India and Southeast Asia - presenterless version - S0.E1

In India and Southeast Asia, testimonies of ancient cultures can be discovered. “Planet of Treasures” shows how religions and foreign influence shaped these regions. The best places to understand Asian religiosity are Varanasi and Elephanta island in India. Especially on the island of Bali Hinduism arrived early on in Asia. Hinduism was also adopted by rulers such as the Khmer kings of Angkor in Cambodia. A special kind of Buddhism shaped Luang Prabang in Laos. India’s wealth, mainly accumulated by the Rajputs, had long attracted Islamic rulers. They erected the Mughal Empire with buildings like the Taj Mahal. The influence of the British colonial era is still highly visible in India. For Vietnam, there was no luck after the end of colonialism. Several wars devastated the country - the imperial citadel of Hue can testify to this.