Shop for India Travel Videos, DVD to Explore Ancient Cultures

DVD. Passport to Adventure India is a land of contrasts and extremes. The desert state of Rajasthan is located in western India on the Pakistan border. This colorful, exotic region is the home of the " Rajputs", warrior clans who ruled this area for over 1000 years. Julie's journey through Rajasthan begins with a horseback trip in the Aravalli mountains and a ride through the ruins of an ancient hilltop fortress. Rajasthan is also home to some of India's most romantic cities. In Udaipur Julie visits a Maharana in his lavish palace to discuss his role in modern day Indian society. She cycles on country roads to get a glimpse of the rural lifestyle, then spends the night in an luxurious tented camp set in an ancient Mughal garden, where she is entertained by Rajasthani dancers. These nomadic people have performed for the royal families of India for centuries and their traditional dances are as bewitching today as ever.

VHS. Asia - a continent steeped in ancient cultures, religions, and buildings. In this intriguing program, we are transported to this exotic land and examine the mysteries behind some of the most fascinating structures found there. Southern India has the largest temple complexes ever built. In "Lost Temples of India", we examine these 1,000-year-old temples adorned with intricate and beautiful sculptures. We learn how the kings used large herds of trained elephants to drag the millions of stone blocks into place and how these temples are virtually unknown and unvisited by Western tourists. Truth or fiction, the stories of Mysteries of Asia will amaze and delight. 60 minutes

VHS. Globe Trekker Video. East India is one of the most populated yet unexplored areas of the planet. Traveller Holly Morris starts her adventure in bustling Calcutta. After a few hectic days she heads for the peace of the remote Andaman Islands and some spectacular dives. She then travels to the former British hill station of Darjeeling in the Himalayas before her final journey and a grueling trek in the remote Arunachal Pradesh region. 55 minutes.

VHS. PBS Home Video. Taking on India is like plunging into a cauldron of spirituality -- really good goop, but you could drown if you're not careful. Adventure Divas wades through the land of deities and meets some ladies who revel in their country's spiritual fabric and ethic of giving back. Filmmaker Ruchira Gupta, muckraker redefined, leads the crew through Mumbai's red light district and around the flesh trade; humanitarian maven Alice Garg tackles poverty when she's not collecting seashells in the desert; Delhi police chief Kiran Bedi pulls the rug out from under corruption; Ela Bhatt quietly incites economic revolution -- using bangles as collateral; and classical and pop music icon Shubha Mudgal fills us in on the guru-dom phenom. Tune in for some enlightenment. 60 minutes

VHS. This fascinating series takes you to the great spiritual places of the world and reflects the lifestyle, landscape and people that surround the sites as well as contemporary spiritual practices within each place. Edward James Olmos narrates Mystic Lands, which also features the original music of internationally acclaimed recording artist Chris Spheeris. Varanasi: City of Light - This is a mystical voyage into the roots of this sacred city and an intimate view of the lifestyle of devout Hindus. The basic tenets of Hinduism are explained including the cycle of reincarnation, Hindu gods, and the path toward enlightenment. From morning prayers and bathing rituals in the River Ganges to cremation fires that burn throughout the night along the rivers banks...this is Varanasi. Australia: Dreamtime - The Aboriginal people of Australia share their intimate understanding of the land and creation in Australia: Dreamtime. Through song and dance, Australia's Aboriginal tribes have passed down legends through generations. Each Aborigine carries a personal "dreaming" of these legends, shared by elders in sacred initiation ceremonies. Explore Aboriginal rock art, storytelling and dance as method of sustaining these legends. 55 minutes

VHS. Globe Trekker Video. The southern tip of India is comprised of two states, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. A land of idyllic beaches, Hindu temples and bustling towns, travellers have long been attracted to southern India with promises of sun and spirituality. Traveller Justine Shapiro begins her journey in vibrant Madras before heading south to the market town of Gingee and the city of Madurai. After watching a Hindu float festival she takes an overnight train to Kerala's coast where she explores its maze of lakes and waterways. She ends her journey finding paradise on the Lakshadweep Islands on the Arabian sea. 55 minutes Along the way: $_$_START_LIST ? Join the locals in Madras's busiest restaurant. ? Ride on a bullock cart to a Hindu temple. ? Visit an elephant sanctuary and help bathe the inmates. ? Gain spiritual insight from one of India's few female gurus. ? Enjoy a Bollywood film at a local cinema. $_$_END_LIST

