The Significance of Historic Mountain Roads in the Himalayan Borderlands: through Collective Memory, Lived Experiences, and Shared Traditions

Abstract

Historic roads have played a crucial role in the development of human civilizations, acting as pathways for communication, trade, and cultural exchanges. While some routes, such as the Silk Roads and the Pilgrimage Routes of Santiago de Compostela, are widely acknowledged and preserved, many others, especially those tied to intangible heritage, remain largely unexplored and underrepresented. This limited recognition results in cultural routes constituting only about 1% of World Heritage properties, as the focus so far has been on globally significant roads that are rich in monumental heritage. The roads of the Himalayan borderlands exemplify these underrecognized routes, where the absence of monumental markers and the reliance on oral traditions and community practices create unique challenges for their identification and preservation. While ICOMOS thematic studies highlight major trade corridors along the Himalayas, lesser-known routes maintained by indigenous mountain communities remain underexplored, despite their deep spiritual and environmental significance. This thesis addresses this gap by examining the historic mountain road network that traverses the Darma, Chaundas, and Byans valleys, situated at the intersection of India, Nepal, and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the Himalayan borderlands. The focus is on the intangible heritage of these roads, explored through collective memory and lived experiences. The study aims to establish the significance of these historic mountain roads, which are largely connected to intangible heritage elements and lack prominent tangible markers. It also seeks to understand the attributes and components of these roads, develop methods for identifying and inventorying heritage resources using the memories and experiences of mountain communities, and position the significance of these roads within the frameworks of UNESCO and the International Committee on Cultural Routes (CIIC). To achieve these objectives, an exploratory research approach grounded in Interpretivism was adopted, using qualitative methodologies that blend ethnographic and phenomenological methods. These included Memory Mapping, Auto-Photography, Photo Elicitation, interviews with internal and external experts, Phenomenological Walks, Quasi-Participant Observation, and both formal and informal conversations. Field data was complemented by macro-level archival research, providing a holistic understanding of the historic road network. Extensive fieldwork was carried out in the Darma, Chaundas, and Byans valleys, with a focus on interactions and interviews with the Rung Shauka community, the primary custodians of this road network. Their collective memory and lived experiences formed the core of this research. This community- ii centered approach was essential in capturing the intangible heritage associated with these roads, often overlooked due to the absence of written records or physical monuments. The study revealed that the historic roads in these highland valleys served multiple roles, including facilitating transhumance, trade, and pilgrimage. A key concept developed through this research is "Choice Points," which denotes crucial pause points that are both integral components and defining characteristics of historic roads. The study identified nine types of choice points, distinguished by their natural settings, understated landscapes, or modest small-scale structures. These choice points were further categorized into five distinct types based on their function and significance. Through an analysis of these choice points, the study identified seventeen types of intangible heritage, which fall under the categories of sustainable resource management, traditional crafts, cultural and social practices, and traditional healing practices. The findings suggest that the mountain roads of the Himalayan borderlands represent a living heritage system that has adapted over centuries to shifting political, environmental, and social conditions, while still preserving its fundamental role as a link between communities and the natural world. These roads are a vital part of the identity of the Rung Shauka and other neighboring mountain communities, symbolizing not just physical connectivity but also the integration of cultural, spiritual, and environmental elements that have shaped the region's history. The historic road network reflects the following: the traditions of the Rung Shauka, a unique highland semi-nomadic community; the layering of vertical transhumance with trade and pilgrimage, which illustrates human interaction with the environment; and the spiritual narratives connected to beliefs in nature and mountain deities, shaped by Bon, Buddhist, and Hindu ideologies. In conclusion, this thesis presents a comprehensive methodology for identifying and evaluating historic roads linked to intangible heritage. By placing collective memory and lived experiences at the center of inquiry, the study offers a replicable model for researching and conserving underrepresented roads that may lack physical monuments but hold deep cultural significance. The research makes a notable contribution to heritage studies by introducing the concept of Choice Points and emphasizing the importance of intangible heritage in landscapes where environmental forces continually reshape physical features. It also underscores the active role that borderlands play in shaping shared heritage.