Award-winning photographer Kevin Bubriski captures in stunning detail the sacred places of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. Noted scholar Keith Dowman provides history and commentary on the significance of the sites.

With reference to Kathmandu Valley in Nepal; includes traveler information.

Uncovering the past through the lens of sacred travel, this travel book includes both academic and popular religious perspectives, and is filled with photographs of both famous and lesser-known locales from every corner of the world. Each site-specific explanation of the significance of Goddess today and in centuries past deftly combines current trends, academic theories, and historical insights. From the Middle East, to Europe, Africa, and the Americas, the images of feminine divinity presented in this work are as uniform in their beauty as they are diverse in cultural tradition. For each location-be it the shrines in Kyoto and Kamakura or the sites worshipping the Virgin Mary in Bolivia, France, Trinidad, and the Saut D'Eau Waterfalls of Haiti-this book provides a history of each site in conjunction with the photography.

This guidebook highlights multiple stupas, temples and other Buddhist holy sites spread throughout Nepal as told in Sutras and Tantras. I am impressed that a detailed explanation of these holy sites, their principal deities, and historical significance are clearly presented in this work. In particular, this book describes in detail three major Stupas and centuries old historical accounts of the Tibetan Lamas who restored and instilled the gilded copper ornamentation of these hallowed sites. Information otherwise not widely known is also covered in this book such as the fact that the great 5th Dalai Lama granted a stipend for a Stupa caretaker, as well as the fact that the great 13th and 14th Dalai Lamas made contributions towards the major restorations of the revered Swayambunath and Boudhnath Stupas. In addition, there is a particularly well researched section on the temple built by Lichavi King Shiva Deva, the grandfather of Princess Bhrikurti, the Nepalese wife of King Songtsen Gampo. It includes the related history of the arrival of Bhrikuti's father King Udaya Deva to Lhasa for sanctuary and her brother, Narendra Deva's successful return to Nepal, fully supported and led by King Songtsen Gampo and his soldiers. I highly recommend this book, "The Marvelous Music of Narratives.” It is worth reading and indeed is a required companion for all pilgrims, especially those new visitors looking for fuller experience of these sites. Lobsang Shastri, Senior Librarian of Buddhist Digital Resource Center and teacher of Tibetan language in the South Asian Studies Department, Harvard University

Provides excellent insight into both ancient and modern Tibet.

From “a major new talent” come short stories set in modern Nepal, about arranged marriages, forbidden desires, and the universal yearning for human connection (Amitav Ghosh). Set in a city where gods are omnipresent, privacy is elusive, and family defines identity, these are stories of men and women caught between their own needs and the demands of their society and culture. Psychologically rich and astonishingly acute, with “a masterful narrative style” (Ian MacMillan), Arresting God in Kathmandu introduces a potent new voice in contemporary fiction. “Upadhyay brings to readers the flavor of Nepal and its culture in this impressive collection of nine short stories. Like Ha Jin’s Bridegroom, Upadhyay’s stories portray the lives of simple yet psychologically complex characters and reveal much about the universal human condition in us all. . . . Upadhyay’s stories leave the reader with much food for thought and will make a good choice for book discussion groups.” —Library Journal

The Rough Guide to Nepal is the most passionate and knowledgeable guide to this inspiring country. Discover Nepal's highlights with stunning photography, itineraries and colour-coded maps, plus detailed, up-to-date descriptions of the country's best restaurants, lodges, shops and hotels, for all budgets. There's solid practical advice on what to see and do, from rooftop bars in Kathmandu to meditation retreats in Boudha, and from riverside adventure resorts on the Bhote Koshi to tiger-spotting safaris in Chitwan and Bardia national parks. All the finest Himalayan treks are covered in detail, from the Annapurna Sanctuary and Everest Base Camp treks to the less-trodden trails of the Upper Mustang. Dedicated chapters are devoted to mountain biking and whitewater rafting, and there is unrivalled detail on Buddhism, Hinduism and the many ethnic groups that make Nepal a unique destination.

The Rough Guide to Nepal offers an insider's guide to Nepal, from its 'Tantric' temples to its lively bars. It details all the finest Himalayan treks, with practical, up-to-date and expert advice on where to go when and what to take. It covers all the National Parks, offering advice and information on everything from tracking wildlife to hiring elephants. Dedicated chapters are devoted to mountain biking, white water rafting and other adventure sports, and there is unrivaled detail on Buddhism, Hinduism and the numerous ethnic groups that make Nepal a unique destination. The Rough Guide to Nepal also contains scores of detailed maps, covering everything from Pokhara and the Chitwan National Park to the Everest Base Camp trek. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Nepal.

Dzogchen, or the "Great Perfection," is considered by many to be the apex of Tibetan Buddhism, and Longchen Rabjam is the most celebrated of all the saints of this remarkable tradition. Natural Perfection presents the radical precepts of Dzogchen, pointing the way to absolute liberation from conceptual fetters and leading the practitioner to a state of pure, natural integration into one's true being. Transcending the Tibetan context or even the confines of Buddhist tradition, Longchen Rabjam delivers a manual full of practical wisdom. Natural Perfection is a shining example of why people have continued to turn to the traditions of Tibet for spiritual and personal transformation and realization. Keith Dowman's illuminating translation of this remarkable work of wisdom provides clear accessibility to the profound path of Dzogchen in the here-and-now.

Nine of us traveled to Nepal in April 2006 with Dr. Larry Peters to observe various shamanic healing techniques and receive shamanic initiation at the time of the April full moon with Aama Bombo, one of the International Counsel of Indigenous Grandmothers. While we were there anti-monarchy demonstrations broke out and the King of Nepal tried to use curfews to subdue the unrest in Kathmandu. A nationwide strike accompanied the demonstrations and Maoist insurgents took advantage of the turmoil. The US Embassy sent its non-essential personnel out of Nepal, and a serious fuel and food shortage developed. This diary-style record of twenty-four days in April 2006 allows the reader to accompany us as we experienced shamanic training, toured Kathmandu and Pokhara, as well as witnessing history in the making.