Link to In search of myths and heroes: 2- The search for Shangri-la documentary
Documentary Description
search for Shangri-La takes him on a thrilling trek through India,
Nepal and Tibet. The tale of the magical hidden valley of Shangri-La was
popularized in the 1930s by James Hilton in his novel, Lost
Horizon. But, the story of a lost kingdom behind the Himalayas
free from war and suffering is descended from a much older Indian myth.
When Europeans first caught wind of the tale back in the 16th Century,
they set about trying to discover it.
To find the truth behind the legend, Michael follows their
track on foot through the Maoist controlled lands of Western Nepal and
then on into Tibet. On the way he visits Mount Kailash — the sacred
center of the world for all Hindus and Buddhists. Eventually, after
hundreds of miles on dirt roads, he reaches the fantastic ruins of the
lost city of Tsaparang, which he suggests is the real inspiration behind
the myth. "One of the oldest myths of humanity, the paradise myth
continues to haunt us today, especially in our time of rapid
globalization," Wood concludes. "Whether such a paradise actually
existed or not, it represents one of our most basic human desires
