A Himalayan task

Amarjot Kaur

With wanderlust in his feet and a mind that was constantly itching for new sights and meaningful perspectives, Levison Wood— an explorer, photographer, traveller, TV show host, and a writer— first embarked on a journey when he was only 18 and that’s when he visited India. Fifteen years later, Levison employs his sincere passion, which is travelling, to a Himalayan expedition while he documents it for a TV show, Walking The Himalayas, and pens it in a book too.

“Since I was 18, I have travelled to India over six to seven times. To beguile my passion for travelling, I went hitchhiking when I was 22, without a penny in my pocket, and I travelled as many as 25 countries then. But, India, I feel needs a lifetime to be truly discovered,” says Levison, who also served in the British army.

On how his relationship with India, as a traveller, evolved in all these years, Levison points out the changes that evidently outline the characteristics of India, as a nation. “I feel there has been a massive economic boom. Also, when I first went to Dharamshala, I only met a lot of Europeans and hippies, but this time, I met Punjabis and other Indians,” he says.

Besides writing, Levison takes fondly to history, which seems to be his connecting link between travelling and documenting it. “I don’t want the show to be just educative. But, I do love history and it equips me with a better perspective when it comes to dealing with the present. It adds detail to my expeditions...” he says.

Also, much of what defines the country, as an insider, often gets lost in translation when a foreigner begins to describe it. India, too, has been stereotyped as a land of topless naked tribal people dressed in vibrant clothes and jewels, and snakes, and snake charmers too. Levison, however, prefers to ignore such preconceived dogmas about a country. “Well, India is full of surprises and I am in love with its diversity. It’s true that most people want to see all that you mentioned about India in magazines and most photographers click them with just about that angle. But, I have been pleasantly surprised to delve deeper into the heart of the city, where most of these snake charmers will put their ‘been’ away to attend a phone call on their smart phones,” he laughs. On a six-month journey, and 1,700 gruelling miles across the roof of the world, teaming up with local guides and meeting monks, soldiers and nomadic tribes, Levison Wood takes on an extreme challenge to walk the length of the world’s highest mountain range from Afghanistan in the west to Bhutan in the east. “It’s surprising how most people living in adversity supported me the most, even in Afghanistan, considering the media reports about the region. I met common people, with whom I have become friends, and we connected on only one ground—humanity,” he shares.

Embark on a challenging journey with Levison Wood on Discovery’s Walking the Himalayas starting August 5, every Friday at 9 pm