Himalayan Culture: Traditional, Historic Nepal

You can cross the Kathmandu Valley in a day, yet it holds more history than most countries. This documentary is about the living side of that history — not monuments behind ropes, but temples and stupas where people still pray, trade and meet their neighbours every morning.

Boudhanath at first light

Before the shops open, Boudhanath belongs to the people walking the kora, always clockwise, spinning prayer wheels as they go. We filmed here several mornings in a row, and the same faces passed the camera each day: monks, grandmothers with their malas, a man who has walked the same circuit for as long as he can remember.

Courtyards, craft and festival days

In the old towns of the valley, Newar craftsmen still carve wood and cast metal the way their families taught them. The film spends time in their workshops and in the courtyards where festivals spill out into the streets, with music, food and processions that bring whole neighbourhoods together.

A few things to know

• Walk clockwise around stupas and temples.
• Ask before photographing people, especially during prayers.
• Early mornings are the best time to see the valley as locals do.
• Dress modestly and remove shoes where you see others doing so.