Road Less Travelled - E17 Varanasi - Part 1

JonathanLegg dives deep into the rich stew of colonial legacies – wrestling with pehlwans in an akhara, playing at the world’s oldest polo club, searching for fresh hilsa in the chaotic fish markets, and much, much more. Catch all the action in the very first episode of RoadLessTravelled

Jonathan Legg explores the city of joy, Kolkata and dives deep into the richness of its traditions and culture. The pardesi babu experiences Kolkata's oldest mode of transport, the hand drawn rickshaws while also making an effort to ride one. Trying to understand the lives of local rickshaw drivers and their work, Jonathan shows support against banning a potent symbol of India's colonial past.

From the pink city to the blue city, Jonathan weaves his way through citadels, dunes, and temples in this legendary land of kings and warriors. He braves the rat temple in search of the lucky albino rodent, hears the epic of cow-herding gods who spring to life when bards sing of their deeds, and samples the abundance of dromedary products at the world's largest camel reserve. On the darker side, he evades guards and good advice by spending a night hidden in the ruins of Asia's most haunted location, and travels through a jungle to find a witch living in a dilapidated mansion.

From the pink city to the blue city, Jonathan weaves his way through citadels, dunes, and temples in this legendary land of kings and warriors. He braves the rat temple in search of the lucky albino rodent, hears the epic of cow-herding gods who spring to life when bards sing of their deeds, and samples the abundance of dromedary products at the world's largest camel reserve. On the darker side, he evades guards and good advice by spending a night hidden in the ruins of Asia's most haunted location, and travels through a jungle to find a witch living in a dilapidated mansion.

Explore the land of kings and warriors, Rajasthan with Jonathan Legg in the upcoming episode of Road Less Travelled. Experience the royalty of the Rajput community and their fascinating history.

Explore the land of kings and warriors, Rajasthan with Jonathan Legg in the upcoming episode of Road Less Travelled. Experience the royalty of the Rajput community and their fascinating history.

In the upcoming episode of Road Less Travelled, join JonathanLegg as he jets off to Delhi and Manali where he has set some very high travel goals, some of which include practising karate with girls from a local school, performing body bending yoga asanas and exploring the roads of Himachal's beauty, Manali on a classic Royal Enfield.

Join Jonathan Legg as he embarks on a journey to Manali on his Royal Enfield. His experiences are steeped in travel, adventure, lifestyle, people, and fun in the beautiful region of Manali.

Motor and body gasping for breath, Jonathan embarks on a two-wheeled journey over the highest roads in the world, stopping in remote monasteries to learn the secrets of Buddhism's warrior demons and track down a secreted manuscript rumoured to explain the lost years of Jesus. He outwits a gang of armed thugs to get the lowdown on a mysterious crypt and takes a risky launch of faith over uncharted airspace in a paraglider in this episode of Road Less Travelled.

Motor and body gasping for breath, Jonathan embarks on a two-wheeled journey over the highest roads in the world, stopping in remote monasteries to learn the secrets of Buddhism's warrior demons and track down a secreted manuscript rumoured to explain the lost years of Jesus. He outwits a gang of armed thugs to get the lowdown on a mysterious crypt and takes a risky launch of faith over uncharted airspace in a paraglider in this episode of Road Less Travelled.

Jonathan hangs out with a group of fisherman that utilizes the ancient Chinese fishing nets designed in the time of Kublai Khan. He then attends a rehearsal session at a Kathakali dance academy and gets ready to take centre stage with an elaborate 3-hour makeup process. this is followed by a spine-cracking jeep ride to process leaves at the highest orthodox tea plantation in the world. Drenched in healing ointments from an Ayurvedic rubdown after all the hard work, he washes in the strong currents of a salubrious sea believed to also cleans a man of his sins. Finally, when news comes of a 22-billion-dollar treasure stashed in a cursed tomb, he rockets down the coast to beat the military to the scene. Join the excitement in Road Less travelled with Jonatha Legg.

Jonathan hangs out with a group of fisherman that utilizes the ancient Chinese fishing nets designed in the time of Kublai Khan. He then attends a rehearsal session at a Kathakali dance academy and gets ready to take centre stage with an elaborate 3-hour makeup process. this is followed by a spine-cracking jeep ride to process leaves at the highest orthodox tea plantation in the world. Drenched in healing ointments from an Ayurvedic rubdown after all the hard work, he washes in the strong currents of a salubrious sea believed to also cleans a man of his sins. Finally, when news comes of a 22-billion-dollar treasure stashed in a cursed tomb, he rockets down the coast to beat the military to the scene. Join the excitement in Road Less travelled with Jonatha Legg.

Fleeing the pouring monsoon rains, Jonathan seeks refuge, with hot cups of coffee, in the rolling hills of India's coffee country and in the peaceful energy of India's largest Tibetan community. On a remote hillside, three sadhus send him on a quest for a divine message. The trail leads him from the birthplace of Lord Hanuman to avian tarot card dealers, and through the madness of a celestial birthday party.

Fleeing the pouring monsoon rains, Jonathan seeks refuge, with hot cups of coffee, in the rolling hills of India's coffee country and in the peaceful energy of India's largest Tibetan community. On a remote hillside, three sadhus send him on a quest for a divine message. The trail leads him from the birthplace of Lord Hanuman to avian tarot card dealers, and through the madness of a celestial birthday party.

