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Touriosity Travelmag n Volume 1 n Issue 1 n June - July 2012 Renewable Energy Solution for Travel and Tourism industry Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal System products n Solar Lantern n Solar Garden Lighting System n Solar Street Lights n Solar Water Heater Environment-friendly Advertising Products n PVC Panner and Flex for large billboards with solar system n Solar flood light Our Services Grid Connected & Off-grid SPV System n Preparation of Prefeasibility and Detailed Project Report n Preparation of bankable project report and documentation for arranging project finance. n Issuing Due-diligence reports to Owners and Lenders n Site Selection and System Design n Project management n Operation and maintenance services Other Services n Energy Audit and Energy Management n Quality Management Services n Carbon Advisory Services n Green Building Solution Services n Export Import Nandi Resources Generation Technology Private Limited For details please contact: +91-33-32613664; +91-9088303659 Email : [email protected] Website: www.nrgindia.com TM this flight too got cancelled due to bad weather. Flights into the Northern Areas of Pakistan have to fly on sight past mighty Nanga Parbat but when clouds gather Peak up a Trail around this 8,125 meters (26,660ft) high giant of rock and ice, which happens very often, flights are cancelled. No problem I hardly could hear it anymore ...tomorrow next flight! It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the first issue of Touriosity Travelmag. It is a travel magazine aimed at bringing to you stories from unbeaten tracks and at the same time informing After losing out two days from our tight expedition schedule, we finally got our complete equipment. With the readers about new holiday ideas suitable for all kinds of pockets. 48 hours lost we were wondering if the bus-ride would The first issue has been a labour of passion, dedication and love. have been the better choice. In this issue, we have tried to view mountain tourism from Now we could finally start our trip. The bumpy jeep various angles. While heat waves are sweeping across the ride on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) itself was an Spantik or Golden Peak of Karakoram mountain range country, we thought a Mountains special issue would bring adventure. This route of the old Silk Road is a crossroad to our readers a cool refreshing breeze and leave you truly of cultures since more than 10,000 years. And each surrounded by a fantastic mountain panorama of peaks invigorated. We have attempted to give you a variety of articles culture has left its marks behind like a guestbook of above 7,000m like Rakaposhi, Diran, Ultar and Spantik from a variety of writers across the globe. So, while there is a around 60,000 petroglyphs and inscriptions known so in the distance. story of conquest of a virgin peak of the Karakoram mountain far. From prehistoric hunting scenes and simple ranges amidst much challenge, there is also an interesting palmprints to Iranian, Scythians, Parthians, Kushan, Already on our ride up the Karakoram Highway into coverage of the dances of people from the mountains. We have Tibetan, Chinese and even Nestorian Christian the north, we witnessed how uncontrollable and hostile equally tried to list out five holiday destinations in the five influences, Hinduism and delicate Buddhist the Karakoram mountain ranges could be. Not only is there a persistent risk of landslide and rock-fall that regions of India and provided information on how to tour them can block the roads for days, but since 2010, a massive around in a cost effective way. landslide has created a giant lake by blocking the We have created some regular sections, like an artists impression of various destinations and narrow Hunza valley with its river around Attabad the adventures of a solo female backpacker around the world, the troubles she faced, the people thus cutting the only lifeline that existed here, KKH she met, the time she spent and all these that got immortalized in her memoirs. In the end, we leading all the way from Hunza to the Chinese border. also bring to our readers news from the travel and tourism industry to keep you updated about The natural dam has blocked Hunza River to a massive what is happening. lake of more than 20km in length and up to 100 meters Rockcarving (300ft) in depth, thus swallowing the different I would like to thank all our contributors for sharing their thoughts and travels with our readers. rockcarvings every culture that passed settlements with their rare farming lands in this narrow My heartfelt gratitude also goes to all the people who believed in us, those that encouraged us through spread its marks along the trade gorge one after another. We found that a single track and those that