Monasteries Tour
Duration : 10 Nights / 11 Days
Destinations Covered : Delhi - Manali - Rohtang - Leh - Likir - Yangthang
- Hemis - Timosgam - Lamayuru - Alchi - Leh - Delhi
Day 01 Arrive Delhi
Arrival to Delhi and check in the hotel for overnight stay in Delhi.
Day 02 Delhi - Manali
Drive to Manali. Check in the hotel and overnight stay in Manali.
Day 03 Manali
Sightseeing and overnight stay at the hotel in Manali.
Day 04 & Day 05 Manali - Leh (Manali To Leh Jeep Safari)
Two days drive from Manali to reach Leh on Day 5. Overnight stay in the
hotel at Leh.
(Considered as one of the highest roads in the world, Manali-Leh highway
is the most popular and spectacular approach to Ladakh. From the months
of end June to October this highway is open. Its a very scenic route,
full of adventure and rugged beauty. The road was closed for the civilian
use till 1990, but now the adventure and nature lovers worship it, for this
road gives closest contact with nature and thrill of being on the top of
the world is enormous.
Day 04 Rohtang
First day we cross Rohtang Pass (3978 m), Keylong (3350 m), Baralacha Pass
(4890m) with overnight stopover at Sarchu (4253 m), border of the states
of Himachal Pradesh (Lahaul) and Jammu & Kashmir (Ladakh). In Sarchu,
we stay overnight in tented campsite.
Day 05 Rohtang
On Day 5, the road from Sarchu crosses high mountain Passes of Namika La
and Lachalung La to reach the army camp in the Pang valley. The dry barren
mountains around Pang are eroded in very spectacular way. They look like
giant fortress like structures with spires, pinnacles and windows. From
Pang, the road climbs up and reaches a different world altogether. Here
is the flat high desert of More Plains, 50-60 km of road bisecting it. This
is Rupshu, an extension of Changthang plateau of Tibet. The road then climbs
for Tanglang Pass (5415 m), the second highest mountain Pass in Ladakh and
then finally reaches Leh. This 475 km Himalayan journey is a visual delight
with not one moment of boredom en route. )
Day 06 Leh
After breakfast proceed for Indus Valley monastery tour. We start with a
visit to Shey, the ancient capital of Ladakh. The monastery here has a huge
gold-gilded statue of Buddha Sakyamuni with a large silver lamp burning
in front of the statue. Then we visit Thiksey Gompa, an impressive complex
rising tier upon tier on a hill above the village. The monastery has a beautiful
30 m high gold-plated statue of Maitreya Buddha, the Buddha of the future.
Drive further to visit the famous Hemis Gompa, founded in 1630's by Stag-tsang-ras-pa
under the royal patronage of Sengge Namgyall. Hemis is one of the largest
and richest gompas of Ladakh. The two-day festival of monastic dance in
June-July has raised the reputation of Hemis particularly high. The festival
is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava, popularly known as second Buddha and
responsible for spreading Buddhism in the Tibetan world. Later we visit
the Stok Palace, the Royal residence of the King of Stok & the Museum
that has a rich collection of Ancient Ladakhi artefacts including old Thangkas,
precious stones, arms and armoury, the Queens necklace and the crown
of the King of Ladakh among others. Overnight stay at the hotel in Leh.
Day 07 Leh - Likir - Yangthang (2 Hrs Drive To Likir / 5 Hrs Trek)
After breakfast drive from Leh to Likir for 2 hours. At Likir you will meet
all your trekking staff and ponies. One can visit Likir monastery situated
on a hill towards the village. Start your trek through a barley field to
cross a small stream and then to village Sumdo. Then gradually trek to village
Yangthang to camp overnight.
Day 08 Yangthang - Hemis Shukpachan (5-6 Hrs Trek)
Trek to Wulle valley and then ascent for one hour to Shemchan La and then
descent towards Hemis Shukpachan, the highest village in this route. Its
a big village and is famous for Cedar trees found in plenty here, hence
the name of village. We will visit a family house and have some butter tea
and Ladakhi chang (the local beer) There is a small but beautiful monastery
just outside the village that we can visit. Camp for overnight stay.
Day 09 Hemis Shukpachan - Timosgam - Khasltse - Lamayuru (5-6 Hrs Trek
& Then Drive To Lamayuru)
Trek through the Apricot rich village of Ang and reach Timosgam, the historical
village, where one can visit the monastery and the Palace. This valley has
warm weather as compared to Indus valley and hence conducive to thick vegetation
and hence there are plenty of apricots, apples and nuts making it one of
the richest valleys in Ladakh. Since people are rich they have beautiful
houses with wonderful interior. From Timosgam we drive to Khasltse and Lamayuru.
Lamayuru monastery was founded by Rinchen Zangpo in the 10th century. This
gompa is located amidst the massive mountains. The spectacular setting of
this gompa and its renowned collection of carpets, thangkas and frescoes
has been attracting many people over a long time. It is believed to be the
oldest in central Ladakh. Overnight stay in tented camp in Lamayuru.
Day 10 Lamayuru - Alchi - Leh
In the morning visit the Lamayuru monastery to be part of the morning religious
ceremony. Its a very soothing and spiritual experience to be there
among these warm and friendly monks.
Then drive for Alchi and cross the River Indus and reach Alchi, Ladakh's
most loved monastery. Over a century old, its wall paintings are very similar
to those of the Tabo gompa in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. Unlike other monasteries
which are usually on a cliff top or cling to a mountainside, Alchi is at
ground level and is nestled in the shade of a garden. On the way to Leh
visit the Basgo monastery, famous for its Buddha statue. In Leh overnight
stay in the hotel.
Day 11 Leh - Delhi
Intime transfer to the airport to board the flight to Delhi. On arrival,transfer
and check in the hotel in Delhi.