| The Himalayans | |
| Native Name: | द हिमालयन्स |
| Native Name Lang: | ne |
| Origin: | Hong Kong |
| Genre: | Rock, Pop |
| Years Active: | 1974–1981 |
| Past Members: |
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The Himalayans (1974–1981) is a Nepali pop rock band based in Hong Kong. The band is best known for their songs such as Musu Musu Hasi Deu and Gajalu le Akhai Chopney. The band was formed by some Nepali speaking British Gurkha soldiers in 1974 in Hong Kong and was disbanded in 1981, when some of the band members were transferred to a regiment in the UK.
The band was formed in 1974. Norden Tenzin Bhutia was enlisted in British Gurkha army in Hong Kong in 1971.[1] There he alongside fellow soldiers form the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles formed the band in 1974. They started singing with some second hand instruments they had bought in Hong Kong for their band.[2] Bhutia named the band The Himalayans because although the band members were from different places, Himalayas was the common link between them. The band members used to practice during evening time.
Initially, the band used to perform cover songs at various occasion in the regiment. In 1975/1976, when BFBS radio called them to record a song, they recorded their first original Gajalu le Akhai Chopney, which belonged to Bhutia's friend Arun Thapa. The song propelled them into mainstream Nepali music. After which they composed many original songs.[3]
Their song Musu Musu Hasi Deu was recreated by musicians Vishal Dadlani, Shiraz Bhattacharya and Samrat for the Bollywood film Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi in 1999.[4] According to band member Franklin Mukhiya, the recreation was unofficial and the song was plagiarized.[5]