A trek to Lo Manthang, Mustang, Nepal via Nar and the Teri La: 6-28/10/18. After a bus ride from Kathmandu to Jagat we followed the busy Annapurna Circuit for 2 days to Koto. We turned turned off into the less frequented Nar Phu area, staying two nights in the village of Nar. Crossing the 5595m Teri La into Mustang, we stopped at Tangge before finally reaching the walled city of Lo Manthang on the 14th day of walking. To return we took 4x4 cars for two days down to Jomsom, then the scenic mountain flights back to Kathmandu via Pokhara.
Views of the Himalayan mountains, including some of the 8000m peaks, stunning panoramas across the multi-coloured rock formations of Mustang, old mountain villages, and glimpses of the flora and fauna along the way.
The trip was booked through KE Adventure Travel in the UK, using Thamserku as the ground agents in Nepal.
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.
Those who attend school in the mountain village of Kumpur, walk across the mountains of the highest situated country on earth. Nearly half of Nepals lies more than 4 000 Meters above sea level. Today its normal that the kids go to school in the valley, but just 50 years ago the village was completely self sufficient. Only if there was a lack of salt would someone twice a year hard off to refill the stock. Today the children go to the city almost on a daily basis and are immediately forced to cross the dangerous river. A village in distress is left behind. The village community Kumpur is spread across 18 farms on the Dhap Mountain. Their families live in a very remote area.
These families have lived on their land now for thousands of years herding their life-sustaining cattle without electricity, running water or contact to the outside world. Although they constantly ask themselves if the promise of an education justifies the danger of the path involved, they send their children day after day to school.
The wide, often untouched wilderness of the Baltic hinterland is home to many animals. More than 350 brown bears live in the primeval forests of Alutaguse. In the spring, the Soomaa National Park transforms into a huge lake. Europes widest waterfall is located in Latvia. In the beginning of May, vimba bream follow the course of the River Venta. The hardly 50-centimetre-long fish have to overcome a 400-metre-long rock barrier in order to reach their spawning grounds.
The Baltics are rich in superlatives: a fifth of the worlds spotted eagle stocks breed here. One of the largest courtship arenas for snipes is located here in the floodplains of Latvia. More than 1000 wolves go on the hunt in Latvias forests. Lithuania is the land of storks — with over 13.000 pairs, no other region in the Baltic States has more white storks.
North America’s National Parks are world famous and their breathtaking landscapes fascinate millions of visitors. This spectacular series will show you what happens beyond the lookouts.
Everglades National Park is an American national park that protects the southern twenty percent of the original Everglades in Florida. The park is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States, and the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi River. An average of one million people visit the park each year. Everglades is the third-largest national park in the contiguous United States after Death Valley and Yellowstone. UNESCO declared the Everglades
Ten days into the auspicious month of Kartika we visited Chandra Sarovar, one of the many lakes surrounding Govardhana Hill. It is situated on the long, outer parikrama-marg of Govardhana Hill that extends for over 40 kilometers. It was the pilgrimage route most often taken by Srila Sanatana Goswami 500 years ago. There are many pastimes that take place at Chandra Sarovar, including Krsna’s springtime Rasa Lila dance with the gopis. It was there that the gopis sang their famous Gopi Gita, expressing their deep feelings of separation from the Lord. At Chandra Sarovar one can also take darsan of the samadhi of the famous Vaisnava saint, Sur das.
Two days before Kartika we journeyed to Jaipur to see the beautiful deities of Radha Govinda. The citizens of Jaipur’s love for these historic deities is evident in the fact that they come in large numbers each morning and evening to see their Lordships and to sing and pour their hearts out to Them. Such bhava, such love, is contagious!
As a rural community project, New Govardhana is a living example of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings regarding “simple living, high thinking”. One of the main tenets of the Krishna consciousness philosophy is vegetarianism and cow protection.
We have therefore developed an innovative cow protection program that includes caring for our cows until they pass away naturally, and educational tours for guests. And it is a rare guest indeed who doesn’t fall in love with cows after the tour experience. There are also two abundant gardens that supply ingredients for the 3 daily vegetarian and vegan meals at both the temple and Krishna Village.
So we are well on our way to living self-sufficiently. In this age, as city-life becomes increasingly more challenging, we understand the importance of developing a shelter away from metropolitan centers to provide people the opportunity to re-centre and connect with their deepest Self.
