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.

The Newars who live in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal are well known for their urban civilisation as well as for the social organisation of their territory, which they have conserved for centuries. The author shows that for the Newars there exists a complex relationship between gods and men and also that their notion of territory is inextricably linked with the sanctuaries and temples, where gods have precise sites. Even though political power has always been in the hands of the Hindus, the co-existence of Hinduism and Buddhism since the fifth century and the influence of Tantrism later on has given rise to a complex pantheon. The sanctuaries and temples are not merely decorative, they are functional as well. Each festival takes place around a temple and these mark out the territory the Newars inhabit. The Newar town not only has a religious centre but a political centre as well. For instance, at Bhaktapur the royal goddess Taleju is the political figure head and the goddess Tripurasundari the religious figure head. The royal goddess Taleju being the sovereign deity of the town, it is obvious that the political centre has primacy over the religious centre. The seats of the deities within a territory are situated in concentric circles. Published in association with Centre de Sciences Humaines, New Delhi.

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.

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

A collection of investigations into strange and mysterious phenomena from around the world • Explores ancient and modern sacred sites, places of power, natural wonders, altered states, UFO encounters, and the afterlife • Investigates sites and phenomena in Egypt, China, Ireland, and throughout North America, including Oak Island, Florida’s Coral Castle, Wisconsin’s UFO hot-spot, and giant-built constructions in Illinois • Examines the forgotten or suppressed work of extraordinary personalities, including Jules Verne, Sir Francis Bacon, and the real-life Indiana Jones, Count Byron de Prorok Sharing his personal investigations into a wide range of ancient mysteries and paranormal enigmas in America and abroad, Frank Joseph takes us on a journey into the high strangeness of our world. Beginning with the work of the master builders of antiquity, the author examines Old World connections with New World sacred centers, such as the similarities between Ohio’s Mound City and the pyramids and tombs of the Giza Plateau, as well as ancient American cities of the Sun, China’s Great Pyramid, and the possibility of a Templar treasure on Oak Island. He explores modern sacred sites, such as Iowa’s Grotto of Gems, Tennessee’s Greek Temple of the goddess Athena, and Florida’s Coral Castle. He investigates pre-Columbian sites and underwater pyramids in the Midwest, Wisconsin’s UFO hot-spot, lost Aztec Cities of Gold in Kansas, and giant-built constructions in Illinois. He details how the intriguing acoustics of Newgrange in Ireland are echoed in its spiral carvings. Exploring spiritual uses of altered states, he looks at the practices of Minoan snake handlers, Mayan shamans, and prophets through the ages. Providing his own investigations into classic paranormal phenomena and ancient mysteries, the author also examines evidence of the Bermuda Triangle, Atlantis, and the Ark of the Covenant. He explores the forgotten or suppressed work of some of history’s most extraordinary personalities, including Jules Verne, Sir Francis Bacon, Mother Shipton, and the real-life inspiration for Indiana Jones, Count Byron de Prorok. He investigates wonders of our natural world, including communication with elemental beings, the numinous secrets of water, and the living soul of matter. Frank Joseph investigates these phenomena not to explain them away, but to expose their power to affect and elevate human consciousness.