Watch Discovery Channel Documentaries online: Episode 9 Secret Towers of The Himalayas

The Himalayan Towers also called Stone star-shaped towers, are a series of stone towers located mostly in Kham, an ancient province of Tibet, in Sichuan and in Tibet. The towers are located in regions of Changthang, Gyalrong, Miniak and Kongpo. The towers can be found both in cities and in uninhabited regions. They have been described for the first time during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Carbon dating by Frederique Darragon shows they were built approximately 500 to 1,800 years ago. Since they are generally located in prosperous villages, it is believed that their primary function was as a demonstration of a family's prestige within the community. At that time, wealth was acquired especially by the trade with the Mongols. For strength, many of the towers use a star pattern of walls as opposed to a strictly rectangular method. Heights can exceed 60m. For more information see the work of Frederique Darragon, who has extensively studied the towers and written a book titled The Secret Towers of the Himalayas. She also filmed and co-produced a documentary also called "Secret Towers of the Himalayas".

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