“May Yamunadevi, the daughter of Suryadeva, always purify me. She saves all, who touch her, from going to the realm of her brother Yamaraja, and enables even greatly wicked persons, who see her, to cross the ocean of their sinful deeds. Her attractive water charms the hearts of everyone.”
hari-vari-dharayabhimanditoru-khandava
pundarika-mandalodyad-andajali-tandava
snana-kama-pamarogra-papa-sampad-andhini
mam punatu sarvadaravinda-bandhu-nandini
“Yamunadevi adorns Indra’s great Khandava forest with her enchanting current, and upon her blooming lotus flowers, various birds are always dancing. Simply desiring to bath in her pleasant, crystalline waters frees one from even the greatest of sins. May Yamunadevi, the daughter of Suryadeva, always purify me.”
sikarabhimrista-jantu-durvipaka-mardini
nanda-nandanantaranga-bhakti-pura-vardhini
tira-sangamabhilasi-mangalanubandhini
mam punatu sarvadaravinda-bandhu-nandini
“Sprinkling a single drop of her water upon oneself destroys the reaction of most heinous crimes. She increases the flow of confidential devotional service (raganuga-bhakti) for Nandanandana within one’s heart and blesses everyone who simply desires to reside on her banks. May Yamunadevi, the daughter of Suryadeva, always purify me.”
dvipa-cakravala-justa-sapta-sindhu-bhedini
sri-mukunda-nirmitoru-divya-keli-vedini
kanti-kandalibhir indranila-vrinda-nindini
mam punatu sarvadaravinda-bandhu-nandini
“Yamunadevi is so powerful, that although she flows through the seven oceans which surround the earth’s seven islands, she never merges with them. Being witness to many of Sri Mukunda’s wonderful pastimes, she manifests these pastimes in the hearts of those who take shelter of her. Her dark, shimmering beauty defeats the splendour of precious blue sapphires. May Yamunadevi, the
daughter of Suryadeva, always purify me.”
mathurena mandalena carunabhimandita
prema-naddha-vaisnavadhva-vardhanaya pandita
urmi-dor-vilasa-padmanabha-pada-vandini
mam punatu sarvadaravinda-bandhu-nandini
“Ornamented with the supremely enchanting land of Mathura-mandala, Yamunadevi skillfully inspires love of Godhead (prema) in the hearts of the Vaisnavas who bath in her. With playful waves, which are like her moving arms, she worships Padmanabha Sri Krishna’s lotus feet. May Yamunadevi, the daughter of Suryadeva, always purify me.”
ramya-tira-rambhamana-go-kadamba-bhusita
divya-gandha-bhak-kadamba-puspa-raji-rusita
nanda-sunu-bhakta-sangha-sangamabhinandini
mam punatu sarvadaravinda-bandhu-nandini
“Yamunadevi’s charming banks are further beautified by the fragrance from the flowers of kadamba trees and by loving cows. She is especially delighted when Nandalala’s devotees assemble on her banks. May Yamunadevi, the daughter of Suryadeva, always purify me.”
phulla-paksa-mallikaksa-hamsa-laksa-kujita
bhakti-viddha-deva-siddha-kinnarali-pujita
tira-gandhavaha-gandha-janma-bandha-randhini
mam punatu sarvadaravinda-bandhu-nandini
“Filled with the warbling of thousands of joyful swans, Yamunadevi is worshipable to demigods, Siddhas, Kinnaras and humans whose hearts are dedicated to the service of Sri Hari. Anyone who is touched by her gentle breezes is freed from the cycle of birth and death. May Yamunadevi, the daughter of Suryadeva, always purify me.”
cid-vilasa-vari-pura-bhur-bhuvah-svar-apini
kirtitapi durmadoru-papa-marma-tapini
ballavendra-nandanangaraga-bhanga-gandhini
mam punatu sarvadaravinda-bandhu-nandini
“Yamunadevi flows through the three worlds known as Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svah and distributes her loving emotions. Singing her glories burns even the greatest sins to ashes. She has become fragrant by the scented ointments from the body of King Nanda’s son Sri Krishna, who enjoys to play in her waters. May Yamunadevi, the daughter of Suryadeva, always purify me.”
“O Suryaputri! Devi! O Yamuna, whose waves are very purifying and who is surrounded by all the demigods! For those who recite with cheerful heart this prayers, please increase their bhakti for lotus-eyed Sri Krishna, who liberates all persons from their sins.”
( Srila Rupa Goswami, Stava-mala)
On the second leg of our Char Dham parikrama we visited the holy site of Gangotri. Gangotri is situated not far from where Mother Ganges flows out of the Himalayan mountains. In the town of Gangotri is a beautiful temple where Mother Ganges is worshipped and people can be seen bathing in her sacred waters in the many ghats along the river. In this video we see scenes of Mother Ganges in both Haridwar and Gangotri as we hear of her descent from the spiritual world into the material creation.