Have you ever wondered about the people behind the dangerous mountaineering expeditions? Then, this book is for you. It will take you inside the lives of the brave men, women and their families who make mountaineering a success.

It’s not just the man standing with a flag who has scaled the summit, it is a team of Sherpas that paves the way for this one man. And they summit the treacherous peaks many times, combating poor pay, bad health, carrying heavy weights, cooking and chanting their way over the snow and through winds. They become saviours and caretakers at the same time.

For long, we have associated the word Sherpa with a mountain porter, a load bearer. The Sherpa Trail: Stories from Darjeeling and Beyond by Nandini Purandare and Deepa Balsavar, breaks that myth and changes the narrative with in-person interviews and real-life incidents.

This book sheds light on the lives of the Sherpas, the unsung heroes of the Himalayas. The Sherpa Trail goes beyond the summits to explore the rich history, culture, and struggles of this remarkable community. Sherpa is a tribal community, blessed by the mountain gods to survive the toughest of terrains.

The authors, Nandini Purandare, an avid mountaineer and editor of The Himalayan Journal, and Deepa Balsavar, renowned author, dedicated over a decade to the Sherpa Project. Through in-depth interviews with over 150 Sherpas across Darjeeling and other cities in India and abroad, they bring their unheard stories to life. Their impeccable research includes books, papers and long forgotten memorabilia. The book is interspersed with nuggets of information and photographs, along with a map of the Himalayas, an index of names and more.

We often see the triumphant faces of climbers conquer Mount Everest, but rarely do we hear about the Sherpas who make these expeditions possible. They are a close-knit community with a deep connection to the mountains. Their knowledge of the environment and exceptional climbing skills have been instrumental in countless successful expeditions, including the historic 1953 summit of Mount Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

The book traces the Sherpa migration from Tibet to Nepal and eventually to Darjeeling. We learn about their resilience, cultural traditions, and how they adapted to find work in the burgeoning tea gardens and later, expeditions.

Before 1949, every expedition began from Darjeeling and the authors give us a beautiful tour of Toong Soong, the settlement of the older Sherpas. They take inside their homes, giving us an insight to the Buddhist culture, art and daily lives. They also take us to the new locality, Alubari, and Chowrasta, giving us new travel goals.

The book has a creative and personal touch with the authors recounting their experiences of meeting the Sherpas and their equally resilient female counterparts, ‘Sherpanis’. These women carried heavy boxes of coins and other load till the basecamps. The women folk prayed for the safety of their men, knowing well that the uncertainties of this perilous profession.

They take us beyond the well-known Tenzing Norgay, who became a bedrock of mountaineering after the historic summiting of Mount Everest. They talk about many accomplished sherpas such as Ang Tharkay who was the first and perhaps the only Sherpa to receive the prestigious French Legion of Honor award. In fact, Tharkay’s visit to France inspired the legendary graphic book ‘Tintin in Tibet’. Tintin goes with his Sherpa friend Tharkey to save his Chinese friend, exemplifying the theme of friendship and love.

The authors introduce us to Pasang Dawa Lama, a porter and a tantric lama. They also interviewed Sherpanis such as Ani Lhakpa Diki, who passed away at the age of 101.

Despite their contributions, Sherpas face significant challenges. The book explores issues like harsh living conditions, lack of proper recognition, and the struggle for fair compensation. However, a glimmer of hope emerges with the new generation of Sherpas pursuing education, paving the way for a brighter future.

The expeditions now move from Nepal, but the older generation of Sherpas still considers Darjeeling their base. The Sherpa Trail is a captivating read for anyone interested in mountains, mountaineering, or human resilience. It’s a chance to learn about the Sherpas, their sacrifices, and their role in shaping the history of Himalayan exploration.

You can buy the book here and use code ‘ambica25’ to avail a 25% discount.

Book Details
Publisher: Roli Books
Language: English
Paperback: 352 pages
Price: INR 695

This post is part of the Bookish League blog hop hosted by Bohemian Bibliophile