The world is home to a plethora of fascinating ancient ruins, from crumbling cities to temples that have withstood the test of time. Many of these ancient societies were incredibly innovative and forward thinking. Just take a look at their meticulous city planning and incredible feats of engineering; some of which we are yet to fully understand. Some of the most captivating ancient ruins are full of thousand-year-old mysteries that will boggle even the most curious of minds.
For me, it’s almost 25 years since I left my childhood village.
Today’s video is back to my childhood village, see how it has changed over the past 25 years and also experience the real life in the Tibetan countryside.
Actually, my parents’ house had collapsed about ten years ago because none of us lived here and reparied the house. So I could only went back to my uncle’s house.
My uncle’s house remains almost the same as before. I even took a nap in my childhood bed.
Like all the other Tibetan stone houses, my uncle’s home consists of bedrooms, a typical Tibetan style dining room, a separate praying chapel, a storeroom, and a very Tibetan toilet (an open-air toilet).
Among these rooms, the praying chapel is the most special one in a Tibetan house. Every Tibetan home has a praying chapel, where the family can do their daily prayers in their free time.
Though there is a modern refrigerator, my uncle’s family still kept the original storeroom to keep air-dried yak meat and other items.
I was amazed to see that they still had their old habits, and it was gratifying to see some new changes, like the new TV and tap-water pipes, because my uncle and my nephews could enjoy better living conditions than I had back then.
Collecting yak dung, doing kora around the nearby ancient stupa, visiting the Jhoden Monastery in the village…these were all parts of my daily life since I lived with my uncle in this small Tibetan village.
I would like to share the memory of my hometown with all of you through this video. Hoping we could meet together in Tibet and let me take you to my lovely hometown.
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#gugekingdom #tibet #tibetngari
Tashi Delek from the Guge Kingdom!
Today, I will show you an exploration trip to the lost kingdom in western Tibet.
The Guge Kingdom, one of the first important cultural relics sites under protection in Tibet, is a place full of stories and mysteries.
Even I am a Tibetan, every time I come here, I got a feeling of mystery.
The ancient Guge kingdom has so many mysteries and secrets. Can you imagine there used to be a kingdom with over 100,000 citizens in such a wild area? Even now, people have no idea how this beautiful kingdom was destroyed in one night. No one knows what happened here.
Where do these tunnels lead? Where are the secret ways of the winter palace?
With many questions, I explored the ruins of Guge kingdom in my way. I crossed the tunnels in the ruins, which were believed to reach the hidden city of Shambala. I climbed to the winter palace at the top of the ruins, exploring the rooms, but found nothing.
Just like playing a treasure hunt game, I was always able to find some connection to my Tibetan ancestors.
Also, the Ruins of Guge Kingdom is an awesome place for photographers to take pictures. From the top of the kingdom ruins, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Guge valley.
The Tholing Monastery, which is 18 kilometers away from the ruin of Guge Kingdom, is also worth a visit since it is the first monastery in west Tibet. Although it has been destroyed many times in the past, you can still see many ancient stupas, statures, morals, and so on in this old monastery.
I really recommended the ruins of the Guge Kingdom for you, which you can add to your Kailash tour.
In the end, I would like to share some tips for your trip to the Guge Kingdom.
1. Please wear a pair of comfortable hiking shoes, as you will need to climb to the top of the ruins.
2. The ruins of the Guge kingdom are heavily weathered and not very stable and fixed in some places. Please be careful not to get too close to dangerous areas such as the outer walls near the cliffs.
3. The steps inside the ruins are very steep, so please watch your step.
4. If you are interested in Tibetan history, you can learn more about the legends of the Guge Kingdom before you go. It will be more interesting to bring your own questions to find your answers about the lost kingdom.
If you enjoy our videos then hit the like button, share with your friends who want to watch the tour and travel video, and subscribe to my channel to get another video.
A documentary on the Glories of Govardhan Hill by Bhakti Caitanya Swami
The Vedic scriptures proclaim that the glories of Lord Krishna are unlimited and eternal and no one is able to reach the end of them. In the same way, who can fully describe the splendid glories of Sri Giriraja-Govardhana, the best servant of the Lord and at the same time non-different from the Lord Himself? To protect his dear vrajavasis from Indras wrath, Sri Krishna held the Hill on the small finger of His divine hand for seven days. The area of Govardhan is full of wonderful forests, lakes, caves, waterfalls, jeweled paths, platforms and pavilions. Lords most intimate pastimes places — Sri Radha-kunda and Sri Syama-kunda are located at the foot of the Hill. The Vaishnava acharyas and saints left us a great treasure of scriptures, describing the wonderful pastimes, which are going on eternally in the shade of Giriraja. Here are but a few drops of this nectar.
