Haunted by
The Himalayas
Akash Duggal & Raja Indian
Art & Craft … in Paphos.
By Yve Brooks
The Himalayas separate the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau and stretch
across six countries including Bhutan, Tibet, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Noble and lofty they are perhaps the most dramatic of Mother Nature’s creations. Their
siren is heard across the globe calling mountaineers, spiritual pilgrims, tourists and
seekers of the wild. Many an enchanted traveler returns time after time, never free from
the lure of the mystery that is the Himalayas.
The literal translation of Himalayas is 'abode of snow'. These young, folded mountains
cover a distance of 2500 km from west to east, in a curve. The majority of the mountain
range lies in Nepal, Bhutan and the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in Northern India. The Pir Panjal, Dhaula
Dhar, Zanskar, Ladakh, and East Korakoram ranges are the most important. The
Karakoram is home to the highest concentration of peaks over eight kilometers (five
miles) in height to be found anywhere on earth, including K2, the second highest peak
of the world (8,611 m/28,251 ft). K2 is just 237 m (778 ft) lower than Mount Everest.
The formation of the Himalayas dates back to 70 million
years ago, when a collision occurred between India and
Asia along the convergent boundary, via the Indo Australian
and Eurasian Plates. The topography of the Himalayas
comprises of Lowland forests, The Terai belt, Bhabhar belt,
Shiwalik Hills, Inner Terai or Dun Valleys, Lesser Himalaya,
Midlands & Alpine shrub and grasslands. Tropical
conditions experienced at the base of the mountains give
way to ice and snow at higher elevations. The diversity of
climatic conditions, rainfall and altitude sustains a wide
variety of plant and animal communities that flourish
throughout the region. Significantly, the world's three major
rivers systems, the Indus, Ganga-Brahmaputra and
Yangtze all originate from this mountain system, a beautiful tapestry reflecting the force
of Mother Nature at her most magnificent. Perhaps the constant change and
development of the Himalayas caused by Planet Earth’s quakes and tremors is simply
Mother Nature weaving her own mystical, creative art.
Paphos businessman Akash Duggal was born in Old
Delhi, Northern India and has never relinquished his love
for the Himalayas. Arriving in Cyprus as a twenty two
year old and tired of traveling, picking up jobs here and
there, he found home on this Island quite by chance when
Cupid struck and destiny was set as Andri stepped into his
life. Eighteen years on Andri and Akash are happily
settled in Kato Paphos with son, Stephan (17), daughter
Maria (15 months) and pet dog, Sally. With his parents
and a sister still in Delhi, Akash manages to mix business
with pleasure as he runs his own business Raja Indian Art
& Craft in Paphos.
Located on Nikolaos Nikolaides Av opposite Ampersand, his store is an emporium for
lovers of everything exotic. Making an annual sojourn to Northern India, Akash tours
the villages including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir selecting local products and
artifacts. You will find singing bowls from the Buddhist monasteries of Leh Ladakh; tribal
totems from villages scattered across lush valleys; bronze, marble and alabaster
statues of Buddha, Shiva, Parvati, Krishna and many others; glittering gem encrusted
wall hangings that introduce vibrant energy into any setting; hand carved pieces of
furniture including a splendid four poster bed fit for a king. The list is endless. Whether
you are seeking a gift or something for your home, you are unlikely to come out empty
handed.
Of course, the only danger is you may not be able to resist returning time after time!
For like the Himalayas this shop has its own siren, is full of mystical and magical energy
and has a canny ability to send you home feeling fuller, uplifted and happier than when
you arrived. But I suspect that Akash has something to do with that.
A gentle soul, Akash is full of knowledge and not
only about his wares. If you are lucky and have
the time to spare, he might tell you stories of days
spent leading tourist treks as a teenager or even
about the Holy Sadhus he has met along his own
path. When the buying is done and the ship is
loaded, Akash takes his own time out. Wandering
in the silence of nature and bathing in the mystery
of the Himalayas he recharges his batteries ready
for business as usual at Raja Indian Art & Craft …
until his next sojourn.
For directions to Raja Indian Art & Craft (357) 97 740 930