Day 01 : Arrive Leh, transfer to your hotel, rest of the day to get acclimatize. Late afternoon walking tour of Leh town. O/N hotel.

Day 02 : Morning sightseeing of Phyang & Spituk monasteries, late afternoon visit Samkar and Shanti Stupa. O/N hotel.

Spituk : Stands prominently on the top of a hillock commanding a panoramic view of the Indus valley for miles. Many icons of Buddha and fine thankas are to be found in this 15th century Gompa. The Gompa also houses a collection of ancient masks, antique arms and an awe inspiring image of mahakal. The face of the Kali image is kept covered and is revealed only at the annual function in January.

Phyang : looks like a huge Palace from afar, built by Tashi Namgyal in the later half of the 16th century AD., it belongs to the Red Cap sect of Buddhists. Hundreds of icons of Buddha and other Gods are kept on wooden shelves.

Samkar Gompa : the seat of the yellow Hat Sect and one of the few Gompa built in the valley bottom, is a 3 km. Pleasant walk through fields. It houses the chief lama of Spituk and 20 others. The newer monks quarters are on three sides of the courtyard with steps leading up to the Du-Khang ( Assembly Hall ). There are a number of gold statues, numerous wall paintings and sculptures including a large one of the 11 headed, 1000-armed Avalokitesvara.

Shanti Stupa : There are good views from the top where a tea room is a welcoming sight after the climb. There is also a jeep able road.

Day 03 : LEH / LAMAYURU / SHILLA Early morning drive to Lamayuru 130 km. Visit Lamayuru monastery then start trek to Shilla cross Pritintik-la (1900 Mts.). Trek time : 4 hours.

Lamayuru : The oldest holy site in Ladakh, it was a Bon shrine prior to the advent of Buddhism. Also known as Yun Drung ( Swastika ) it is sighted on a high promontory overlooking the village and valley. For sheer spectacle value no other Gompa can match.

Day 04 : SHILLA / HINJU After visiting Wanla monastery and Tharchita Brukbukza and Hanjala villages we arrive at Hinju village. Overnight in Camp. Trek time : 6 hours.

Day 05 : HINJU / EAST BASE OF KUNGSKILA Today trek is a bit hard, you have to climb a pass called, Kungski-la (4400 Mts.) from the top of this pass one can see Hinju village on one side and Sundo village on the other side. Trek time : 6 hours.

Day 06 : EAST BASE OF KUNGSKI-LA / WEST BASE OF DUNDUN CHAN-LA Today we have some river crossings enroute to Sumdo village. We will also across a small pass. We will be camping at Dundun Chan Larcha. Trek time : 6 hours.

Day 07 : DUNDUN CHAN-LA BASE / CHILLING Dundun Chan-la is (3950 Mts.). The trek is easy and very scenic. One can see even Khardong-la pass across the valley. Camp at Chilling, this village has gold smiths famous for local golden jewelry - it is said that the gold comes from the local mines. Overnight in camp. Trek time : 7 hours. Day 08 FREE DAY AT CHILLING TO EXPLORE

Day 09 : CHILING / SKIU The walk is not as easy one, we will be crossing a pass and a river crossing is required. Overnight camp at Skiu. Trek time : 6 hours.

Day 10 : SKIU / SARA Today we have several river crossings, the trek is easy. Overnight camp at Sara. Trek time : 5 hours.

Day 11 : SARA / HANKAR We will cross the Markha village enroute to Hankar Yogma camping ground. We will stop at the Markha village and visit the monastery also, but will not camp at Markha. Horses do not get fodder easily here. Overnight in camp. Trek time : 7 hours.

Day 12 : HANKAR / NIMALING A bit beyond Hankar, leave a broad valley on the right-side. The valley narrows and goes higher . The river is far to the left. Walk near a small lake, then across pastures to Nimaling. This is one of the most beautiful high valleys of Ladakh (4750 Mts.). Trek time : 5 hours.

Day 13 : NIMALING / SHANG SUMDO Long climb along the mountainside then some zigzag up to the Kangmaru- la ( 5150 Mts. ). Long descent into gorges several easy stream crossing. Leave the sometimes in the riverbed right-side, and again on the left bank arrive in Shang Sumdo. Trek time : 7 hours.

Day 14 : SHANG SUMDO / HEMIS Take the riverbed again, then a good footpath
through large blocks. You reach the motor able trail Pass a series of Chortens. Leave Martselang village on the right and follow a gentle rising trail to Hemis. Over night in camp. Trek time : 4 hours.

Day 15 HEMIS / LEH After sightseeing of the Hemis monastery, leave for Leh, enroute visit Thiksey and Shey monasteries.

Shey : The old summer Palace of the kings of Ladakh, Shey ( 15 km. From Leh towards Hemis ) was built more than 550 years ago by Lhachen Palgyigon, the king of Ladakh. It stands next to the remains of a larger construction on the east side of a hill, which runs south-east towards the Indus. From the Palace you can see over the fertile Indus plain, north-east to the Thiksey Gompa and over the Indus to the Zanskar mountain range. Hundreds of Chortens of the most diverse from and size stand on the barren plains to the north, separated from the fertile riverbank along the Hemis road. The old palace Gompa has the largest golden Buddha statue in Ladakh.

Thiksey : The 500 year old Thiksey monastery, perched on a hill high above the Indus. Has about 100 yellow cap monks. On the right of the entrance to the main courtyard, a new chapel houses an enormous 15 meter high, seated Buddha figure. The morning prayer can be witness around 6 AM, but ther are also prayers closer to noon, preceded by long mournful sounds from the horns on the roof. The monastery mountain is best ascended on foot although there is also a new road up to the monastery. The temple of Zan-la is beside the car parking area on this road. On the walls of the Gompa courtyard are some interesting Tibetan calendars. In the chapel is a picture near the
central Chamba statue, of Tsung-Khapas, the founder of the Tugend ( Gelupa ) sect. Some steps run up to a roof balcony from which there is access to the rooms of the head lama.

Hemis : 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 in honor of Guru Padma Sambhav's birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thanka in Ladakh, which is unfurled once in 12 years ( next in 2004 ). Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Sengge Namgyal , an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the royalty favored for Drugkpa Sect, which managed the monastery. It is divided into two, the Assembly Hall on the right and the main temple on the left. The hall, Dukhang, is also used as a ' Green room ' by the dancers during the festival. The temple is known as Tshogkhang. The verandahs have a surfeit of frescoes among them the Buddhist Wheel of Life ( Kalachakra ) and the Lord of the four quarters, besides rows of prayer wheels.

Day 16 : Early morning fly Leh - Delhi. Tour ends.

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