Jonathan gets the classic train experience, acclimatizing to bizarre washroom customs and the diversity of society rolling down the tracks. Glory, salvation, and madness ensue when the master of the universe emerges from his temple and rolls down a flesh-packed street on a five-storey-high chariot. Our host first tries to slip into the guarded temple through tact, guile, and disguise; later, he dives into the frenzied mob of millions, braving elbows, stampedes, and police batons to grab the fabled ‘ropes of salvation’.

Jonathan gets the classic train experience, acclimatizing to bizarre washroom customs and the diversity of society rolling down the tracks. Glory, salvation, and madness ensue when the master of the universe emerges from his temple and rolls down a flesh-packed street on a five-storey-high chariot. Our host first tries to slip into the guarded temple through tact, guile, and disguise; later, he dives into the frenzied mob of millions, braving elbows, stampedes, and police batons to grab the fabled ‘ropes of salvation’.

Jonathan begins a quest to find an extreme type of holy man reputed to eat human flesh and commit other blatant acts of embracing taboos in a strange path to nirvana. He begins in the holy city of Varanasi - The Jerusalem of Asia. On it's gritty, narrow cobblestone alleyways, he encounters a variety of bizarre expressions of spirituality and devotion, from starving babas to burning corpses. The search continues in the village of Mayong, where ancient black magic practices are passed on in secrecy from generations past.

The quest for the extreme holy men, the aghoris, continues, as a new one begins. In a country where anything can be found, Jonathan is not surprised to find women in different roles, but the extremes are shockingly diverse and unexpected. In the countryside, he joins a vigilante group with a celebrity leader that is pushing back against oppression with an innovative and aggressive approach. Sparks fly as the group descends on families accused of abuse. On the flip side, in the north-eastern city of Shillong, Jonathan meets females so empowered that the men are clamouring for more rights.

The quest for the extreme holy men, the aghoris, continues, as a new one begins. In a country where anything can be found, Jonathan is not surprised to find women in different roles, but the extremes are shockingly diverse and unexpected. In the countryside, he joins a vigilante group with a celebrity leader that is pushing back against oppression with an innovative and aggressive approach. Sparks fly as the group descends on families accused of abuse. On the flip side, in the north-eastern city of Shillong, Jonathan meets females so empowered that the men are clamouring for more rights.

Jonathan caps off the season with an expedition into the spirit of isolation. What drives a person away from the human hive of big metropolis and out into the fringes of our world? In the shadow of the mighty Himalayas, he travels along a perilous road to the towering Tawang monastery to learn the monk’s mindset. In the backwoods of California, he finds survivalists who cling to their guns and expect government agents to arrive shortly. And, in the grand-daddy adventure of them all, he boards an icebreaking Maersk sea vessel for a journey to Antarctica. In the frozen tundra, something extraordinary is patiently waiting.

Jonathan goes social climbing in an Asian megacity built on determination and dreams. He visits the Slumdog Millionaire neighbourhood of Dharavi to find an economic powerhouse hidden in the shantytown. Our host splurges large to explore the art, architecture, and gripping history of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where every notable figure, from President Clinton to John Lennon, has passed through. But the lure of Bombay’s seething streets pulls him back down to action, where he joins up with the city’s elite NRK force on a midnight search and destroy mission, keeping both vermin and plague at the city gates. Grubby from the endeavour, Jonathan heads to a neighbourhood thriving around a singular purpose: laundry. Rolling up his sleeves, he washes, folds, and delivers in a one-of-a-kind community. Cleaned up, he shoots for Bollywood stardom on a deadline, enrolling in the city’s oldest acting class to learn “the method”, and then crashing the set of a soap opera in hopes of scoring the big role.

Jonathan goes social climbing in an Asian megacity built on determination and dreams. He visits the Slumdog Millionaire neighbourhood of Dharavi to find an economic powerhouse hidden in the shantytown. Our host splurges large to explore the art, architecture, and gripping history of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, where every notable figure, from President Clinton to John Lennon, has passed through. But the lure of Bombay’s seething streets pulls him back down to action, where he joins up with the city’s elite NRK force on a midnight search and destroy mission, keeping both vermin and plague at the city gates. Grubby from the endeavour, Jonathan heads to a neighbourhood thriving around a singular purpose: laundry. Rolling up his sleeves, he washes, folds, and delivers in a one-of-a-kind community. Cleaned up, he shoots for Bollywood stardom on a deadline, enrolling in the city’s oldest acting class to learn “the method”, and then crashing the set of a soap opera in hopes of scoring the big role.

Jonathan Legg has entertained you with his many adventures across India through the season. He has had innumerable adventures and misadventures on his journeys, He has documented unique landscapes, fascinating people, and intriguing situations on his travels and shared them with us in a way that has made us laugh but also think. If you have enjoyed watching Season 1 of the show, this is a compilation of some of the most enjoyable moments from the season.

Jonathan Legg has entertained you with his many adventures across India through the season. He has had innumerable adventures and misadventures on his journeys, He has documented unique landscapes, fascinating people, and intriguing situations on his travels and shared them with us in a way that has made us laugh but also think. If you have enjoyed watching Season 1 of the show, this is a compilation of some of the most enjoyable moments from the season.