Search

London gallery returns stolen works to Nepalese owners

Two artefacts that were stolen 30 years ago from a temple in Nepal have been repatriated in a ceremony at the Nepalese embassy in London. The 16th-century carved wooden Torana, a ceremonial gateway, and the 17th-century stone statue of a kneeling devotee were both taken from a sacred site near Kathmandu, according to detective superintendent John Roch of the London Metropolitan police at the handover, which was attended by the Nepalese ambassador Gyan Chandra Acharya. In a statement, both parties expressed “their willingness to work closely and promote the collaborative efforts for the preservation of cultural heritage.” Both artefacts were found in the holdings of Barakat Gallery’s London branch, with the London Metropolitan police claiming that the pieces had been inherited from a deceased relative, and had been in the family’s possession for 20 years. Barakat voluntarily relinquished the artefacts after they were determined to be the looted cultural property of Nepal. “I am deeply committed to [supporting] Nepali efforts in protecting and repatriating its rich cultural heritage, and hope we can all continue to fight to reinstate access, agency and power over their living heritage to the Nepali people,” Emiline Smith, a professor of criminology at the University of Glasgow, wrote on Twitter. Emiline specialises in the global illegal trade in cultural objects originating from Asia, and brought the issue to the attention of the authorities in Nepal and Interpol, which then connected with London’s police. Nepal’s acting consul general Bishnu Prasad Gautam received the artefacts on behalf of the Nepalese government in a ceremony organised by the museum. In a statement, Gautam called the repatriation “proactive,” adding that gallery’s cooperation has “positively contributed to Nepal’s national efforts” to recover its stolen cultural property from foreign collections. Image credits: The Nepalese Embassy in London

Art

The mountain no one can climb

For a country where mountain tourism has thrived, there is one mountain in Nepal where climbing is forbidden. Machhapuchhre - meaning “fishtail” - stands at 6,993m in the Annapurna range in central Nepal that is home to three of the world’s 10 highest mountains. Though it doesn’t stand as tall as other mountains, it stands out as a lone peak and appears much taller than it actually is. Machhapuchhare also has a double summit, which is joined by a sharp ridge, and towers over the Phewa Lake. The closest curious tourists can get to the peak is the summit of Mardi Himal, a smaller mountain beneath Machhapuchhare. The reason behind it’s prohibited climbing status: Lieutenant Colonel James Owen Merion Roberts. Jimmy Roberts, as he was popularly known, was a British Army officer and the first military attaché to Nepal. He made significant contributions to Nepal’s economy and local livelihoods after helping open up the country’s remote mountains for commercial mountaineering and trekking. Roberts has since been remembered as the “father of trekking” in Nepal. His fascination with Machhapuchhare began after he read a dispatch from another army officer, and he would eventually become the first and only person to attempt to reach the summit. But, his expedition party, reduced to just two people by the end, abandoned the ascent just 45m below the summit due to bad weather. Following the failed climb, Roberts requested the Nepal government restrict the peak and ensure Machhapuchhare would never be climbed. They obliged. Roberts’ fascination with the mountain and his kinship with Gurungs, who hold Machhapuchhare sacred, and with the people of Chomrong, the last Gurung village before the mountain, may have been the motivation behind his odd request. Though the reason remains a mystery and Roberts’ association with the peak’s prohibited status has been largely forgotten, the prevailing view now is that the mountain is sacred and therefore forbidden to climb. “Machhapuchhare’s summit is not meant to be stepped upon; it is only to be adored by the eyes,” said Tirtha Shrestha, a poet and long-time resident of nearby Pokhara. “Any discourse, not just on Pokhara, but about the beauty of the entire Himalayas, would be incomplete without mentioning Machhapuchhare. Its beauty has greatly moved poets, authors and artists. In many folk songs, the mountain has been showered with praises. Machhapuchhare, for us, is the epitome of beauty,” he said. Image: MountainKick / Instagram

International Travel

Meet Nepal’s oldest native

Villagers believe in the hills of Nuwakot lives Nepal’s oldest native who may even be one of the oldest women in the world. According to her ID, Batuli is 112-years-old but villagers think that she may be older than that age. The centenarian leads an active life by working hard and believes that this lifestyle has helped her live for so long. When asked about the key to longevity she said, “People of this modern age who don’t work and are useless or idle won’t live long. The ones who study a lot and work hard are likely to live a longer life.” Batuli is breaking stereotypes through her work ethic in her old age and spending the money she doesn’t give away on cigarettes and biscuits. During the Nepal earthquake Batuli never left her house even though it was damaged. She explained, “Later I found the walls were collapsed. The pillars too were not straight.” Other villagers said, “She never left her destroyed house. She refused to shelter at a straight house.” Video credit:YouTube/TIG Media via Storyful

Retirement Life

Video shows what it’s really like to climb Mount Everest

Google Maps announced in a blog post on Thursday that it has officially made it to Mount Everest. Google has teamed up with Ava Sherpa, a Nepalese mountaineer who has reached the summit of the world's most famous mountain a record 21 times as well as nonprofit Story Cycle to bring the rest of the world digitally to the Khumbu region in Google Maps. The pictures don't take armchair travellers to the top of the mountain — yet — but around the region and communities at the base of the mountain, such as the Phortse, Khumjung, Thame, Lukla, and the Namche Bazaar. "In the shadow of Mt. Everest lies a group of sacred valleys known as the Khumbu," the landing page on Google Maps reads. "For centuries this remote mountainous region has been the homeland of the Sherpa people. Discover the hidden treasures along the trail and off the beaten path." Google takes you to each village and lets viewers explore medical centres, churches, see the "yak parking lot," and even meet the people who live there including Kancha Sherpa, the last living survivor of the first expedition to summit Mt. Everest. "Our region is famous for being home to Everest, but it's also the home of the Sherpa community and has been for centuries," Ava Sherpa, who also has started the Ava Sherpa Foundation, a nonprofit that works to give more opportunities to the children in Khumbu, said in his Google blog post. "The region has much more to offer than just the mountain. So last year, I guided the Google Maps team through my home region to collect Street View imagery that improves the map of our community." The goal of the project is for the world to have a better understanding of the rich history of Khumbu and its people. What did you think of the video? Doesn’t it look incredible? Share your thoughts in the comments. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Related links: <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/03/teen-saves-flying-sheffield-to-essex-via-germany/">Teen saves money by flying from Sheffield to Essex via Germany</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/05/controversial-idea-to-shorten-airport-queues/">Controversial idea to shorten airport queues</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/05/5-ways-to-avoid-being-stuck-in-the-middle-seat/">5 ways to avoid the middle seat on planes</a>

Travel Tips

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

London gallery returns stolen works to Nepalese owners

The mountain no one can climb

Meet Nepal’s oldest native

Video shows what it’s really like to climb Mount Everest