Coffee Table book explores Kashmir’s forgotten frontiers

Srinagar, July 13: In a unique blend of public service and personal passion, senior KAS officer and Managing Director KPDCL Mahmood Ahmad Shah is set to release his debut coffee table book “Valleys of Jammu and Kashmir: A Journey Through the Spectacular Highlands” on Monday here.

The much-anticipated book serves as a curtain raiser to the unseen, raw, and rugged beauty of Kashmir’s remote highlands.

With 114 breathtaking images and detailed documentation of 54 high-altitude lakes, the book takes readers deep into the wild heart of Jammu and Kashmir—far beyond the touristy postcard scenes of Dal Lake and Gulmarg. Each location is mapped with latitude, longitude, and elevation, turning the book into both a visual delight and a serious trekking guide.

“This is not just a book of landscapes; it’s a documentation of a vanishing world—photographed over 20 years of trekking in areas most people will never reach,” Shah said ahead of the launch.

The foreword is penned by Garry Weare, the noted Australian Himalayan expert and former Lonely Planet author, who calls the book “a rare blend of adventure, ecology, and emotion.”

The photographs chronicle remote glaciers, meadows, and mountain passes like Umasila and Jamian Wali Gali, while also capturing ecological changes such as retreating glaciers and drying trails—stark reminders of climate change in the Himalayas. The final image of the endangered Hangul, Kashmir’s state animal, underscores the book’s call for conservation.

Shah has structured the book around the region’s watershed systems, creating a natural, flowing narrative—from Pir Panjal to Lolab—culminating in Marsar Lake, the source of Dal’s lifeline.

The cover photo, featuring a shepherd near Chor Nag, reflects the timeless bond between mountain communities and the land they inhabit. The back cover—an ascent from Nandan Sar—echoes the spirit of adventure that defines the book’s soul.

Calling it a “labour of love,” Shah said the five-year journey from trek to print would not have been possible without the support of designer Jibran and collaborators Sehran and Sair. He hopes the book will encourage trekkers to explore lesser-known trails and ease pressure on overburdened routes like the Great Lakes trek.

“Valleys of Jammu and Kashmir” will be available for purchase from July 14 on Amazon and Kashmir Box in India, and internationally via KashmirBox.com.