Global Treasures KATHMANDU Nepal

Located between China and India, Kathmandu is a metropolis in the heart of the kingdom of Nepal, a land of snow-white mountains and home of the gods.

It was only a few decades ago that ancient Nepal opened its borders. Until then, due to the command of the ruling Gurkha Dynasty the 'Home of the Divine' was totally isolated.

In the heart of the city is Durbar Square in which the country's royalty resided until 1908 and also where the region's most important festivals take place.

The Shiva Parvati Temple dates back to the early years of the Shah Dynasty and its five sectioned, portal-like frame contains inscriptions that are thought to be the oldest in the Nepalese language. The large Jagannath Temple is dedicated to the god, Krishna, and to fend off the prudish Goddess of Lightning sexual images adorn the edge of the roof.

Built above an impressive array of steps the mighty Talejk Temple overshadows each of the other temples. The architecture of this 'mountain temple' emphasises the unique importance of the goddess Shiva.

Kumari Chowk is the residence of the living goddess Kumari. For this role a young girl is duly selected and is disallowed from leaving the palace until puberty, her task being to affirm the king his power.

The customs of the people in this 'Kingdom on the Roof of the World' may seem strange to those from beyond its borders but this land of both jungle and everlasting snow has developed according to its own rich traditions and beliefs.

Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.

Vista Point KATHMANDU VALLEY Nepal

KATHMANDU VALLEY

Kathmandu is a melting pot of both race and religion, a metropolis in the heart of the Kingdom of Nepal, a country of snow-covered mountains inhabited by the gods.

Kumari Chowk is the residence of the living goddess, Kumari. For this role a young girl is duly selected and is disallowed from leaving the palace until puberty. Her task is it to affirm the power of the king. Age old traditions are celebrated throughout the year such as the Festival Of The Children that symbolises fertility and sexuality.

Patan is Nepal's second largest city and has retained much of its original character due to its three hundred monasteries and temples. This beautiful former centre of one of the earliest three kingdoms contains the Hindu Kumbeshwara Pagoda one of the country's oldest buildings dedicated to the god, Shiva.

The tower-like Mahabuddha Temple is adorned with several terracotta figures and ornaments and is different to conventional Nepalese architecture. In earlier times the Kwa Bahal Monastery was the administrative centre of trade in Tibet. Its shining gilded copper plates soon gave it the name, The Golden Temple.

Changu Narayan, the gem of Nepal, designated as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, is the oldest sanctuary in Kathmandu Valley. Situated 1,450 metres on a mountain north of Bhaktapur it is home to many skilful artists and wood carvers.

Hidden in a canyon and located next to a mountain creek is the Dakshinkali Temple. Each year this sanctuary is visited by more than four hundred thousand pilgrims. This place of worship is dedicated to one of the mightiest goddesses of this region, the Southern Kali.

The customs of the people in the Kingdom On The Roof Of The World may seem somewhat strange but this land of jungle and eternal snow has developed according to its own rich traditions and beliefs. Pure magic!

Vista Point BANEPA VALLEY Nepal

BANEPA VALLEY

Twenty-six kilometres south east of Kathmandu is the Banepa Valley, a captivating place that allures with its beautiful landscape and village sanctuaries.

Legend has it that a terrible demon, Chanda, once ruled over the valley. The local people pleaded with Parvati, the daughter of the Himalayas, to free them from the monster. Parvati overpowered the demon and was given the name, Chadeshvari, Mistress of the Chanda. Thus she became one of the maternal Newar deities.

Eight kilometres south of Banepa and located between two rivers is the Newar settlement of Panauti. It is the most important historic village in the Valley. In the 13th century Paunauti was the capital of the autonomous kingdom of Banepa and the village has retained its historic authenticity.

The village is full of rural calm. Only in September is the idyll disturbed by the 'Carriage Festival'. The shops contain all essential household goods. The transport of both goods and humans is usually done by lorry. They ply their way up and down relentlessly along the demanding terrain. The daily market also contains a good selection of products where fresh fruit and vegetables are in abundance.

Life in Nepal is dominated by religion. It is a combination of magical, mystical and spiritual ideas that are closely interwoven. Buddhists and Hindus share many of the sanctuaries as they are very tolerant and not divided as in other religions.

Each year the fascinating Banepa Valley set amid the Himalayas allures thousands of visitors with its impressive mountain landscape, ancient culture and the deep mystical religious faith of its people that is still very much alive today.

Vista Point PATAN Nepal

PATAN

Patan is a city of a thousand golden rooftops. The former royal city is situated in the thirty kilometre long Kathmandu Valley, Nepal's national treasure. It is located to the south of Kathmandu and its official name is Lalitpur, 'The Beautiful City'.

Around a hundred and sixty thousand people live in what is almost tantamount to an open-air museum that transfers all who travel there to another world. It is dominated by more than a hundred and fifty former monasteries that have since been transformed into family homes.

Legend has it that the main image of worship, Shiva Linga, within the Kumbheshvara Temple was the point around which the city was built. The upper floors of the temple are more narrow and slender than is customary. They look like a delicate adornment of the roof rather than the more usual tapering tower structure.

Due to its splendid carvings the Vishveshvara Temple is well treasured among the other pagoda temples in Durbar Square. In 1990 it collapsed during a monsoon but has since been completely restored along with its countless ornate wood carvings.

The Bala Gopala Temple is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of Malla architecture. It is thought to be a replica of a sanctuary in the Indian Mathura. Here, the god Krishna spent his youth as a herdsman, thus the name of the temple contains the words Bala and Gopala that mean 'Child' and 'Herdsman'.

Patan is the second largest and oldest city in Kathmandu Valley, the heart of the country's traditional arts and crafts and a truly atmospheric gem of evocative architecture.

KATHMANDU NEPAL

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KATHMANDU VALLEY NEPAL

This is part of a series, Planet Terra, which when licensed allows you to add your own custom narration to meet you specific marketing needs. Contact us at TravelVideoStore.com for more details about licensing this episode or any of the 365 other episodes to destinations around the world.

Global Treasures PASHUPATINATH Nepal

The streets of Deopatan, east of the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, are usually crowded with pilgrims who are travelling to the most important Hindu sanctuary in the country. The old temple district of Pashupatinath, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, even attracts pilgrims from India.

Shivaratri, one special night in the year that is dedicated to Shiva, is the most important celebration within the temple district. In springtime thousands of Hindu pilgrims travel to Nepal.

The Bagmati River and this entire area along with its sacred buildings are still one of the most important Shiva sanctuaries on the Indian Subcontinent.

Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.

BHAKTAPUR NEPAL

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Changu Narayan Temple NEPAL

This is part of a series, Planet Terra, which when licensed allows you to add your own custom narration to meet you specific marketing needs. Contact us at TravelVideoStore.com for more details about licensing this episode or any of the 365 other episodes to destinations around the world.