Photograph of the Great Chini Peaks, India, by Samuel Bourne, 1863-67.

A picturesque view of a mountain scene. On the left hand side is the new road being built through the mountains with two figures standing on it. The photograph is taken from a high view point and looks down into a valley. Just below are village houses and in the distance is the Chini mountain range. The village of Chini is now know an Kalpa.

The photograph was initially part of the photographic collection held in the National Art Library. The markings on the mount are an indication of the history of the object, its movement through the museum and the way in which it is categorised.

The mount is white with evidence of handwritten text at the top: IIbd
Right hand side: A.in. Pangi
Bottom left: Label from Bourne catalogue with 'Pangi' handwritten on the left of that.

Samuel Bourne wrote and published an account of his journey in which he mentions the places that he photographed. Below is the relevant section for this photograph:

Bourne writes:

…I left Simla on the 29th July (1863), taking the new road which is now making to Cheenee, a village about 160 miles north of Simla…..The road is open for about 100 miles, and, as it is nearly level, forms a beautiful mountain road for the pedestrian. It winds along successive ranges, following their windings, sometimes at an immense height above the valleys or deep ‘ruds’ which it opens to view…..now and then I was favoured with a fine day and registered a number of good pictures to be dealt with on my return when the rains would be over….

(at the end of his journey)
…..In seeking again the road which I had taken to Cheenee…I stopped now and then on the road to take a few of the pictures which I had selected on my journey out. The rain had long since cleared off and the weather was everything that the heart of a photographer could desire.

Bourne, S, Ten weeks with the camera in the Himalayas, The British Journal of Photography:

Paragraph 1: February 1, 1864, pg 50
Paragraph 2: February 15, 1864, pg 70.

The negative was made in 1863. This print would have been made before March 1867.

This is one of many images of India captured by the English photographer Samuel Bourne. From July to December 1866, he toured part of the Himalayan region. He wrote about his journey in The British Journal of Photography, outlining his route and in some cases describing the scenes he photographed.

He describes the view shown here: '…I left Simla…taking the new road…to Cheenee, a village about 160 miles north…. The road is open for about 100 miles, and…forms a beautiful mountain road for the pedestrian. It winds along successive ranges, following their windings, sometimes at an immense height above the valleys…which it opens to view…now and then I was favoured with a fine day and registered a number of good pictures to be dealt with on my return when the rains would be over….'

Of the return journey he wrote: '…I stopped now and then on the road to take a few of the pictures which I had selected on my journey out. The rain had long since cleared off and the weather was everything that the heart of a photographer could desire.'

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