Some of the most magnificent scenery on earth is featured in this travelogue, which takes the viewer to the northern Indian state of Kashmir as well as to the nation of Nepal. Nestled in the Himalayas, these once forbidden lands are now accessible to travelers, though this video notes they "can be seen as a tourist, but to experience them, one must be an explorer." The route followed by travelers in this tape takes them from the elaborate houseboats of Kashmir's Dal Lake to the ruggedly forbidding terrain at the base of Mount Everest. Much of the itinerary, including grueling mountainous treks that can last for nine days, isn't for the faint of heart, not to mention those with an aversion to high altitudes. But the stunning sights of the towering Himalayas and the instant immersion into both Hindu and Buddhist cultures encountered on the way make for a trip like no other on earth. Highlights of this video include a visit to a monastery where the Tibetan culture flourishes inside Nepal, and the sights in and around the unique city of Katmandu, where painted eyes of the Buddha look out from the towers of stupas. This is an entertaining look at a remote part of the world as it opens its arms to Western tourists. --Robert J. McNamara

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