The Himalaya in particular, appears to be drawing more people in its fold. A new brand of mountaineer, trekker and naturalist has thus emerged interested, but amateur.

This breed of people also demands more books that can be their guides to the natural wonders of the Himalayan ranges. Rupin Dang’s book, thus, comes as a timely effort in meeting this demand. As the author himself suggests, the book "serves the purpose of a field-guide for the novice naturalists, tourists, mountaineers, trekkers or plain first-timers to the Indian Himalaya.

Dang’s book ventures into the realm already occupied by established books like ‘Flowers of the Himalaya’ by Oleg Polunin and Adam Staintan and are considered the ‘Bible’ for veterans. What makes Dang’s book different is the handy size, breathtaking photographs and simply ‘non-scientifically’ written text. That is not to say that Rupin Dang’s book is not scientifically accurate.

However, a word of caution for inclusion of exotics such as Lantana Camara. Although a commonly seen flowering plant in the Himalaya, it should have been emphasized that besides being a weed, the plant is virtually taking over the undergrowth in many Himalayan foothill regions and is contributing in altering the ecosystem of the area.

An interesting effort by the author is the inclusion of common, colloquial, names as well as facts relating to the medicinal properties of some plants. It is a pity that this has not been done 

for all the plants included in this book. A few other things that could have been explored are the values local people attributed to these plants as also the threats that they perceived to the same.

The biodiversity of this planet is being lost at an alarming pace. There is an urgent need to bring this to the attention of people.

One way of doing this is by providing information which is technically accurate but which is put forth to people in an attractive manner to which people can relate. It is absolutely essential that people are made aware of the natural beauty this country has to offer as also of the perils these areas face.

Rupin Dang’s book fills this niche.q

The author had been working with Biodiversity Conservation Network as its South Asia Coordinator