Michael’s sixth televised international journey takes him to a mountain
range of mystery, adventure and challenge. The Himalaya (Sanskrit for “The
Abode of Snow”) is a terrain of exceptional interest.
The area, formed around 50 million years ago (a snip in geological terms), is one of the youngest
mountain ranges on Earth.
The region is infused with religious, historical, geological and geographical
significance. Throughout the course of history, the Himalaya have served
as both a natural border and a meeting place of different cultures, religions
and races. The inhospitable and extreme conditions formed a divide between
India and Tibet, but also inspired adventurous individuals to pursue spiritual
and trade-based journeys.
The trans-Himalayan region has been pivotal for commerce, with the famous
Silk Route. The route first gained importance during
the early Han dynasty (206 BC to 8 AD). It connected Central Asia with South
Asia, and linked such diverse countries as China, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan
and India.
The Himalaya region attracts an ever-increasing number of tourists,
with the more intrepid drawn by the daunting peaks of Mount Everest (8,848m
/ 29,032ft), K2 (8,611m / 28,251ft) and Kanchenjunga (8,585m / 28,169ft).
In fact, the Himalaya range includes 14 peaks of 8,000m (26,000ft) and higher,
with hundreds of summits topping 7,000m (23,000ft). Such natural splendour
will make for a fascinating, eye-opening and gruelling challenge for Michael…
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