"Journeying into the Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang (recently opened to visitors but requiring a special limited permit) is like traveling back in time for a glimpse of what Tibet might have been."
If you are interested in Bon and Old School spirituality of Tibet, or in the history of Zhang Zhung, or ancient Tibet petroglyphs and settlements, you should know about this Zhang Zhung program with one of the world's great explorers. This program will fill quickly. It is not a trek but involves some camping.
The trip to Mustang is a trek for those who love trekking at its best, ancient art and unspoiled Tibetan culture. More about Mustang.
Recipient of post-doctoral fellowship from American Society of Learned Societies, 2007
National Geographic Grant, 2006, and many other top level grants
Discovery Channel film of Guge, 2006
Chosen as one of the 120 greatest living explorers in new book, Adventurous Lives, Adventurous Dreams
Published books with elite European presses (Search Amazon.com)
University of VA, visiting scholar
Discover of Zhang Zhung civilization in Tibet
Close associate of HH Menri Khenpo, head of Bon and Lopon Tenzin Namdak, senior-most Bon scholar.
25 intensive years of exploring the Himalaya
Professional mountain and cultural and pilgrimage guide since mid-1980s
From an interview with John in The Washington Post:
John Vincent Bellezza has begun to put a historical and archaeological foundation under the legend of Zhang Zhung. Tramping 30,000 miles across an area about the size of Texas and California combined, Bellezza documented 512 sites in northern and western Tibet, indicating that a far-flung civilization preceded the empire. Zhang Zhung was real, perhaps even an empire in its own right.
Here are some of the many links for your exploration:
About John Bellezza, and his extensive work (Includes The Bellezza Newsletters)
The 2009 Pilgrimages
Bon Foundation 'Menri Road' Report
ZhangZhung.org
Bon Future Fund
NPR Interview with Alex Chadwick
Ligmincha.org The place to find the Bellezza Books.
Parabola Magazine Review of Four of John's books
Contact:
Adventures Within Reach
2527 Broadway St.
Boulder, CO 80304
Toll free: 877.232.5836
Local: 303.325.3746
Fax: 915-242-1272
Email: info@AdventuresWithinReach.com
This page from friends of John Bellezza at the Philadelphia Meditation Center (John led two wonderful pilgrimages for us in 2000; Feel free to contact.)
Mustang Nepal Buddhist Cave Art