Customer Reviews

Nanda Devi Affair

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Aitken's records his passionate love affair with Nanda Devi, India's tallest mountain, in this fascinating book. The striking geographical feature of Nanda Devi has spawned a religious cult in the surrounding region and the peak is considered a manifestation of Parvati, the consort of the Hindu God, Shiva.

Aitken's narrative is rich in cultural and spiritual insights and embellished with numerous interesting accounts of human interaction with the Goddess and her fortress - the Nanda Devi sanctuary, a wild paradise surrounded by a cirque of giant mountains. The author's own journeys into the domain of his beloved reveal his love for the Indian Himalaya and his desire to unravel the numerous mysteries surrounding the Devi - historical, geographical and mythical.

Aitken's writing is evocative and his passion rubs off on the reader. A must read for lovers of mountains as well as those interested in Hinduism.

aitken is a master story teller . and this is one of his finest works . he effortlessy combines his love for the mountains ,his profound knowledge of local customs ,humorous takes on hill gossip and his deep understading of the psychology of the hillman .to top it all , he is drawn to the hills not by a desire to conquer them , as many have , but by his passion and love for them , which few have .he is a true romantic , in his sense of the word .
being a native hillman myself ,apart from being a mountain lover, and inspite of having lived there , i was amazed to find a foreigner who could read and sense the himalayas ( and all that they behold)so well .
lets hope that aitken's book helps change the attitude of mountaineers who go through their routines mechanically , with only a desire to conquer .also hope that aitkens book helps to intensify our love for the mountains .