Summary
Chapter 11 of the Class 4 English NCERT textbook (Santoor), "A Journey to the Magical Mountains", tells the story of Minam, a young girl who lives near the Himalayas and goes on a special trek with her grandfather, a former Sherpa. Together they spot yaks, build a snowman, see Mount Everest, and hear a Santoor being played on the way home. Download the PDF and explore the summary and Q&A below.
- Minam's Journey into the Himalayas — Minam and her grandfather set out early one morning from their village at the foot of the Himalayas. She packed rotis with achaar, two water bottles, and apples. They walked through forests of beautiful flowers and tall trees, hearing unfamiliar birdsongs, and stopped by a clear river for lunch.
- Yaks, Snow, and Mount Everest — Climbing higher, Minam saw yaks for the first time and learned from her grandfather that yaks give milk and wool and carry heavy loads for mountain people. She also walked on snow for the first time and built a snowman with her grandfather. From the top of a hill, her grandfather pointed out Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.
- Return Home — Mountain Goats and a Santoor — On the way back down, Minam and her grandfather heard an old man playing a Santoor under a tree. They also watched a family of mountain goats leap between rocks, which her grandfather explained can reach places too steep for people. Minam promised to protect the mountains and share their magic with everyone.
- Language Activities — Conjunctions and Vocabulary — The chapter teaches four conjunctions — and, or, but, because — with example sentences and practice exercises. Students also match vocabulary words (Himalayas, Sherpa, journey, yaks, memories), complete fill-in-the-blank sentences, label landform diagrams, and solve a crossword puzzle about mountain geography.
Key points & formulas
- 01Minam lives in a village at the foot of the Himalayas; her grandfather is a former Sherpa.
- 02She packs rotis with achaar, two water bottles, and apples for the trek.
- 03They stop for lunch by a clear river and Minam dips her feet in the cool water.
- 04Minam sees yaks for the first time; yaks provide milk, wool, and carry heavy loads.
- 05She builds a snowman with her grandfather on the snow-covered upper slopes.
- 06From a hilltop, her grandfather shows her Mount Everest — the tallest mountain in the world.
- 07On the descent they hear a Santoor played by an old man sitting under a tree.
- 08Minam promises to respect and protect the mountains at the end of the story.
- 09The chapter teaches conjunctions: and, or, but, because, with sentence-joining exercises.
- 10Students explore mountain animals such as Snow Leopard, Red Panda, and Himalayan Tahr in the 'Let us Do' activity.
Frequently asked questions
01Who is Minam in Chapter 11 of Santoor Class 4?
Minam is a young girl who lives in a small village at the foot of the Himalayas. She loves listening to stories about the mountains from her grandfather, who was once a Sherpa.
02Why does Minam's grandfather take her to the mountains?
One sunny morning, her grandfather tells her she has grown strong enough to walk a long distance, so he takes her on a special journey to see the beauty of the Himalayas up close.
03What does Minam pack for her journey?
Minam packs rotis with achaar, two water bottles, and her favourite fruit — apples.
04Where do Minam and her grandfather have lunch during the trek?
They stop at a small river with clear water. They sit by the river eating their rotis, watching fish swim, and Minam dips her feet in the cool water while eating an apple.
05What does Minam learn about yaks?
Her grandfather tells her that yaks are very important to mountain people because they give milk and wool and help carry heavy loads.
06What happens when Minam reaches the snow-covered area?
It is the first time Minam has seen so much snow. She and her grandfather make a small snowman together, laugh, and play, creating memories she values forever.
07Which is the tallest mountain in the world mentioned in this chapter?
From the top of a hill, Minam's grandfather points to Mount Everest and explains it is the tallest mountain in the world, and that many brave people have tried to climb it.
08What instrument does Minam hear on the way home?
On the way back down, Minam and her grandfather hear beautiful musical notes of a Santoor being played by an old man sitting under a tree.
09What are mountain goats and why does the chapter mention them?
Minam and her grandfather see a family of mountain goats jumping from rock to rock. Her grandfather explains these goats are excellent climbers that can reach places very hard for people.
10What promise does Minam make at the end of the story?
Minam promises to take care of the mountains and share their magic with everyone she meets. Her grandfather reminds her that mountains teach us about strength, beauty, and the wonders of nature.
11What conjunctions are taught in Chapter 11 of Santoor Class 4?
The chapter teaches four conjunctions — and (adds information), or (gives a choice), but (shows contrast), and because (gives a reason) — with example sentences and ten practice exercises.
12What is the 'Let us Explore' activity in this chapter?
Students are asked to collect pictures and facts about the first woman to climb Mount Everest twice, encouraging research and curiosity about real-world mountaineering achievements.
More chapters in Santoor
Read Chapter 11 of Santoor, the Class 4 English NCERT textbook (2026-27 edition), online for free: the complete chapter as published by NCERT with every diagram, solved example and exercise, with a chapter summary, question answers and revision notes. Open the NCERT PDF above, or browse all NCERT Class 4 textbooks.
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