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Nepal is home not only to the spectacular mountains and rock formations of the Himalayas but also to a complex mix of Hindu and Buddhist cultures going back 2,000 years or more.

Professor David Gellner will give an overview of the rich Hindu-Buddhist civilization of the Kathmandu Valley, the more rural, but equally fascinating cultures of the Nepalese ‘middle hills’ (which would count as mountains anywhere else in the world), and the fascinating Tibetan Buddhist kingdom of Mustang.

Professor Mike Searle will introduce the geological history of the Himalaya, in particular the spectacular geology of the Annapurna Range and Kali Gandaki gorge. Much of the valley north to Mustang was dammed as the Himalaya rose from at least 20 million years, forming a lake that stretched north as far as Tibet. When earthquakes caused a breach in the dam the entire lake emptied southward to disgorge onto the plains of India. The lake deposits form many of the impressive cliffs along the Kagbeni to Mustang trek.

Schedule

7.00pm - Welcome from Claire Baxter and Kate Suares, Cambridge and Oxford Alumni Offices and Asiya Zargar, Indus Experiences

7.10pm - Talk from Professors Mike Searle and David Gellner

7.40pm - Q&A with Professors Searle and Gellner, facilitated by Asiya Zargar

8.00pm - Finish

This talk is part of the Oxford and Cambridge Universities Alumni Travel Programme and is organised by Indus Experiences who will be arranging the alumni tour to Nepal accompanied by Mike and David.

This event will be recorded.