Photograph of the view from the Kunzum Pass, India, by Samuel Bourne, 1866.

This photograph shows the dramatic snow-tipped mountains around the Chandra valley and Shigri range. A small stream is just visible in the foreground.

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 handwritten text at the top which is only partially visible now: IIbd.
Right hand side: A.In Kangra
Bottom left: Label from Bourne catalogue with 'Kanzam Pass' handwritten below it.

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:

‘The road, for a few miles further kept company with the Chandra river, when presently turning right we bid adieu to its muddy waters and crossed the Kunzam Pass, 14,931 feet elevation. There was no snow on this pass, and at the top we found some grassy table-land several large flocks of sheep brought here to graze in the summer months. I obtained one picture here of a fine range of snows on the opposite side of the valley we has just quitted’.

Bourne, S, A Photographic journey through the Higher Himalayas, The British Journal of Photography, December 31 1869, pg 629.

The negative was made in 1866. This print was made before March 1867.

This is one of the many images of India captured by the English photographer Samuel Bourne. From July to December 1866, he toured a 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 of which he took photographs.

This is how he describes this view: ‘The road for a few miles further kept company with the Chandra river, when presently turning right we bid adieu to its muddy waters and crossed the Kunzam Pass, 14,931 feet elevation. There was no snow on this pass, and at the top we found some grassy table-land…. I obtained one picture here of a fine range of snows on the opposite side of the valley we had just quitted.’

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