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Arts & Culture

Himalaya With Michael Palin

Michael Palin on the footplate, Khyber Railway
Courtesy of Basil Pao
Michael Palin on the footplate, Khyber Railway

Airs Tuesdays, June 18-July 2, 2013 at 8 p.m. & 9 p.m. on KPBS TV

Encountering new extremes of wealth and poverty, altitude and freezing cold, the ex-Python brings his unique brand of wit and wisdom with him as he travels across the roof of the world in "Himalaya With Michael Palin."

Traveling through this awe-inspiring scenery, including rich flora and fauna and dizzying switchback mountain roads, Michael visits the region's cities and makes detours to places - and people - of special interest.

From the historic Khyber Pass, Michael goes to Peshawar by steam train and walks the streets of Darra to the rattle of AK 47s.

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He crosses into India, passing through troubled Kashmir, and visits Dharamsala for an audience with the Dalai Lama.

In Nepal, Michael witnesses the trials of the Gurkha recruitment, before trekking to Tibet to witness Everest's Death Zone first-hand.

After experiencing Lhasa, he heads to the nomads' annual horse festival, then through Yunan to Assam and on to Bhutan, where he is entertained by members of the royal family.

Michael's epic journey ends in Bangladesh, where the great rivers of the Himalaya disgorge into the Bay of Bengal, just in time for the monsoon.

This series originally aired in 2011.

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2013 Episode Broadcast Schedule:

"North By Northwest" repeats Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 8 p.m.

"Passage By India" repeats Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 9 p.m.

"Annapurna To Everest" repeats Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 8 p.m.

"Roof Of The World" repeats Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 9 p.m.

"Leaping Tigers, Naked Nagas" repeats Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 8 p.m.

"Bhutan To The Bay Of Bengal" repeats Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 9 p.m.

Michael Palin on the Khyber Railway
Michael Palin in Kashmir
Michael Palin at the India-Pakistan border ceremony