DAY 01 DELHI
Arrive Delhi.
Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel (check in time is 1200 noon)
Day 02 DELHI / LEH (By flight)
Early morning transfer to airport to connect flight 9W 609 for
Leh.
Upon arrival check-in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to
acclimatize.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 03 LEH
Full day visit of :- Spituk :– Monastery 14 kms from Leh. The
Spituk Monastery has a collection of 21 gold staties of Goddess
Tara and a number of scroll paintings. Also visit the temple
of Kali which has an interesting collection of masks.
Sankar:- A relatively modern monastery. It is closely associated
with the Spituk monastery and serves as the residence of the
head priest – Kushak Bakula. A number of gold icons are to be
found here.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04 LEH Full day visit of :-
Shey:- Situated on a hillock 15 km 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 kings. A 7.5 metre
high copper statue of Buddha, plated with gold, and the largest
of its kind, is installed here.
Thikshey:-19 Kms from Leh, spectacularly most impressive gompas.
There are several temples in the gompa containing images, stupas
and wall paintings of Buddha which are exquisite.
Hemis:- 40 kms from Leh. It is the wealthiest, best known and
biggest gompa of Ladakh Its popularity stems from the major
annual festival held here in summer. The festival is also has
the largest thanka in Ladakh which is unfirled once in 12 years.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 05 LEH
Full day visit of : Alchi:-70 Kms from Leh, on the
banks of the Indus river, 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 attraction. No longer
a active religions center, it is looked after by monks from
Likir.
Likir:- Founded in the 11th century AD and rededicated to a
different monastic order in the 15th century AD, its earlier
gompa was destroyed in a fire. The present Gompa dates back
to the18th century. Skilled craftsmen producing excellent thankas,
earthern pots and carved folding wooden stools, liver here in
the village. Majestically situated, Likir commands a spectacular
view.
Lamayuru Monastery:-Situated at the altitude of 3800 meters
between Fotu-la and Khalsi. As per the legend, in ancient times
a lake covered this site. One day a Hermit predicted that there
will be a monastery one day and he throws the grainof rice on
the earth which automatically forms the shape of Swastika (Yundrung)
from where the name comes (Yundrung Tharpaling Gompa), constructed
by Rinchen Zangpo one of his 108 constructions. Monastery noted
for the sect drigungpa. In the gallery see 35 Buddha painted
on the wall. Chapel of Avlokiteshvara – the 2 mtrs high image
of him with 11 heads and 1000 heads.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 06 LEH Full day visit of :-
Stock Palace:-The last king died in 1974 but his widow continues
to live here, their son continues the royal line and ascended
the throne in July 1993. The palace is a rumbling building where
only a dozen of the 80 rooms are used. The small palace museum
is worth visiting. It is a showpiece for the royal Thangkas
(many 400 years old), the crown, jewels, dresses, coins, pearls
encrusted with turcoise and lapis lazulli as well as religious
objects.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07 LEH / SARCHU (253 Kms. / 8 Hrs.)
Leave by road for Sarchu, enroute stop for photography and admire
the natural beauty
Upon arrival check in to the camp Overnight in Tents.
Day 08 SARCHU / JISPA (125 Kms. / 5 Hrs.)
Overnight hotel.
Day 09 JISPA / MANALI ( 141 Kms. / 6 Hrs.)
Drive to Manali Manali. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10 MANALI
Full day visit of :- Manali:- Situated at the northern
end of Kullu valley, Manali has spectacular views of snow capped
peaks and wooded slopes. Manali offers marvellous walks through
dappled orchards and fairy tale forests of Deodar. You will
visit the Hidimbha Temple, standing tall among the stately Deodars.
This ancient temple with its three level roofs looks like a
pagoda and its lintel and door frame are of intricately carved
wood. The market is crowded with interesting shops selling Tibetan
carpets and crafts. The village of Manali is 2 kms away across
scented meadows and a quaint bridge over the sparking stream.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 11 MANALI / DHARAMSHALA ( 253 Kms. / 8 Hrs. )
Drive to Dharamshala. check in to hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Day 12 DHARAMSHALA /AMRITSAR (199 Kms. / 6 Hrs.)
AM Visit: Dharamshala:- The principal township of Kangra is
a fascinating place. It is spread over a height difference of
over 450 metres. Here you can see the Mcleod Ganj and Forsythe
Ganj which retain the British flavour so peculiar to the towns
of Himachal Pradesh. Here is also the residence of H.H. THE
DALAI LAMA next to the monastery. The library at the school
of Tibetan studies is treasure trove of manuscripts and texts
on Tibet and its culture. There are several picuresque picnic
spots here.
PM: Leave for Amritsar
Upon arrival check in to hotel and Overnight.
Day 13 AMRITSAR / DELHI (Train)
AM: Visit Amritsar :- The city was founded by the fourth Sikh
Guru – Ram Das. While excavating the holy tank called the “Pool
of Immortality”. This city is famous for the GOLDEN TEMPLE.
The most sacred shrine of the Sikhs. Guru Arjun Dev built the
temple and RanjitSingh, the Sikh ruler, enshrined the shrine
and covered the doms with copper, overlaid with gold foil. The
exterior walls are inlaid with precious stones and inside contains
fine fillgree and gold inlay works. Also visit the Jalianwalan
Bagh, Rambagh Gardens, Khalsa College, The Durgiana temple and
Kashmir Emporium.
PM: visit Golden Temple.
Later in the afternoon, transfer to railway station
Meeting upon arrival and transfer to hotel
Overnight at the hotel
Day 14 DELHI
Visit Old delhi and New Delhi.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 15 LEAVE DELHI
