Himalaya With Michael Palin

Beginning at the Khyber Pass, Michael Palin takes the Khyber steam railway through the North-West Frontier Province, home of the Pathan people, a fierce race who live by the philosophy of hospitality and revenge.

Michael Palin has reached the second highest mountain in the world, K2 (8,611m), but there is no passage to India here. A high-level stand-off between the Pakistani and Indian armies means that he has to detour south into the Punjab to the only official crossing point between the two countries.

In the western part of the Kingdom of Nepal, in the foothills of the great 8,000m peaks of Annapurna and Daulagiri, intrepid traveller Michael Palin accompanies Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Griffith, commander of the British Gurkha in Nepal, on the annual recruitment drive.Michael Palin has reached the second highest mountain in the world, K2 (8,611m), but there is no passage to India here. A high-level stand-off between the Pakistani and Indian armies means that he has to detour south into the Punjab to the only official crossing point between the two countries.

Leaving Everest Base Camp,Michael Palin takes the high road to Lhasa to see for himself what the Chinese have done to Tibet. From the Potala Palace to the great monasteries of Tashilunpo and Sera, he sees that religion is once again tolerated, while at the same time the old Tibetan centre of the city is being torn down and replaced with modern Chinese shopping malls and nightclubs.

Following the Yangtze River along Tiger Leaping Gorge into Yunnan in South West China, Michael Palin reaches the easternmost end of the Himalayas. At Lugu Lake he is the guest of the celebrated Mosuo singer Namu, who explains the intricacies of the matrilineal Mosuos’ walking marriage where the women pick and choose their lovers at will.

In the remote Kingdom of Bhutan, Michael Palin finds himself back in the land of yaks for a last look at the high Himalaya. Passing Tiger’s Nest Monastery, Michael treks towards the Base Camp of Chomolhari where he meets Dorji, a nomad with a penchant for yak songs.