Ansel Adams would have loved the Kanchenjunga
Musings on photographing mountains
Last week I was in Gangtok the capital city of Sikkim, a north-eastern state in India. The beauty of the place was absolutely surreal. There was a sense of magic everywhere! North-East India is truly a photographer’s paradise. I decided to visit Gangtok in winter hoping to see the snow-capped Kanchenjunga mountains. The weather played spoilsport initially with cloudy days and foggy nights. On the third morning when I got up early and looked out of the window, I got a clear view of the magnificent Kanchenjunga. I guess magic does happen! The sight overwhelmed and filled me with a profound sense of gratitude.
Five Treasures of snow
The word Kanchenjunga means Five Treasures of Snow. The Kanchenjunga Mountain range is considered to be the most challenging range to climb. The third highest mountain range in the world, it is shared by Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim with the main peak lying on the border between the two countries. Kanchenjunga is said to be the most biodiverse region in the world with a variety of flora and fauna.
The mountain has immense cultural value for the indigenous people of this region. The people of Sikkim and Nepal consider the mountain sacred - they revere it and believe it to be the abode of Gods. There are many folklores attached to the mountain range. Remember the comic book Tintin in Tibet? It featured the Yeti a snowman. Interestingly, many folklores connected to the Kanchenjunga also refer to the existence of this elusive creature in the mountains.
My musings on the Kanchenjunga
I think mountains are not just geographical areas. They are a source of inspiration in many ways. The morning when I witnessed the Kanchenjunga in all its beauty and splendour, I imagined a conversation between us where we exchanged some life lessons. One of the things that struck me was the manner in which the Kanchenjunga revealed its full glory when the thick mask of dark clouds that had covered it earlier, cleared. The mountain seems to endure unpredictable weather days and yet it stands tall. Mountains like the Kanchenjunga evolve and are formed by the erosion of rock by wind, water and ice. It is a slow and gradual process. Mountains not only show us the virtue of patience they also show us how we can adapt and adjust to changing circumstances and environments.
My biggest takeaway from the Kanchenjunga has been about its strength in solitude. It thrives in a remote place and relies on its own strength and resources. This made me think that I too could tap into my own inner strength, find clarity and inspiration in my solitary moments. Solitude then could be a time to reflect, introspect and just be content with one’s own company.
We are a tiny speck in this big world
On the last day I set out to see a lake amidst the mountain range. Due to heavy snowfall, I could not reach the lake but the drive made up for it as there were spectacular sights everywhere. In these sub-zero temperatures, I felt a deep connection with nature, my creativity got replenished and there was a surge of emotions which I know will feed into my photography in the coming days. As photographers when we capture images of natural landscapes, we in our own small way draw attention to the need for conservation and preservation of these ecological wonders.
Ansel Adams, the renowned landscape photographer who I greatly admire, had said: I like the mountains because they make me feel small. They help me sort out what’s important in life. These lines capture the profound sense of awe, reverence and inspiration that mountains evoked in him. These feelings resonated with me as well when I looked at the Kanchenjunga one last time.