Sujoy Das
Kanchenjunga, Nepal;
Photographic print
Kanchenjunga is the world’s third-highest mountain, rising 8,586 metres above the Eastern Himalaya. Revered as the “Five Treasures of the High Snow”, its glaciers and snowfields sustain rivers, wildlife and communities far beyond its slopes.
Sujoy Das is an Indian photographer, writer and mountaineer whose work has documented the landscapes, people and cultures of the Himalayas for more than four decades. Born in Kolkata in 1961, he is a self-taught photographer whose passion for the mountains began during childhood visits to Darjeeling. His extensive photographic journeys have taken him across Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and other remote Himalayan regions, capturing both dramatic mountain landscapes and the communities who live among them.
Das has contributed to numerous international publications and co-authored several books, including Sikkim: A Traveller’s Guide and Nepal Himalaya: A Journey Through Time. He also founded South Col Expeditions, leading treks and photography workshops throughout the Himalayas.
The Rising Snow Line
As snow and ice retreat across the Himalaya, mountain habitats are shrinking. Wildlife such as snow leopards and red pandas are being pushed to higher elevations, while melting glaciers threaten water supplies and increase the risk of glacial-lake floods downstream.
RENEWAL IN ACTION
Safer Glacial Lakes
Retreating glaciers can leave mountain lakes dangerously unstable. In Peru, engineers have lowered the water level of Lake Palcacocha using a controlled drainage system, reducing the risk of flooding and helping to protect the city of Huaraz and thousands of people living downstream.