VHS. Globe Trekker Video. With 25 states, a population of nearly a billion people, 18 recognized languages, and a range of religions unparalleled anywhere, India is a land of contrasts. Follow Megan McCormick through Rajasthan, land of the Maharajas then to Mumbai, India's fastest growing city where street children exist alongside Bollywood, the famous cinema industry and one of the country's biggest businesses. Along the way -- ? Meet Sadhus and visit the Pushkar Fair ? Visit the extraordinary Hindu Temple of Karnimassar where devotees dance on fire ? Wander the walled city of Jaisalmer, once on the trade routes between India and central Asia ? Stay in Pune, home of the Osho Commune founded by one of India's most controversial gurus. Enjoy the sun drenched beaches of Goa, the famous sixties hippie hangout? 55 minutes

VHS. National Geographic. The battle of the sexes was never this brutal. In National Geographic's "Hidden World of the Bengal Tiger", you'll watch from atop an elephant's back as Lakshmi, a mother tiger, tends to her young in the face of the grave danger posed by her fiercest enemy: a male tiger. The forest is cool, green, and beautiful, and thanks to exceptional cinematography, the viewer seems to melt into the trees as Lakshmi hunts and fends off the stalker. The filmmakers' sympathy with their subjects is clear and inevitably the viewer is drawn into the drama of survival in the wild, even the grim beauty of the tiger's kills. Despite this sympathy, there is little temptation to humanize these animals--they aren't people but distant cousins at best, and their feelings and actions are profoundly distinct from our own. These differences provide us unprecedented insight and much to learn from. 60 minutes.

VHS. National Geographic. This National Geographic Explorer video follows a clan of "killer" bees on their annual 100-mile migration from one part of India to the footsteps of the Himalaya Mountains. Because they have only a 50-day life span, half of them die along the way, and the fact that some colonies never make it to their destination gives this 50-minute documentary some suspense. Although much is made of their aggressive tendencies and fearsome attacks on humans, the only injuries viewers see are several stings to a scientist when a few bees get inside his netted hat. In fact, the bees face plenty of predators of their own, from spiders that spin webs strong enough to trap small birds to bee-eating birds that cannot be stung. The close-up cinematography provides marvelous views of the habits of and communication between these venomous creatures. And the sight of 100 buzzing colonies in a single tree or the scientist being hoisted into their midst isn't commonplace either. 60 minutes.

DVD. The World Atlas. 52 Minutes. The Atlas steps into the digital age. A new one-of-a-kind World Atlas covering all parts of the globe with animated maps from Rand McNally and in-depth cultural and historical information. Each episode is dedicated to different countries, containing four distinct features - physical geography, political geography, popular locations, and thematic maps. The new digitally animated one-of-a-kind version of an Atlas of the World like you have never seen before!

VHS. Mystic Fire Video. Through the eyes of Chitra Neogy, actress, poet and filmmaker, we witness the ancient truths and timeless visions of India. 90 minutes ? 2001

VHS. Taj Mahal: Heaven On Earth. Love and religious devotion inspired the building of the Taj Mahal. Moghul ruler, Shah Jahan, erected the Taj Mahal as a symbol of love to his wife and to honor his belief in Islam. Today, the Taj Mahal stands as a sacred reminder of the spiritual devotion of the Moghuls. This episode also explores the ghost city of Fatehpur Sikri, built by Akbar, third of the Moghul rulers, in one of his many efforts to spiritually unite the people of India. Anasazi: The Ancient Ones. In the four-corners of America's Southwest, members of the Pueblo people talk of their ancient ancestors who mysteriously disappeared. These mysteries unfold through the myth and the legends left behind by the Anasazi. Their beliefs in the spirit world are seen through petroglyph drawings and ancient cities lying in ruin. Broken pottery shards, elaborate road systems, and a subterranean world, called Sipapu, through which the Anasazi emerged, weave an amazing tale of the spiritual life of the Anasazi. 52 minutes.

VHS. World Almanac Video. Come explore India's Rajasthan, an exotic land of exquisite colors and magnificent city-palaces. Here lie enchanted castles, holy cities of both the Hindu and Muslim faiths, and fortresses that were the sites of epic battles--a legacy of a land with a rich, complex history of proud maharajahs defending their kingdoms. c1999. 30 minutes.

