Nestled deep in the dramatic Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India, the village of Rakchham sits quietly in the northern Indian Himalaya—off the beaten path but offering one of the most breathtaking climbing backdrops on Earth.
With over 560 boulder problems spread across 14 sectors, this remote granite playground has something for everyone—from first-time boulderer to elite climbers pushing their limits. That Rakchham doesn’t suffer the same fate as many other climbing hotspots around the world, Bernd Zangerl has based the entire project on sustainable foundations. An experiment?
Curiosity is like a catapult: if the tension is high enough, it doesn’t take much to set you off on a long journey of discovery. For Bernd Zangerl, that spark was an old black-and-white photo, and in 2010 he set out for adventure. After exploring other parts of the Indian Himalaya, he finally arrived in Rakchham, successfully tracing back the landscape from his photograph. The village, perched at 3,120 meters, near the Tibetan border, revealed itself as a true Climbers Shangri-La: Thousands of granite boulders and walls scattered across lush meadows and primordial forests, framed by 5,000–6,000-meter peaks, and set to the soundtrack of the roaring Baspa River.
Armed with a simple Indian school notebook, Zangerl began sketching the first topos—just outlines of rocks, route names, and a handful of early ascents. He had no idea at the time that he was beginning what would become his longest and most personal climbing project. Over the next fifteen years, he returned season after season, often supported by his best friends, establishing hundreds of routes and meticulously documenting one of the most diverse and spectacular bouldering areas in the Himalaya. Today, Rakchham has earned its place as a world-class climbing destination. From delicate granite slabs and explosive overhangs to towering highballs, traditional crack climbs, and technical sport routes, the variety here is unmatched.
Now, after years of preparation Zangerl presents the new Guidebook, titled “RAKCHHAM”—a comprehensive resource for climbers and adventurers alike. Featuring detailed maps, topos, photographs, and stories from over a decade of exploration, it is both a practical tool and a heartfelt tribute to a hidden Himalayan gem. Furthermore the books tells the story of the local people living here and how a remote Himalayan valley quietly became a world-class climbing destination.
Bernd Zangerl’s bouldering guidebook is a true work of art. Like all guidebooks, this is a passion project, and it shows.
RAKCHHAM
226 Seiten · SBN 978-3-033-11537-8, Linen-bound · Durable & handy landscape format.
Available from November 2025 at www.berndzangerl.com and in well-stocked specialist bookstores.
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