The docu-series ‘Expedition Borderlands with Levison Wood and Ash Bhardwaj’ premieres on 8th September only on the discovery+ app

• British explorer Levison Wood teams up with his dear friend Ash Bhardwaj to journey across 2500kms along the India-Pakistan border, visiting volatile regions packed with a lifetime of experience

MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 02, 2022 (GPN): What binds the two most talked about nations – India and Pakistan together? What makes their relationship unique? How have the lives of the people changed since the India-Pakistan partition? discovery+ India Originals- Expedition Borderlands with Levison Wood and Ash Bhardwaj, an upcoming adventure answers these and many other questions. This one of its kind four-part docu-series premiering on September 08 on discovery+, features internationally acclaimed explorer and host Levison Wood who is on a  quest to explore the lives of those living along the volatile borders of India and Pakistan. In the past, we have seen Levison Wood adventure through treacherous terrains in ‘Walking The Himalayas’, ‘Arabia with Levison Wood’ and many other documentaries. This time his friend and travel writer Ash Bhardwaj joins him on this adventure, navigating the borderlands while unraveling the cultural nuances of the India-Pakistan border.

This unique docu-series will take viewers through an expedition of a 2500-km journey that Lev and Ash embark on. Navigating across a route that has never been captured before on camera, the duo immerses themselves in people’s everyday lives while traveling to some remote and off-beat locations like Tyakshi, Turtuk, Nubra valley, Dras, Kargil, Teetwal, Gurez in India and Lahore, Peshawar, Khyber Pass, Nowshera, Taxila, Skardu, Khaplu in Pakistan to gain an authentic understanding of the local culture and tradition. As the journey progresses, Bhardwaj discovers his roots and the rich connection he shares with the culture and traditions of the land, from both India and Pakistan. 

Talking about the docu-series, Levison Wood said, “Ash and I were lucky enough to experience the incredible food, culture  and hear plenty of fascinating stories in both India and Pakistan. I couldn’t think of anyone I would rather have done this journey with than Ash. It was interesting to see the countries from his perspective – and we had a lot of laughs along the way! The best part of this trip was seeing what unites the two countries in this border region. Our journey helped us to try and  understand the people who have so much in common yet are so divided. This journey was unforgettable. The border regions are home to resilient and affectionate civilians who welcomed us into their homes and lives. This journey was a true adventure. We ended up in some difficult situations, learned a lot about these fascinating countries and had many heartfelt  moments along the way.

Avid explorer and travel writer Ash Bhardwaj expressed his views and said, “Lev and I have been travelling together for over a decade, but this journey was particularly special. Being able to walk in the footsteps of my ancestors made me feel vividly connected to my heritage – not just in Punjab, but on the Pakistani side of the border, too. The geography along the border is truly remarkable, but what really captured my heart was the people we met along the way. As well as the amazing sights, sounds and foods of the journey, we met some incredible characters – mostly through taking part in unexpected activities. Lev and I each bring a different perspective to our travels, which makes it more rewarding for each of us – and it is a real privilege to share our experiences with the discovery + audience.”

“Along with the rich content that draws upon the history and diversity of two countries, the format’s authenticity and this unique route is what makes this expedition so captivating. We are thrilled to collaborate with renowned explorer Lev and his friend Ash whose incredible experiences on this unique adventure are sure to capture the audience’s attention”, said Sai Abishek, Head of Factual & Lifestyle Cluster- South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery. He added, “We at Warner Bros. Discovery are known for our impactful storytelling, high-definition content where adventure genre is what we are known for and are happy to bring that expertise and experience to our viewers in India and around the world.”

In the series, Lev and Ash trek through the snow-capped mountains of the Gurez valley in Kashmir to witness the majestic beauty of the borderlands. The duo engage in local sports like Horse Polo on both sides of the border, a quick game of cricket at Teetwal, and countless more in the course of their journey. They immerse themselves in an authentic cultural adventure and indulge in song and dance along with Dashungs, a local Ladakhi band. In Amritsar, they offer their prayers and services at the Golden Temple with the Langar Seva. On the other side of the border, they relish local food delicacies like offal (goat’s testicles, brain, heart) in Lahore, and attend a local Qawwali performance. Amidst gallivanting escapades, they traverse rocky terrains to see the gleaming Indus River and catch a glimpse of the illustrious sunset in Gilgit amidst breathtaking views of the Himalayas.

Get ready to catch Levison Wood and Ash Bhardwaj on their quest to explore the lives of people living along the borders of India and Pakistan only on discovery+ from 8^th  September onwards.Ends

About Levison Wood

Levison Wood is a world-renowned explorer, photographer and author. His thirst for adventure started in his early twenties with a five month hitchhike from the UK to India after finishing university. He has since walked the length of the river Nile, over the Himalayas, Central America, crossed the Caucasus, circumnavigated the Arabian Peninsula and followed the migration and conservation of elephants in Botswana. His critically acclaimed television series have been broadcast around the world, including ‘Walking the Himalayas’ with Discovery channel. He has written ten best-selling books. Wood has long been fascinated with India and Pakistan and now wants to understand what binds them together but makes each of them unique.

About Ashwin Bhardwaj

Ash Bhardwaj is an award-winning travel-writer, film-maker and broadcaster. His love of travel began with a rugby tour to New Zealand, ski-instructing in Switzerland, backpacking around India, and being a cowboy in Australia. Ash then became a travel journalist, and he now writes for all of the major British newspapers, reports for international broadcasters, and lectures in Journalism at City, University of London. Ash has travelled to every environment on the planet, and walked over 3000km with Levison, filming his journeys in Uganda, Sudan, India, Honduras, Georgia, Oman, Israel and Palestine. Ash recently finished an 8500km overland journey from the Norwegian Arctic to Ukraine, exploring the legacy of Russian occupation, and he co-presents the travel podcast The First Mile. Ash is half-Indian and half-British, and he loves nothing more than immersing himself in his heritage. This journey is a chance to explore his family’s past in places that he never thought he could visit.

About discovery+

‘discovery+’, an exciting D2C streaming app is launched to satiate the unmet need of a differentiated product, offering premium real-life entertainment. Priced competitively at INR 399 per annum, the app is developed and curated specifically for India. Discovery+ offers thousands of hours of exclusive content across 55+ genres, including Science, Adventure, Food and Lifestyle, in 7 languages including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Bengali. The premium subscribers have access to a pool selection of never-seen-before Premium Discovery titles, must-watch documentaries, India originals and exclusive acquisitions. Free users of the app have access to all-time favourites from the Discovery library.