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  • Siang -The Last ShangriLa
  • The Naturalist School
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    • Siang -The Last ShangriLa
    • The Naturalist School
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    • Siang -The Last ShangriLa
    • The Naturalist School
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Our Work

The Last Shangri-la

Our ongoing Siang Expedition Project focuses on bridging the gap between science and storytelling. The first phase of the expedition culminated in a spell-binding documentary of one of Earth’s last frontiers! A hidden expanse of mountain realms and forested valleys, untouched by time. Buddhists hold these places, known as Beyuls, in reverence as realms where the spiritual and physical worlds intertwine. Beyuls harbour many mysteries: new species, ancient cultures, and the promise of miraculous cures for humanity. One such Beyul straddles the border between India and Tibet.


A century ago, the British embarked on an expedition to explore this Beyul along the Siang River in the Northeastern Frontier. Their endeavours were met with resistance from the Adi tribe. With a highly armed battalion, they powered their way through the Siang Gorge – one of the deepest gorges in the world, three times deeper than the Grand Canyon. This expedition between 1912-1915, though troubled, helped create one of the most comprehensive floral and faunal inventories for a region in India.

The Last Shangri-La

Trailer out now!

Expedition Partners

Bridging the gap between Science and Storytelling

Our Mission

Today, India and China's rapid and unplanned modernization threaten local communities and ecosystems, imperiling the ecological balance and water security for millions. Through visual storytelling and scientific exploration, our expedition aims to capture the essence of these regions while cataloguing the region's flora & fauna which are new to science.

Science

The science team aims to observe changes that have taken place over the century since the 1912 expedition & assess the changes in the regional context. This includes the study and cataloging of flora, mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians & invertebrates new to science.

Storytelling

Visual imagery, both moving and still, is one of the most impactful ways of

capturing the essence of a place and its inhabitants. The storytelling team’s vision involves documenting the region's evolution over the past century in both the ecological and cultural context. 

Coming Soon: Findings from Phase 1 of the Siang Expedition

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR UPDATES

The Expedition Team

Expedition Lead Sandesh Kadur

Expedition Lead Sandesh Kadur

Priya Singh, Researcher

Nilanjan M, Researcher

Gowrishankar, KCRE

Dr. Jagadish K, IIHS

Vivek R, NCBS

Sanjay Sondhi, Lepidopterist

Pooja Sharma, Professional birder

Gaurav J, Professional climber

Dr. Madhavi Reddy, Medic

Expedition Lead Sandesh Kadur

Expedition Lead Sandesh Kadur

Expedition Lead Sandesh Kadur

Adarsh NC, Producer

Sriharsha HK, Production Manager

Gaurav K, Production Assistant

Nikhil Virdi, Cameraperson

Nakul Raj, Cameraperson

Parinith Gowda, Camera Assistant

Varun Manavazhi, Editor & DIT

Tapir Dirang, Local Coordinator

Bhuban Gogoi, Field Assistant

Expedition Lead Sandesh Kadur

ATREE

Dr. Aravind NA

Dr. Ganesan R

Dr. Ranjith AP

Dr. Rajkamal

Dr. Priyadarshan

Surya Narayanan

Nabasmitha M

Gallery

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