MyHimalayas

impressions from

Books Sikkim

A Word about Ordering Books

There are very useful books out there that I can recommend if you want to know more about an area. Instead of just listing the books names, I added a link to Amazon where you can order them online. My site's nature is strictly non-commercial, so the books mentioned are the ones I own myself , found helpful and think they might be useful to others. And yes, I do get a commission from Amazon for every book sold via these links, but this does not influence my selection.

Many books can bought cheaper (esp. used paperback) in Kathmandu.

Bei Wohnsitz Deutschland, Schweiz oder Österreich ist es oft günstiger und schneller, die Bücher die Amazon.de zu bestellen, also rechte Kolonne benutzen (keine Verstandkosten ab EUR 20.--).

 

Title / Description Amazon.com Amazon.de if you live in Switzerland, Germany or Austria.
The Kangchenjunga Adventure

A hero of early mountaineering describes one of the early expeditions. They attempted Kangchenjunga itself, when defeated climbed lesser peaks. Covers both Nepal and Sikkimese area.

You can get it much cheaper in Kathmandu. 

  
Round Kangchenjunga

A great description of the first trek around the Kangchenjunga massif, starting in Darjeeling then going to North Sikkim and into Nepal (Pangpema), from there over Kang La back to Sikkim, up the Goecha La and then to Yugsom. Essential.

You can get it much cheaper in Kathmandu.

  
In the Shadows of the Himalayas

Historic photographs by Jean Claude White, the British "consular" in Sikkim.
Himalayan Journals

Only for afecionados. The first Westerner to travel this corner of the Himalayas was a British botanist. His journals are also available online, so unless you're a very serious collector of books, better have a look at the online version that you can either read: http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=10918

or download:  http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/6478

 
Trekking in Sikkim and Darjeeling

Interesting booklet about a 4 week trek in the area.

  
Among the Himalayas

Interesting description by Waddell, one of the first western travellers in Sikkim.

Maps: There are no good maps available in online shops. Buy them at home or in Kathmandu. You cannot get any maps in Sikkim itself.

The best map is "Sikkim Himalaya, Schweiz. Stiftung für Alpine Forschungen, H. F. Bossart, 1:150'000