Global Treasures: Changu Narayan

Television Director: Ullman, Frank

Producer: Scarson, Peter O.

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Catalogue Number: GTR-DVD-1198

UPC: 879061007972

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Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.

The Changu Narayan Temple is located around five kilometres north of Bhaktapur in Nepal. The sanctuary is situated on a 1,450-metre-high mountain and is one of seven cultural heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley. The journey to the Hindu temple complex travels up several steps and through the small picturesque Nepalese village of Narayan.

The origins of this Hindu temple date back to the 4th century AD, and a stone inscription on a garuda column indicates the remarkable age of this cult site.

The sanctuary and main temple are dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, who appears as Narayana, the Creator of a New Age.

In recent years, the temple has become increasingly tranquil as the number of pilgrims is declining, though they are gradually being replaced by tourists.

Today, Changu Narayan is a kind of sleeping beauty that awaits the moment when both the temple and village will awake once more.