DAY 01 Late, in the night arrive in NEW DELHI.
Transfer to hotel. After rest, sightseeing.
NEW DELHI : New Delhi is the capital of India and its third-largest city. The city
actually consists of two parts. Delhi or `Old' Delhi was the capital of Muslim India
between the 12th and 19th centuries. In Old Delhi you will find many mosques, monuments
and forts relating to India's Muslim history. The other Delhi in New Delhi, the imperial
city created as the capital of India by the British. It is a spacious, open city and
contains many embassies and government buildings.
QUTAB MINAR - HUMAYUN'S TOMB - RED FORT - CHANDNI CHOWK - JAMA MASJID -
RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN - INDIA GATE.
DAY
02
FLY DELHI - LEH
LEH : India's link with the exotic past, when lengthening caravans piled the ancient
silk route and lingered long at Leh to rest to buy to plan or just to visit . What Hong
Kong is to the Far East . Leh was in the not so ancient times to Central Asia .
In the north lay the caravan route to Yarkand and Kashger both in Sinkiang in the east is
Lhasa, the holy city in the west is Baltistan and Kashmir and to the south lay Himachal
Pradesh. Traders from Afghanistan, Turkey and the Arabian kingdoms all congregated in the
main square displayed their wares and in the evening played an invigorating game of polo.
Situated at the apex of a triangular plateau formed by the Indus at an altitude of 3368
Mts. It is a small town of narrow intersecting lanes and one main street leading to the
old palace of the raja of Ladakh.
SIGHTSEEING
OF THE MONASTRIES
SHEY : Situated on a hillock 15km. upstream from Leh 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 meter high copper statue of Buddha, plated with gold, and the largest of its
kind is installed here.
THIKSE : Spectacularly sighted, Thikse is one of the largest and architecturally
most impressive Gompa. There are several temples in this Gompa, containing images stupas
and wall paintings of Buddha which are exquisite.
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.
OVERNIGHT IN HOTEL.
DAY 03
LEH - SARAI 4572 Mts.
Cycle trek starts - all luggage, camp staff will go in a truck.
SARAI : Starting from Leh at a height of 3368 Mts. ascend steadily along a bridle
path for few kilometers to Sambog a height of 4500 Mts. From here the ascent is steep and
though the snow ( till August ) rises 1030 Mts. Within 16 km. Is a two hour back breaking
climb to reach the Khardong-la pass at 5602 Mts. Braving the ever present threat of
avalanches the route is a steep descent goes down over rocky and slippery terrain to 4572
Mts. reaching the Sarai village enclosed in a cluster of willows.
DAY 04
SARAI - SUMUR 3500 Mts.
SUMUR : The next stage is the most precarious negotiating a steep descent within 8
kilometers through narrow gorges down to the left bank of the Shyok river which leads to
the village of Khalsar or Khartsar, 6 km. Away. After a 5 km. Stretch along the bank a
suspension bridge crosses over to the otherside. Following the river bank for 18 km. Over
s sandy maiden with thorny bushes one reaches extensively cultivated villages, Ran
Kralzung and Sumur on the fringes of this valley.
DAY 05
SUMUR - PANAMIK 3000 Mts.
PANAMIK : The last stop, Panamik is another 19 km. Away, after crossing a sandy and
stony road and fording swiftly flowing side stream. The ascent from Leh, and descent from
the pass to the Khardong valley, but once the ordeal is over the hardy soul is rewarded
with a smiling valley and villages flowing with apples, apricots and mulberry trees amidst
and amidst the patches of thick scrub jungle that dot the valley.
DAY 06
FREE DAY TO EXPLORE THE AREA
DAY 07
PANAMIK - TIGAR 3200 Mts.
DAY 08
TIGAR - LEH
DAY 09
REST DAY IN LEH
DAY 10
FLY LEH - DELHI. Rest and shopping
DAY 11
Rest and shopping. Transfer to airport. |