.
