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9 Movies for HIMALAYAN Lovers & MOUNTAIN Climbers

Someone once told me, “The day you venture into the Himalayas, you are doomed for life and addicted till eternity.” Obviously, I didn’t listen and went ahead with my plan, loosing myself to the Himalayan mountains forever. If you are too a part of this tribe and you crave for the Himalayas every now and then, this list is custom made for you – 9 must-watch movies that every Himalayan lover will relate to, and every mountain climber will sit-back to watch.

From the breezing prayer flags,  the snow filled mountain peaks, the Buddhist culture that the mountains echo, the myths and dangers of the climbs, to the exhilarating success stories of standing on the tip of the Everest – these nine movies have it all. So, if you cannot answer your mountain call anytime soon in person, embrace this blockbuster journey to the Himalayas instead…

#1. Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

The Plot: True story of Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt), an Austrian mountain climber who became friends with the Dalai Lama at the time of China’s takeover of Tibet. Filmed in the foothills of Himalayas, the movie takes you through the mesmerizing mountains, into Lhasa and leaves you speechless with the Tibetan culture and the teachings of Dalai Lama.

Favorite Quote: “We have a saying in Tibet: If a problem can be solved there is no use worrying about it. If it can’t be solved, worrying will do no good.” – Dalai Lama.

#2. Everest (1998)

The Plot: This is a dramatic true story of a team of climbers who found hope, strength and triumph in the wake of tragedy. Their successful ascent of Mount Everest, just days after fellow mountaineers and friends died there, is a compelling story about the human spirit and a mountain they love, respect and sometimes fear.

#3. Himalaya (1999)

The Plot: In a village in the North-Western Himalayas, Tinle, a charismatic old chieftain, whose eldest son has just died, refuses to allow the young Karma to lead the yak caravan. They both end up leading on two different routes. This is the story of their rivalry in the Himalayas.

Favorite Quote: Tinle: Why did you come with me? Norbou: When you left the monastery, I remembered what one of my masters said. ‘When two paths open up before you, always choose the hardest one.’

#4. The Way Back (2011)

The Plot: In 1941, three men walked out of the Himalayas into India. They had survived a 4000 mile walk to freedom. This film is dedicated to them, and all the wild terrains they crossed.

Favorite Quote: “Kindness. That can kill you here.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87kezJTpyMI

DOCUMENTARY MOVIES for Daring Climbers 

mountain movies - quotes

#5. Blindsight (2006)

The Plot: Six blind Tibetan teenagers, shunned by their culture as sinners or possessed by demons, band together to climb the north side of Mount Everest. With the inspiration of their fiery, blind teacher who fought to establish a Tibetan school for blind children, the teens are guided by Erik Weihenmayer, the only blind mountaineer to have successfully scaled Everest. The climbers suffer through illness, bad weather, and the stark challenge of tackling one of the greatest natural wonders on the planet.

Favorite Quote: “When I was 15 I went blind completely. I hated blindness. And I wasn’t afraid to go blind and see darkness, see, I think that’s myth. I was afraid to be swept to the sidelines and forgotten. To be obsolete. And it was a few months after that I got this newsletter in braille of a group taking blind kids rock climbing. And I thought, I mean I took my hand and ran it up the wall in my room, and I thought that sounds insane, I mean who would be stupid enough to take blind kids rock climbing. So I signed up.”

#6. High Ground (2012)

The Plot: Eleven veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan join an expedition to climb the 20,000 foot Himalayan giant Mount Lobuche. With blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer and a team of Everest summiters as their guides, they set out on an emotional and gripping climb to reach the top in an attempt to heal the emotional and physical wounds of the longest war in U.S. history.

#7. The Summit (2013)

The Plot: K2, commonly known as Savage Mountain, is an extension of the northwestern Himalayan Mountain range and is located in the remote region between Pakistan and China. With an unprecedented fatality rate of one in four climbers, it has rightfully earned the title of the second most murderous mountain. But with any high risk sport comes the love of the challenge, and in August 2008 22 climbers from several international expeditions converged on High Camp of K2, the last stop before the summit. Forty-eight hours later, 11 had been killed or simply vanished into thin air. Like a horror movie come to life, it was as if the mountain began stealing lives, one climber at a time.

