Ninety-two-year-old Swami Sundaranand is not a normal Baba. Anyone meeting him is astonished, as he rarely speaks about spirituality or…
Ninety-two-year-old Swami Sundaranand is not a normal Baba. Anyone meeting him is astonished, as he rarely speaks about spirituality or religion, but confines his conversation to photography. With over 35 successful expeditions, the photographs taken by the Swami have featured in many exhibitions in different parts of India. The stunning photographs of the Himalayas take the onlookers by surprise.
Famous as the ‘Baba who clicks photos’, Sundaranand loves to undertake high-altitude expeditions. Now his photo gallery is ready at Gangotri in Uttarakashi district. It is all set to be thrown open for tourists next year.
Sundaranand possibly has the largest collection of photographs on the glaciers and peaks of Garhwal Himalayas. He has made Gangotri his home since 1948 and work on his photo galley was completed in September. Swami Sundaranand said, “The ‘Griha Parvesh’ took place on 21 September and some minor alignment work is left. I have framed most of the photographs and the gallery is all set to be open for tourists from next year.”
Advertisement
Sundaranand has gone on expeditions with legendary mountaineers Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. The galley will display hundreds of photographs taken by the Yogi in a span of six decades.
The Swami’s tryst with photography began in 1956 and after that he never looked back. He began with a basic Agfa Click-III camera which he brought for Rs 25. His collection is a virtual treasure trove, containing thousands of rare and old photographs of glaciers and peaks from the 1950s onwards.
Mountaineer Harshvani Bisht said, “Swami Sundaranand is dedicated to the Himalayas. An amazing person. His gallery will act as a research institute. Despite the passing of so many years, Swami ji has maintained his collection perfectly, which also indicates his passion for photography.”
Advertisement