DVD. Luxury Trains of the World. 55 Minutes. Discover the world's most luxurious trains and relive a bygone era, when the journey itself was the most significant part of the experience; rather than simply getting there. A journey where the passenger becomes a real traveller and is able to experience the much more gracious way of travel - in a living recreation of the golden age of rail. The Royal Orient Express offers an experience of a lifetime; traveling through the beautiful and mystical Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan aboard one of the most exotic trains on earth. Multi-cuisine restaurants, sumptuous furnishings and air condition carriages are just a part of the total enjoyment of luxury travel.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. Set along an artificial lake and surrounded by picturesque mountains, Udaipur is one of the most beautiful cities in the Indian province of Rajasthan. Part of the Palace Of Udaipur is still inhabited by the present head of the Mewar and other areas within it have been transformed into a luxurious hotel. In recent years innumerable gazebos, balconies and decorations have made the elegant almost playful eastern side of the palace into a popular backdrop for numerous films. Located beneath the grand palace and surrounded by thick walls there is a further popular tourist attraction in Udaipur, the Jagdish Temple. At first sight this Vishnu sanctuary appears to be a fortress, a fact that has undoubtedly contributed to its survival. As one of the city's few Hindu temples, the Jagdish Temple survived the troops of Muslim aggressor, Mughal Aurangzeb, as he most likely did not recognize it as a temple. But history and drama aside, as the sun sets beneath the gentle hills of the Avalli Mountains it is easy to become hypnotised by the amazing beauty of Udaipur.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. Fifteen kilometres south of Delhi is one of the most important Islamic monuments in India, the Qutb Minar Complex. A mosque is all that remains of the legendary city of Lal Kot, a city from where Islamic rule spread throughout northern India. The city dates back to 1193 A.D., the year when Muslim invaders first settled on the Indian subcontinent. The development of Lal Kot and the construction of Qutb Minar toward the end of the 12th century accelerated the spread of Islam. The founder of Delhi's first city was Qutb-Du-Din-Aibak who was made governor of the city by the Afghan conqueror, Mohammed Of Ghur. Above the ruins of the Hindu temples that had been incorporated into the architecture, Qurwat-Ul-Islam evolved, a mosque known as The Might Of Islam. The remnants of no less than twenty seven destroyed Hindu and Jain sacred buildings were used in the construction of the first mosque on Indian soil. Until quite recently the tall victory tower that was probably inspired by a similar structure in Afghanistan, was open to the public. However, due to a tragic accident within the tower the authorities have since closed it to the public. Nevertheless, Qutb Minar provides a fascinating and atmospheric insight into the early years of Muslim sovereignty in India.

DVD. Global Treasures. 10 Minutes. At first sight the area around the Victoria Terminus is like one of London's typical historic squares due to the many double-decker busses that can be seen. However, the chaotic hustle and bustle of the streets does not seem to be quite right. That is because this railway station is not in fact located in India but in India! The monumental building is one of the most impressive examples of Victorian Gothic architecture on the Indian sub-continent and from the initial planning stage it took ten years to build the station that is today called, Chhatrapati Shivaji. The station's design gained much inspiration from London's St. Pancras Station that had been completed in 1868. Although for most passengers tremendous hustle and bustle tends to get in the way of any architectural appreciation of the Victoria Terminus it is certain that for many years to come it will remain one of India's most important and fascinating railway stations.

VHS. A puffing steam train climbs into the Himalaya, a rolling rumble echoes over the holy waters of the Ganges, an astonishing five million commuters rush daily through the Bombay Victoria Terminus---join National Geographic as we journey on one of the world's largest railway systems. Since 1953, India's railway has been a unifying force. Not only does it physically link distant regions, it also connects the myriad of castes, languages, and religions that comprise India. It's a rich history, riding the sumptuous "Palace on Wheels" through Rajasthan or the "toy train" to Darjeeling. But sadly, the age of steam is dying. At the Black Beauty contest, the beloved steam engines are admired for the last time. From the driver in the steaming locomotive to the station master in the sleepy village, from the family traveling to a wedding to the commuters in the large cities, this great institution reflects the country itself. Many are the faces, and varied are the stories, on "The Great Indian Railway". 115 minutes. "A beautiful video gently narrated with a lot of love. Have a handkerchief ready for the finale."

VHS. Mystic Fire. A pilgrimage into the heart of India's greatest sacred celebration, the Kumbh Mela which takes place every 12 years. Filmmaker and poet Ira Cohen brings us face to face with an unforgettable gathering of holy men and into the heart of a visionary experience by rendering it as it really is: a circus of high madness, true devotion and showbiz savvy. The Kumbh Mela takes its name from the Hindu legend which tells how four drops of the gods holy elixir fell to the earth from a "kumbh" or pitcher during a struggle with jealous demons fighting in the heavens. The celebration takes place where those drops fell to the earth. "The naked Nagas marching to the river, like sparks from some primordial fire, the people of dust with arms held high. There is a pleasure of being mad that only the madman knows." - Ira Cohen (it takes one to know one). 85 minutes approx. This is a collector's item. New.