Behind every landscape are lives being lived, knowledge being passed on, places changing and stories being told. We bring these stories together, in many forms and through many voices.
It is fairly well known that Gaddi herders from Kangra spend summer in the rich pastures of Lahaul. This is…
Morang was a hamlet of just five homes, but it was known far and wide not just in Spiti valley…
Building with an earthen material is a craft, a philosophy where nature is at the center of the entire life…
“Lungpa Bhu Med La Bhu, Ta Med La Teu, Chu Med La Chu” Piti Da-Chang Monlam “May the ones deprived…
Once upon a time in the scenic valleys of Spiti, there lived a clever red fox and a gentle yak.…
As we meandered through the narrow streets of Ribling, Tandi, Sumnam and Ghoshal villages in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul district, we…
The heart of the mighty Himalaya is witnessing a profound transformation shaped by the relentless force of climate change. With…
Life in the mountains is tough. In addition to physical fitness, it demands a great deal of mental fortitude. This…
– A Spitian Proverb –
Books, guides, posters, toolkits and other resources from across the Himalaya.
HimKatha began in 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown, when isolation and limited connectivity made it difficult for people across Spiti’s villages to stay in touch. We wondered if a print publication could help keep local conversations alive and create space for stories from the region.
The first print edition appeared in November 2020. Since then, HimKatha has grown in scope, format and reach, bringing more voices into the conversation as the Himalayan region continues to change. These early editions mark the beginning of the archive.
HimKatha brings together stories, knowledge and perspectives from across the Himalaya. We believe these stories deserve to be shared with care, grounded in the places and communities they come from, and open to different ways of seeing and understanding the world. These values shape how we work with contributors, tell stories and make them accessible to everyone.
Stories should make room for people who know these places because they live there and carry their stories and knowledge.
The Himalaya is not a single landscape or culture. We tell stories with care for the places, histories, and communities.
Knowledge lives in research and archives, but also in memory, practice, observation, craft and everyday lived experience.
Himkatha is freely accessible because stories and knowledge should be shared widely, without barriers or a paywall today.
