The exhibition “Himalayan Encounters: Hidden Views from 170 Years Ago”, held at the India International Centre, New Delhi, from 21–29 April 2026, brought together history, art, and a rare visual archive of 19th-century Himalayan explorations.

The exhibition traced the remarkable journeys of the Schlagintweit brothers across Assam, Ladakh, Bhutan, and Kashmir, presenting carefully documented landscapes, communities, and cultural encounters from nearly two centuries ago. Through archival material, paintings, and expedition records, visitors were invited to engage with the Himalayas through the lens of early exploration and documentation.

The Opening Ceremony on 21 April set the tone for a meaningful engagement with the works of the Schlagintweit brothers, highlighting their journeys from Assam to Ladakh and Bhutan to Kashmir with documented landscapes and communities.

A highlight of the programme was the intellectual dialogue held on 22 April, featuring Mr. Ashok Vajpeyi, Managing and Life Trustee of The Raza Foundation; Prof. Shekhar Pathak, Founding Editor of PAHAR; and Prof. Hermann Kreutzmann, Professor of Human Geography at Freie Universität Berlin. The conversation explored the intersections of history, geography, memory, and representation, situating the Schlagintweit journeys within broader discussions on the Himalayas and their changing realities.

The gathering also included a special message from Ms. Stephanie Kleidt, Curator at the Alpine Museum in Munich, shared by Ms. Sabine. The message highlighted the museum’s continuing engagement with the Schlagintweit collection, which includes nearly 200 landscape watercolours and expedition artefacts generously donated by the family.

By connecting archival histories with present-day perspectives, Himalayan Encounters created a meaningful space for dialogue on the cultural and environmental histories of the Himalayas.