Essay on “The call of Mountains” Complete Essay for Class 10, Class 12 and Graduation and other classes.

The call of Mountains

Mountains are a wonderful creation of Nature. In their height, grace, mystery, sublimity and grandeur, they are matchless. Their attraction and call to man have been irresistible from times immemorial. Many of our great shrines, temples and centres of pilgrimages are in mountains, particularly in the Himalayas. The goddess Parvati is the princess of the mountains, her father Himavan is the King of mountains. Shiva the lord of dance, yoga, tantra and beasts dwells in the Kailash mountain ever covered with perennial ice and snow. Our ancient rishis and sages always retired to the mountains and in forests for samadhi, deep meditation and search for the truth. Mighty rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmputra, Sindhu, etc., have their origins in the Himalayas. Similarly, the mountains in central and south India are the source of many sacred and mighty rivers.

Nature has been very liberal in bestowing the gifts of mountains on us in India. The Himalayas is one of the youngest mountains and the Aravalis one of the oldest ones. The mountains have always been a great source of protection, prosperity and natural wealth. Many of the highest peaks in the world are in India, in the Himalayas.

Mountains have always been a great fascination for pilgrims, travellers, trekkers and mountaineers alike. Many Buddhist monasteries are there in the high Himalayas, more close to heaven than earth. Tours and travels in mountains are of special interest and charm. They are full of adventure and scenic fascination. Trekking in the mountains give the thrill of an expedition besides a close and intimate contact with the mountains.

Mountains are both a fascination and a challenge. Mountain and rock-climbing is full of many hardships and risks which only an adventurous soul can undertake. On the heights the air is thin and breathing becomes difficult, therefore, a climber has to carry with him oxygen apparatus. The very cold, dry and inhospitable and ever changing climate is another serious problem. Mountaineering is a sport, but totally a different one because of many hardships and dangers which are to be faced in it. Many a climber has lost his life while scaling a peak. There are glaciers, avalanches of snow which can sweep away and bury a whole army of climbers without leaving a trace of it.

Trekking, mountaineering, rock-climbing, etc., are becoming more and more popular in India. Many clubs, to promote these sports, are being set up in India. Many of our beautiful resorts and tourist centres are in the mountains. Thousands and thousands of travellers and tourists every year visit these hill stations, particularly in the summer season. These visitors also include hundreds of foreign tourists.

Mountains, a generous bounty of nature, are also a great attraction for bird-watchers, lovers of nature, anglers and hunters. Indian mountains are very rich in bird life. Hill streams are full of fish, particularly with trout. Many types of bears, leopards, and musk deer and yak are found in the Himalayas. The Himalayas and other mountains are also rich in flora besides fauna. The Himalayan ranges are rich in chirpine, deodar, junipers, birch, spruce, silver fir and conifer forests. The eastern Himalayan region has over four thousand species of flowering plants along with many varieties of palm, laurels and maples. The vegetation in the Brahmaputra valley of Assam and in the intervening hills is luxuriant, and is characterized by tall grass, broad leave forests and thick clumps of bamboo.

The river valleys have had been the cradle of culture and civilizations. On the river-banks are situated many of our most pros towns and cities. There are valleys and famous and rivers because without mountains there would have been neither rivers, nor valleys nor such mighty civilizations. The poet William Blake has rightly observed in his Songs of Experience.

Great things are done when men and mountains meet; This is not done by jostling in the street. No doubt the mountains have been a great ennobling power since the very dawn of civilization. That is why human mind has ever been so receptive and sensitive to the call of mountains. We feel elated, inspired, sublimated, proud and yet humble in the presence of mountains. They form the crowning glory of the earth. Their glory, majesty and breath-taking beauty defies description.