The dramatic scenery and spiritual promise of the Himilayas have prompted numerous artists and adventurers to make a pilgramage to their rugged slopes in search of beauty and inspiration. A meeting point for Northern India, Ladakh, Tibet, China, Nepal and Bhutan, this mountainous region it home to a wide diversity of peoples and faiths, each with their own musical traditions and styles. From monastic songs and folk ballads to contemporary collaborations, this Rough Guide explores the array of wonderful sounds that have drawn their inspiration from life on "the Roof of the World."