Day 01 - Arrive Delhi

Arrive Delhi. Pick from Airport and transfer to Hotel. Overnight Hotel.

 

Day 02 – Delhi sightseeing

Morning after breakfast proceed for the sightseeing of Delhi, we visit the Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan/Presidents House, Sansad Bhawan/Parliament House & Qutab Minar. Overnight Hotel.

 

 

Day 03 – Delhi – Train(6 hrs) - Amritsar, and Amritsar sightseeing

Early in the morning transfer to the train station to board the train for Amritsar. Arrive . Amritsar and transfer to the hotel. After check-in we proceed for our sightseeing of Wagah Border, Golden Temple, Jalianwalla Bagh. Overnight hotel.

 

Day 04 – Amritsar to Dharamshala

After breakfast drive for Dharamsala. It is a drive of around 7 to hours 205 kmts. Check in the hotel and rest of the day free for exploring the bylanes of the Dharamsala. Overnight hotel.

 

Day 05 - Dharamshala sightseeing

Founded in 1855, it has one of the most spectacular settings for a Hill Station. It is built along a spur of the Dhauladhar range and varies in height from 1,372m at the bazaar to 1,798m at McLeod Ganj. It is surrounded by trees and set against a backdrop of peaks rising to over 4755m on three sides. There are two sections to the town, the upper part is McLeod Ganj and the lower is called Dharamsala. In both there is a strong Tibetan influence. The Dalai Lama settled here after his flight across the Himalaya following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in October 1959. There is a monastery at McLeod Ganj, a short distance along from the Dalai Lama's residence, and a Library. Dharamsala was one of the 80 hill stations established by the British between 1815 and 1847 though it was not on a par with Shimla, Nainital and Mussoorie in terms of popularity and size. The Church of St John-in-the-Wilderness (1860) is a short distance below McLeod Ganj on the way to Forsythganj. The 8th Lord of Elgin, one of the few Viceroys to die in office, is buried here. Apparently, it was his wish as it reminded him of his beloved native Scotland. Nowadays McLeod Ganj is home to a large community of Tibetans, who settled here in the years following 1959 with their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Overnight hotel.

 

Day 06 – Dharamsala to Manali

After leisurely breakfast drive towards Manali. Time taken will be around 7 hours and the distance covered will be around 240 kmts. The drive goes through picturesque villages and towns of the Himachal Pradesh along the Hill Locks meandering up and down till we reach the Kulu valley to follow the Beas river further to Manali. Overnight hotel.

 

Day 07 – Manali Sightseeing

While being in Manali we will visit the the temple of Goddess Hadimba built in 1553 AD, situated in Cedar Forest. Then further to the Old Manali on the bylanes further along the Beas river and then to the Vashist Hot Springs. Overnight in the hotel.

 

 

Day 08 – Manali to Keylong (around 6 hrs drive)

Today we leave Manali towards Rohtang Pass. This journey crosses a number of high passes beginning with the Rotang La, 3978m.  This pass featured heavily in the early exploration of the western Himalaya and gives excellent panoramic views of the high peaks.  From here you drop down into the region of Lahoul to Keylong 3,349m the capital of Lahoul. We visit the Keylong Monastery in the evening. Overnight Guest House.

 

Day 09 - Keylong to Leh (around 9 hrs drive)

Our drive today goes further from Keylong 3,349m the capital of Lahoul. After Jispa you cross the formidable Baralacha La, 4,891m and enter a much more arid, sparsely populated stretch.  There are a few small lakes, impressive canyons and huge plains. You will cross the high passes today, the Lalachung La, 5,182m and the Taglung La, 5,303m. In between the passes the drive does go over some good conditioned road patches. Overnight in Hotel in Leh.

 

Day 10 - Leh sightseeing

In Leh, at an altitude of 3505m, it is the ancient capital of Ladakh and its kings once commanded a huge civilization stretching from Baltistan in the west, almost as far as Lhasa in Tibet.  Leh is full of interest and dominated by the semi-ruined Potala like Palace.  The old town is a maze of narrow streets, temples and bazaars and is a great place to explore.  We visit the Hemis Monastery which is one of the important, largest and the richest monasteries in the area, its 44 kmts away from Leh. Further we visit monastery Thiksey situated on the top of the hill lock and after Shey Palace. Overnight Hotel

 

