Fascinating Ladakh
 Duration
: 13 Days / 14 Nights
Destinations Covered : Delhi - Shimla - Naggar - Manali
- Jispa - Sarchu - Leh
 Day
01: Delhi-Shimla
You will be picked up from your hotel/home/airport in Delhi
and transferred directly to Shimla by Vardhman's representative.
Begin your tour
Arrive into Shimla
Welcome to Vardhman's "Fasinating Ladakh"!
Upon arrival transfer to your pre-booked hotel. Relax for the
remaining part of the day.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 02: Shimla
On the day 2 of your tour proceed for the sightseeing tour
of Shimla visiting, Tara Devi Temple - situated 8 km from
Shimla are two temples dedicated to Mata Tara Devi and lord
Shiva. The military dairy farm and Shimla boy-scout head quarters
are also located near by.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 03: Shimla-Naggar
This morning after a lesiurely breakfast drive to Naggar.
Naggar is a small town situated in Kullu of Himachal Pradesh.
It was once the capital of Kullu. Situated on the banks of
the river Beas at an elevation of 1851metes above sea level.
The place gives an astonishing sight of the north western
valley area. On arrival check-in at the camp. Relax for a
while and then visit Jagatipatt Temple,Nicholas Roerioh Art
Gallery,Gauri Shankar Temple,Tripura Sundri Temples.
Jagatipatt Temple- The temple contains a stone slab which
is worshipped by the people of Naggar.
Nicholas Roerioh Art Gallery- The house of the well known
artist Prof. Late Nicholas Roerich is a major attraction as
the building has now become an art gallery containing his
excellent pieces of arts and paintings.
Gauri Shankar Temple- The temple has been dedicated to Lord
Shiva.
Tripura Sundri Temples- This temple has been built in a typical
pagoda style and the architectural splendor is visible at
every corner of this temple. Overnight: Camp
Day 04: Naggar- Manali
Today drive to Manali. On arrival check-in at your hotel.
Freshen up a bit and leave to visit Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa
and Hadimba Devi Temple.
Overnight: Hotel
 Day
05: Manali Sightseeing
Full day sightseeing. Visit Vashisht Baths, Rohtang Pass,
Arjun Gufa, Tibetan Temple, Manu Temple and Naggar. Return
to hotel for overnight stay.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 06: Manali –Rohtang Pass-Jispa
This morning drive to Jispa (145 kms / 7 - 8 hrs). This high
altitude road beyond the great Himalayan range, connects the
densely fertile and green Kullu valley to the stark barren
region of Ladakh. The drive starts at Manali slowly winding
up mountain roads till Rohtang Pass at 3,950 Mts. which connects
the Kullu to the Lahaul valley.
Rohtang Pass: Located at high altitude it is one of the popular
destination among tourists who visit Manali. Those who are
of adventurous nature opt for trekking to this place, which
stands surrounded by great greenery and snow capped mountains.
On entering the Lahaul valley we see a distinct change with
the Hindu influence being replaced with the Buddhist religion.
Reach Jispa by late afternoon and check into your tent for
an overnight stay.
Overnight: Tent
Day 07: Jispa-Baralacha Pass-Sarchu
Leisurely drive over the scenic Baralacha Pass, which is located
at an altitude of 4,800 m above the sea level. Plenty of stops
to capture the scenic grandeur of this majestic landscape
dotted with snow capped peaks and high altitude lakes. After
crossing the pass drop down to the vast Sarchu plains at an
altitude of 4200 Mts. (80 KMS/4 HRS)
Overnight: Tent
Day 08: Sarchu-Leh
On the day 8 of your tour drive to Leh. On arrival check-in
at your hotel. Relax for the remaining part of the day.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 09: Leh
Proceed on a sightseeing tour of Leh. Visit Leh Bazaar, Leh
Palace and Sankar gompa, the women's vegetable market in the
afternoon. In the evening visiy the Sankar monastery, Leh
Gompa, Phiyang, and Shanti Stupa. Later in the evening drive
back to the hotel for an overnight stay.
Sankar Gompa & Village : A relatively modern monastery,
it is closely associated with the Spituk monastery and served
as the residence of the late head priest-Kushak Bakula. A
number of gold icons are to be found here.
Shanti Stupa (Japanese Peace Pagoda) : Shanti Stupa/Japanese
peace pagoda is build by a Japanese religious organization
headed by Head monk Nakamura with the help from the organization
and local people. It is situated at a hill top in Cahngspa
village providing a bird eye view of the Leh town and the
surrounding mountain peaks. Architecturally it has the Japanese
touch with small clean rooms on the side for meditators and
the main Japanese shrine at the entrance.
