UNESCO and Royal Enfield Launch Fourth Great Himalayan Exploration in Himachal Pradesh

UNESCO and Royal Enfield launched the fourth edition of The Great Himalayan Exploration on August 27, 2025, from the Himalayan Hub in Theog, Shimla. The six-week motorcycling expedition aims to document 12 traditional cultural practices across Himachal Pradesh through October 9, 2025.

Twenty rider-researchers will traverse the state in four groups, conducting field research through video documentation and participant observation with local communities. The expedition was flagged off by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Shashank Gupta and Deputy Superintendent of Police Sidharth Sharma.

The team will document various aspects of Himachal's Intangible Cultural Heritage, including Himachali Dham feast traditions, Chamba brass platters, Kangra miniature paintings, Kath-Kuni earthquake-resistant architecture, Spiti jewelry, traditional woollen caps, and the Kullu Dussehra festival. These practices represent knowledge and skills passed down through generations within local communities.

National Geographic will produce a four-part docuseries capturing the expedition, scheduled to premiere on JioHotstar. The series will document the riders' journeys and interactions with communities preserving these cultural traditions.

This initiative forms part of a multi-year partnership between Royal Enfield Social Mission and UNESCO to identify and document 200 Intangible Cultural Heritage practices across the Himalayas.

Previous expeditions took place in the Eastern Himalayas in 2022 and Western Himalayas in 2024, documenting over 60 practices across eight Eastern Himalayan states and 12 in Ladakh through 24 separate explorations.

The Great Himalayan Exploration supports UNESCO's definition of Intangible Cultural Heritage as practices, expressions, knowledge and skills that communities recognize as part of their cultural heritage. These typically include oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, traditional knowledge about nature, and craftsmanship.

Royal Enfield Social Mission operates multiple initiatives in the Himalayas, including textile conservation projects, climate resilience centers, sustainable travel networks, and biodiversity conservation efforts. The organization aims to partner with 100 Himalayan communities by 2030 to build climate resilience in the region.