extended their help in getting things done before the magazine could be published. routes through these valleys. was fighting its way through this giant landslide, past And above all, thanks to our first readers, for making a dream project real. We hope you enjoy Nearly each of these valleys was an reading Touriosity Travelmag just as we enjoyed producing it. independent kingdom. Even today they We would like to hear from you as we experiment, develop and try to further improve our speak their own languages; sometimes forthcoming issues. Share your thoughts with us at [email protected] the languages differ within viewing Happy travelling! range from one side to the other of one and the same valley. One of the oldest and most impressive settlements is Hunza. Villages like Karimabad, Altit and Ganish welcome you from far away with their apricot, cherry and walnut trees little Rupanjana De green dots of an oasis fed by fresh glacier streams in- between the arid rock deserts of the Karakoram, Himalaya and Hindukush mountain ranges, Our jeep through the dusty narrow path past the landslide area 8 TM Phone: 033-32613664 Peak up a Trail Mobile: +919836511995 Beyond Limits Email: [email protected] 6 Conquering the Karakoram Website: www.touriositytravel.com Sweden Jukkasjärvi and the Ice 16 Hotel, Swedish Lapland. Editor unspoilt culture, where centuries old traditions are still you need patience in Pakistan, sometimes there is Rupanjana De alive, where untouched nature with a fascinating strength in calmness. The departure time had already scenery and some of the highest mountains of the world passed when suddenly we got the good news that we Advisors can go onboard. Nothing better than this; we quickly Pratiti Moulik can be found, including nameless and unclimbed peaks registered our luggage and ran on the runway of the Tapas Sengupta Coonoor in wild and unexplored areas one of the rare places Dr. Paritosh Nandi on this planet that still offers pure culture, pure nature international Airport of Islamabad and literally jumped 21 The hidden treasure of South India Swapan Roy and pure adventure. on the plane almost on the verge of taking off. Once inside, we realized that there were at least six more Graphic Designer Upon arrival in Islamabad, the PIA check in desk seats empty. As to why the people at the check-in desk Raghu Nath Sharma welcomed us with the bad news that our domestic were refused entry is a secret I never got to know. Assistance flight into the mountains had been overbooked and Our overwhelming joy did not last for long though; on Saurav Ranjan Dutta we could not go onboard. But hope dies last, as they our arrival in the heat of Gilgit, the district capital of say; we asked to be put on the waiting list. That way Publisher & Printer Gilgit-Baltistan, we discovered that our luggage was Leh we were trying to avoid a 20-hour long bus-ride as a Rupanjana De The rooftop of the World 26 not as quick as we were; it did not come along on the #E, B/6, Bapujinagar warm-up for the further stress that awaited us in our same flight. No problem, next flight tomorrow the Kolkata 700092 adventure. airport staff assured us. Printed at Still clinging onto hope of being able to board, we Well, we still saved a 20 hour long bus-ride through B. N. Process, waited; all of a sudden we heard a turmoil and shouting the mountains and so half a days waiting at the airport 3B, Krittibas Mukhrjee Road at the PIA desk (often called Problems in Air by the really was no big problem. But to our surprise the Kolkata 700067 locals). Some 20 more people who had got enraged by following days flight had only half of our climbing the same bad news tried to get on the plane by force. Distributor equipment on board. No problem, next flight at 12:00 K. K. Puri News Distributors Pvt. Ltd. But no amount of shouting, begging and crying could the airport staff said. And to make things complicated, 9, Decares Lane, Kolkata 700069 An appeal change the situation. We tried to relax and take it easy Ph 033-2210-1136 To ensure sustainable development of tourism, we request our readers Email - [email protected] to take care of the environment while travelling. Please throw the garbages, Cover Picture pouches, packages, plastic carry bags etc. only into garbage boxes and Photographer : not pollute the environment or make the tourist spots dirty. Malgorzata Skowronska LETS BE RESPONSIBLE TOURISTS. Location : Wall of the Ice Arena in the Karakoram Pictures of Nanga Parbat: aerial view of Diamir Face, road sign about the mountain, Rakhiot Face from Fairy Meadows, Rupal face 7 Peak up a Trail Gangtok 31 Home atop a hill Kerala An artists impression 36 BEYONDChristof Nettekoven, Bonn, Germany LIMITS of Kerala Karakorum Gender Equality Expedition 2011 Matheran 46 Indias tiniest hill station Every expedition is like a spiritual journey.