The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura-Puri is the transcendental forest of Vrndavana because of Krsnas rasa-lila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrndavana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krsna and was the site of His various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha-kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krsna. Where, then, is that intelligent Person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha-kunda, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?
(Sri Upadesamrita, verse 9)
«Of all the devotees this Govardhana Hill is the best! Or my friends this Hill supplies Krishna and Balarama, along with their calves, cows and cowherd friends, with all the necessities: water for drinking, very soft grass, caves, fruits, flowers and vegetables. In this way the Hill offers respects to the Lord. Being touched by the lotus feet of Krishna and Balarama, the hill appears very jubilant».
(SB 10.21.18).
The Magars form the largest ethnic minority in Nepal. They are scattered throughout the whole country, but they are more concentrated in the region of Mid-Western Nepal (the area of todays Rukum and Rolpa districts). The film tells the story of the Rebel King Lakhan Thapa Magar, celebrated as Nepals first martyr. This legend of the 19th century tribal warrior reveals the nature of the early tribal rebellions against The Hindu kings. It presents a glimpse into the long process of state formation and the cultural history of the Himalaya.
The 330 km TOR Des Geants is a race in the Italian Alps. The course heads counter-clockwise on the Alta Via 2 along the south side of the Aosta valley for the first half of the race, returning along the Alta Via 1 back to Courmayeur.
The 2018 TOR was my first 200 miler. What follows is just a brief look at my experience at the race, all the ups and the downs on my journey among the giants of the alps.
I’m an ultra-distance trail runner based in Vancouver, BC. From the mountain ranges of Canada and the USA, to the Alps, the Andes, and the Himalayas, I’ve been fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue adventures around the world.
— With Italian subtitles
A film by George Aistov — a monk, a philosopher and a traveler. Its the first movie of the «Following in the footsteps of the Vedic civilization». and it was shot in the Himalayas. The main heroes are Monk (Swami Avadhut), Scientist (Sahadev Prabhu) and Pilgrim (Ajita Krishna Prabhu). Together with the shooting team they went through the Himalayas to speak with the sages and to visit such holy places as the sources of Ganges and Saraswati rivers. They also met teachers of different yoga systems. And its all intertwined with the Vedic stories about local Deities, personal talks of the search for the Truth as well as historical references and breathtaking mountain views.
Nowhere in the Alpine mountains are water, forest and rocks as precipitous, rock faces as vertical as in the Gesäuse National Park, Europe’s largest canyon. “Gesäuse” is a name derived from the rushing noise of the water, the soughing wind that echoes up to the peaks of the north faces of this unique region – home to the myth of the mountain. When the sun rises and ushers in a magnificent day, the Gesäuse projects a perfect image of a mountain. However, in bad weather, the Gesäuse’s walls reflect a scary phenomenon as the speed of the inflowing airmass multiplies. Adverse weather conditions can thus convert the Gesäuse into inferno. Michael Schlamberger, Austria’s most renowned nature filmmaker internationally, listened to the rushing whitewater of the river Enns and conquered the sheer rock walls, chasing eagles and chamois in passing.
wwtrek.com ➤ World Wide Trekking offers our guests the opportunity to take an absolutely breathtaking scenic helicopter tour up the Khumbu Valley and around Mt. Everest. Seeing the topography of the land, and the stunning high Himalayan peaks from a high-altitude vantage point is a truly unforgettable experience. In order of appearance:
2:00 — Helicopter takes flight
2:30 — Dudh Koshi the worlds highest river
3:00 — Lobuche, Pumori, Khumbu Glacier
3:20 — Cho Oyu
3:45 — Ridgeline into China
4:10 — Lobuche Glacier
4:45 — Kala Patthar
5:15 — Khumbu Icefall
5:20-6:00 — Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse
*We offer many scenic helicopter flight options (departing from Pheriche on your way up the Khumbu Valley, departing from Pangboche on your way out of the Khumbu Valley to finish your trek, and more!)
*Special thanks to World Wide Trekking guest Dave Kurtz for his scenic helicopter flight footage!
«Following in the footsteps of our beloved spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, we are back in Russia on a two-month winter preaching tour, taking us from the far eastern shores of Vladivostok to St. Petersburg, 6,532 kilometres to the west. The rigours and austerities involved in such a tour are nothing compared to the joy and satisfaction that come from sharing our good fortune as devotees of the Lord with others».
Indradyumna Swami (09.04.2018)