HIMALAYAS – NOT ONLY THE NORTHERN SENTINELS OF INDIA
HIMALAYAS – The name evokes an emotion, a sentiment in the mind of every Indian. And why not? For centuries, THE HIMALAYAS have been guarding our northern borders. Such an unassailable height. So vast and so majestic. Home to almost all ever flowing rivers in northern India. Full of natural beauty and natural resources, medicinal plants, diverse wildlife and much more.
The word “Himalaya” finds it’s origin in Sanskrit, literally meaning the ‘abode of snow’. And why not? World’s highest mountain peak ‘EVEREST’ is a part of Himalayan range of mountains.
Himalayas have been an integral part of Indian literature, be it Sanskrit literature, Hindi literature or literature of other regional languages of India.
In Bruhaspati Agam, this is how the introduction of India is given:
हिमालयं समारभ्य यावदिन्दु सरोवरम।
तं देव निर्मितं देशं हिन्दुस्थान प्रचक्षते॥
This simple shloka in Sanskrit in fact outlines the boundary of India that beginning from Himalaya the land spreads till the Indian ocean and that GOD created country is called HINDUSTAN.
उत्तरं यत्समुद्रस्य हिमाद्रेश्चैव दक्षिणं।
वर्ष तद भारतं नाम भारती यत्र सन्तति॥
“The part of earth, which is situated in the north of the seas and south of the Himalayas, is called “BHARATVARSH” or INDIA and the inhabitants are thus called “BHARTEEYA” or Indians.
Many prominent poets in Hindi, Sanskrit and other regional languages have written about Himalaya in their poetries. Some famous ones are Kalidas, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Bharavi. Even our scriptures like Vedas and Ramayana & Mahabharata do mention Himalayas.
In present world, the importance of Himalayas have increased manifold. Rightly so as Himalayas offer many destinations for all sorts of tourists. There are plenty of places to visit for you whether you are a seeker of adventure or a seeker of culture or just a seeker of peace of mind.
Starting from Haridwar and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, places known for spiritual tourism to the highest motor-able road in Ladakh, known for adventure tourism, the range of Himalayas is breathtaking!!! And to top it all, many parts and many aspects of Himalayas are still waiting to be discovered by you!!!
Leh-Ladakh, Uttarkhand, Nepal, Bhutan, Arunachal and all of north-east India have many destinations, waiting to be discovered by you!!!
So come. Lets continue our journey to “DISCOVER BEYOND DESTINATIONS”.
