UNESCO and Royal Enfield’s joint collaboration, 'The Great Himalayan Exploration', is back for its third edition. It’s a unique motorcycling expedition dedicated to documenting the cultural heritage of the Indian Himalayan region. Scheduled from August 15 to October 15, 2024, this initiative will explore the diverse cultural practices in Ladakh and National Geographic will be documenting the entire journey.
The first expedition was kicked off in 2022 in the Eastern Himalayas and the third edition has reached the western part of the Himalayas, particularly Ladakh. The expedition aims to uncover the living cultural heritage of the Himalayas which includes the practices, knowledge, skills, performing arts, social practices, rituals and traditional craftsmanship. Over the course of two months, four groups of rider-researchers will venture into Ladakh, engaging with local communities and documenting their cultural heritage. The itinerary also includes traditional crafts like clay pottery and weaving, as well as indigenous sports such as archery and horse polo. Each group will spend two weeks on this journey, immersing themselves in the region's rich heritage. The collaboration with National Geographic ensures that this exploration will be documented and featured in a series of four 22-minute episodes on Disney+ Hotstar.
Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Eicher Motors said, “ The Himalayas is the spiritual home for Royal Enfield and we are very excited to partner with UNESCO to work towards building a sustainable future for this region. With more members of our motorcycling community heading there, Royal Enfield is working in this iconic landscape to promote sustainable tourism and build resilient communities. Through this partnership, we aim to preserve and promote the culture, knowledge and traditions that are harmonious with fair and regenerative living and ensure that Himalayan communities are empowered to make decisions that support their resilience.”
The applications to register for the third edition of ‘The Great Himalayan Exploration’ are open till August 5 and interested riders can apply on Royal Enfield x UNESCO’s, ‘The Great Himalayan Exploration’ web portal.