Hemis Monastery: The Hemis Monastery is around 45 km. south of Leh, which is one of the largest and most famous monasteries, belonging to the Dukpa order. The monastery founded by the first incarnation Stagsang Raspa Nawang Gyatso in 1630, who was invited to Ladakh by a king Singey Namgail, and offered him a religious estate throughout the region. The youngest son, Nawang Namgail, became a monk and his name was changed to Zamling Drags. The Monastery was named Changchub Samling and the community was introduced. The Hemis festival is held in the month of June. The Hemis festival is held on the 10th day of the 5th month of Tibetan Calendar to commemorate the birthday of the Acharya Padmasambhava, the founder of Ningma School of Tibetan Buddhism and the Great master of Tantra. The Hemis festival is observed for three days. Especially, the monkey year festival that comes once in a cycle of 12 years. During which the four-story thanka of Guru Padma Sambhava is hanged in the courtyard and exhibits other precious thankas.

 

Thiskey Monastery: Thiskey Gompa, 17km. South of Leh the most beautiful of all the Monasteries in Ladakh, belongs to the Gelukspa order. The Gompa was first build at Stakmo by Sherab Zangpo. Later the nephew of Sherab  Zangpo, Paldan Sherab, founded the Thiskey Gompa on a hilltop to the north of Indus River. The Thiskey festival (Thiskey Gustor) is held in the month of October- November. Around 80 Monks reside here at present. Dukhang Karmo is a huge long assembly hall, which consists of the image of Shakyamuni and Maitriya Buddha statues. Chamkhang at the top near the courtyard contains the three story Maitriya Buddha's statue, made in a recent years. Dukhang at the top, consists of thousand armed Avaloketesvara, Shakyamuni Buddha and Bodhisattavas, Gonkhang contains the statues of Vajra Bhairava, Mahakala & Dharmakaya, the goddess Paldan Lhamo and Cham-sring.

 

Shey: - Shey around 15 kms south of Leh was the seat of power of the first king of Ladakh, Lhachen Spalgigon, who constructed the hill top fortress. The ruin can be seen above the present Shey Palace. There are hundreds of Chortens (stupas) and Dresthang Gonpa built around the palace, which are under the Thiksey Monastery. King Deldan Namgyal built Shey Palace in the beginning of the 17th century AD. The main image in the monastery is the three-story statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, made of copper guilt, which was made by Deldan Namgyal in the memory of his father Singay Namgyal. The statue is the only of its kind in the region. Dresthang Gompa near the palace was build by the reign of king Singay  Namgyal, containing the three-story statue of Buddha. "Shey Srubla" festival is also held here at Dresthung Gonpa. The Rock-carved statue of five Buddhas can be seen below the palace on the roadside, which was probably carved during the reign of Singay Namgyal.

 

Day 11 - Leh to Khardung La top & back (around 2 hrs each way)

Today after having breakfast we start our drive to the 5602 mts high Khardung La, it is the worlds highest motorable road. The valley on the other side of the pass, the Nubra Valley, was on the trade route from Leh to Kashgar via Saser and Korakoram passes. Apart from unparallel trekking opportunities the valley houses several Buddhist monasteries. We return back to Leh by late afternoon. Overnight Hotel.

 

Day 12 - Leh to Pangong Lake (around 5 hrs drive)

After leisurely breakfast drive upstream along the right bank of the Indus river via Shey, Thiksey monastery. We pass the Karu village and encounter the Chemdey monastery and continue along the steep road side to cross Chang La 5420mts with a temple and prayer flags to welcome.  Our drive further goes through the various villages over the small passes till we reach the Pangong Lake, it is very long spread of water situated at an altitude of 4500mts. Extending from east to West through the whole length of the Ruthlog region of Tibet to the neighborhood of the Chusul, it bends to the north west for about 25 miles and from a boundary between Ladakh and Ruthog. Only quarter of the lake lies in India , the rest stretching into Ruthog now part of the China after 1959 invasion by the Chines. Rare black necked cranes and other migratory birds are seen here. Overnight camp.

  

Day 13 - Pangong to Leh.

We drive back from Pangong to Leh through the same route. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight Hotel.

 

Day 14 - Fly Leh to Delhi.

After a very early breakfast you transfer to the airport for flight to Delhi. This surely is one of the most sensational scheduled flights in the world, flying you right over the top of the Greater Himalaya. During the flight you should have good views of the distant Karakoram including K2, the second highest mountain in the world, and will pass over some of the highest peaks in Jammu & Kashmir (which includes Ladakh), flight time 70 minutes. Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel, rest of the day at leisure. Late evening transfer to the international airport to catch the overseas flight.

 

Day 15 -  Arrive back Home

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