#8. K2: Siren Of The Himalayas (2014)

The Plot: This breathtaking film follows an historic attempt to summit the world’s most challenging peak on the 100-year anniversary of the Duke of Abruzzi’s landmark K2 expedition in 1909.

And how can I miss, like always, the last one is my favorite Bollywood Bonus! 

#9. Highway (2014) 

The Plot: Amongst this list of movies, this one is based on an industrialist’s daughter is brutally abducted during a trip into the country with her fiance, and she begins to establish an unspoken bond with her kidnapper as they travel the highway to an unknown destination, through the foothills of the Himalayas.

Happy Watching! 


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CategoriesCULTURE
STREETTROTTER

StreetTrotter is a Travel, Culture & Lifestyle blog, inspiring people everyday with real stories to look good and travel even better. Founded in 2012 by Shraddha Gupta, Founder & COO, this space is all about experiencing new things in life, be it a daring mountain trek, a frugal backpacking trip, a runway look made local, or simply anything that scares you enough to live a little more deeper.

  1. Bhanu Uday says:

    nice…couldn’t digest the last one though….One big miss was i guess was the Movie K2: The Ultimate High(1991)….

    1. A lot of people have found it as an odd addition, But it was just supposed to be a bonus Bollywood addition, for the foreign readers of this blog. Apologies to all who are disappointed with it! Thanks for the feedback anyways! Happy watching.

  2. Puneet says:

    No mention of ‘vertical limit’
    You gotta be kidding me, it’s one of the best movies made on k2 expedition. if you haven’t watched it yet, please do. I bet you’ll add a 10th entry to this list of yours

    1. Hi Puneet,

      Thanks for the suggestion. I am sure it should have been on the list! Although, on popular request – there is another list in the pipeline soon, and Vertical Limit will be number one on it! Happy Watching!

  3. Suman Gurung says:

    Ahhh…Mountain is where i love to be forever & ever……i have been trekking in the Great Himalaya region for some time now…in the Mountains…..i just feel like i am the happiest soul ever to live in this wild wild world….”

  4. Suman Gurung says:

    Seven Years in Tibet is very well written by Heinrich Harrer…i am the one who just love to read this book every once in a while……the best book i have ever read before….:)

  5. Chandan Negi says:

    Liked the collection of movies you have put together, however your introductory note could have been better….You have mentioned about mountains echoing Buddhist culture…Himalayas are cradle of HIndu culture too…right from Holy shrines of Badrinath & Kedarnath to Shiva’s abode Kailash Mansarovar…

    1. Hi Chandan, thanks for the feedback. The Hindu culture is sure very well prevalent in the Himalayas, mostly on the religious trails like you mentioned. Buddhism as I have come across, has always seemed a it more dominant elsewhere where the trekking peaks are, and mostly where these movies are shot. But I might be not completely informed. So, thanks! Appreciate it.

  6. Abid Balti says:

    ou forget to inckude Hollywood superhit movies Vertical Limit and K2 , these two movies were also filmed in Karakoram Himalyas in Pakistan

  7. Saima says:

    MOUNTINS!!! ..the sacred the wonder land on earth and specially Himalayas!! What a great list.. LOVED it. Himalaya have charm of their own. Nothing can be compared with these mountains specially after having trAvelled and seen mighty K2 on my trek til basecamp, i call myself the luckiest person on earth. Pakistan is land of gigantic and bewitching mountains and travel on KKH here is life-time experience. This is the place as safe as can be anywhere around the world. Well, do post next list of movies. Looking forward. 🙂 Love. Peace from Pakistan

    1. Hey Saima. Good to hear from you and about your trek till the base camp. Do you have a blog or a written account of it somewhere? Would love to read about your experience. Let me know! Also – the second list comes out on Monday, so stay tuned and visit back. Thanks.

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  10. Shan Bin Zafar Abbasi says:

    Great List. I have been trekking in Pakistan since past 4 years. You should add German movie called ”Nanga Parbat” about Messner brothers too. Respect from Pakistan.

  11. Asif Qureshi says:

    You missed one great mountain flick. It is the 1991 feature called, K2-The Ultimate High. It has Michael Beihn and Matt Craven.
    Awesome treat!!!

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