Overnight: Hotel
 Day
10: Leh
Full day excursion to the famous monasteries, it is interesting
to visit early in the morning to enjoy the praying ceremony
at Thiksey monastery. Continue drive to Hemis monastery which
is one of the most famous of the Ladakh region. On the way
back visit to Shey Palace.
Shey Palace And Gompa : Shey palace with its remarkable statue
of Buddha and panoramic views of Indus valley. Situated on
a hillock 15 Kms upstream from Leh, it was once the residence
of the royal family. According to tradition, it was the seat
of power of the pre-Tibetan kinds. A 7.5 mts high copper statue
of Buddha, plated with gold and the largest of its kind, is
installed here.
Thiksey Gompa : 19 Kms from Leh, spectacularly sited, Thiksey
is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive
Gompas. There are several temples in this Gompas, containing
images, stupas and wall paintings of Buddha, which are exquisite.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 11: Leh
Today visit Hemis, Stakna, Matho.
Hemis Gompa: Ladakh's largest monastery. It contains a number
of gold statues and Stupas decorated with precious stones
and a superb collection of Thankas, including one that is
the largest in existence. Hemis gompa is believed to have
been established in 1630 by Lama Tagstang Raspa and built
by Palden Sara under the patronage of King Sengge Namgyal
on a site previously sanctified by the construction of a cave
hermitage dating from the 12th century. This monastery is
the oldest one in the area belonging to the Kargyu school.
The Gompa is a unique example of a monastic complex of this
period which manifests in its structure the geomantic principles
which underlie religious constructions of this type.
Matho Monastery: situated on the opposite bank of the Indus
across Thiksey, Matho was established in the first half of
the 16th century AD and has valuable collection of very old
and beautiful Thankhas, some in the form of Mandalas. Its
annual festival of Oracles in early march is an important
event in Ladakhi religious calendar.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 12: Leh
Visit Stok, Spituk, Phiyang monasteries.
Stok Monastery: The Palace of the banished royal family, Stok
has a museum which displays fabulous period costumes and jewellery
of the royalty along with exquisite Thankas representing the
life style of Sakya Muni. Interesting historical objects like
coins, armour, weapons, precious jade and porcelain too can
be seen here.
Phiyang Gompa : 17 Kms from Leh on the Leh-Kargil road, it
looks like a huge palace from afar, build by Tashi Namgyal
in the later half of the 16th century AD, it belongs to the
Red Cap sect of Buddhists. Hundreds of icon of Buddha and
other gods are kept on wooden shelves.
Spituk Monastery: The Spituk Monastery of Ladakh is situated
at a distance of approximately 8 km from the town of Leh.
Towering over a conical, the 3-chapel monastery dates back
to the 11th century, when it was founded century by Od-de,
the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od. He was the one
to introduce a monastic community here. When a translator,
Rinchen Zangpo, came to this place, he said that an exemplary
religious community would develop there. This statement led
to the naming of the monastery as Spituk, meaning Exemplary.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 13: Leh-Alchi-Leh
After breakfast visit Alchi Monastery (11th century)and Rizong
Monastery.
Alchi Gompa : 70 Kms from Leh, on the banks of the Indus,
is the Alchi Gompa dating a thousand years back. One of its
walls features thousands of miniature sized pictures of the
Buddha. Three large sized images made of clay and painted
brightly are its focal attractions. No longer an active religious
center, it is looked after by monks from the Liker monastery.
This is the only monastery amongst 34 monasteries, which is
not located on a hilltop.
Rizong Monastery: Situated at a distance of approximately
73 km from the town of Leh. Built by the great Lama Tsultim
Nima, it dates back to the year 1831. Approximately 40 monks
reside in the Rizong Gompa of Ladakh, which belongs to the
Tsongkhapa Order. The successive reincarnations of Lama Tsultim
Nima and his son, Sras Rinpoche, serve as the incumbents of
the monastery. The inmates of the Rizdong Monastery of Leh
Ladakh are permitted to have only religious robes and books
with them.
Return back to your hotel in Leh for an overnight stay.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 14: Leh
In the morning transfer to Leh airport to board flight for your
onward destination to back home with sweet and pleasant memories
of your "Fasinating Ladakh" escorted by Vardhman Vacations.
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