Ganges

This sumptuous series tells the story of one of the most extraordinary rivers in the world - the Ganges. Follow its journey from mountain to sea, and discover how it touches the lives of every living thing in India.

Embark on an epic journey through India as the very best photography captures the majestic scenery of the Ganges and its beautiful, surprising and often dramatic wildlife. Looking both within its flowing waters and beyond its banks, these three films reflect the whole basin and the many sources and tributaries.

Travelling from the stark beauty of the Himalayas to the rich wilderness of the Sunderbans, witness the dramatic lives of iconic and lesser-known animals - from tigers, elephants and rhino, to the tiniest wild pigs. Marvel at architectural wonders including the Taj Mahal and Shahjahanabad, the ancient cities of Hariwar, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Vikramshilla and Guar, and be amazed by the incredible colour and richness of contemporary Indian culture.

Daughter of the Mountains - High in the cold peaks of the Himalayas is the sacred source of the river Ganges. This is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful landscapes on Earth. We follow the river's journey to the lush foothills, where our superb natural history photography captures the last wild herds of elephants that live by the riverbank, as well as tigers, otters and peacocks.

River of Life - We continue downstream, to the fertile central plains of the Ganges and her tributaries. Travelling through 5,000 years of civilisation, we visit one of the oldest and most sacred cities in the world, Varanasi. Whilst Sarus cranes and troops of macaques thrive on these plains, other animals - such as the unique Gangetic river dolphins and gharial crocodiles - struggle to survive here.

The Tiger's Realm - We enter the teeming delta, where the river Ganges meets the sea. Here modern cities such as Calcutta join with the ancient swamps of the Sunderbans. This amazingly diverse wetland, barely filmed before, is home to giant lizards, man-eating crocodiles and forests full of monkeys. Here the tiger is still king, and man is on the menu.

"Extraordinary cinematography ... This film is a classic." - National Geographic

"Ganges is simply stunning, one of the finest efforts of the finest TV natural history unit in the world."
- Paul Hoggart, The Times

"This is television documentary-making at its sumptuous best. The camera lingers lazily on its subjects, both animal and human, while the film stock's colours are turned up to maximum intensity. The end result is an intelligently made visual treat and an intriguing tribute to one of the world's greatest rivers."
- Robin McKie, Observer

"...an outstanding travelogue ... Lyrically written and beautifully filmed..." Stephen Pile, Daily Telegraph

"The photography ... is mind-blowing, allowing for a near-synaesthesic experience; the Indian tourist board should be delighted." - Ali Catterall, Guardian

"The filming was spectacular, real eyeball ecstasy..." - AA Gill, Sunday Times

"There is nothing groundbreaking ... It merely does what the BBC's Natural History Unit does better than anyone else - it takes you to a breathtakingly beautiful part of the world and shows you sights that only a fortunate few are ever likely to see in person ... it films an astounding richness of people and wildlife, from the snow leopards of the Himalayas to the ridiculous monkeys of Rishikesh. If you are in the right frame of mind, it is the most beautiful, exotic and restful programme of the week."- David Chater, The Times

"A cross between travelogue and natural history film, this series is irresistible for the armchair traveller ... gorgeous..." - Anna Frame, Daily Express

"If you like breathtaking scenery, you're in for a treat ... the filmmakers have made an exquisite programme, where even a clump of sliding mud looks stunning. All it would take is a David Attenborough voiceover and you could be watching Planet Earth. OK, you may learn more about animals and plants from ol' Davey boy, but did Planet Earth have cheeky macaque monkeys that pull on people's trousers to beg for food and look so adorable you want to get the next flight to India? Did it heck!" - Jane Simon, Daily Mirror

"...this programme is a cinematographic treat bringing knowledge and understanding of an often overlooked area." - Katie Toms, Observer

The total length of the Ganges river is about 2,510 km (1,557 miles), stretching from Uttarakhand Himalaya through the plains of north India and Bangladesh, and draining into the Bay of Bengal.