Duration : 07 Night / 08 Days
Destination Covered : Leh - Bazgo - Likir - Ule Tokpo - Lamayuru - Alichi - Tsomoriri - Tsokar Lake - Taklangla - Khardungla
DAY 01 : ARRIVE LEH
Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to the pre-booked hotel. Day free at leisure for acclimatization. Leh is the headquarter of Leh District and the largest town in the Ladakh region. It lies to the north of the Indus River at an altitude of 11,500 ft.
DAY 02 : LEH
Morning visits the Sankar, Shanti Stupa, and Leh Palace. These are a couple of km away from Leh. Sankar monastery belongs to the Gelukpa School of Tibetan Buddhism and is a branch of Spituk Monastery. Shanti Stupa at the hilltop was built by the Japanese for world peace and inaugurated by the Dalai Lama in 1985. King Singe Namgyal built Leh Palace in 17 Century CE. The nine-story palace is now deserted and took over by ASI. Evening free at leisure to explore Leh town. Afternoon visit Phyang, Spituk Mahakala, and Hall of fame. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 03 : LEH - BAZGO - LIKIR - ULE TOKPO
Drive to Liker via Basgo. The Castle of Basgo lies at a distance of 42 km west of Leh. The castle known as Basgo Rabtan Lhartsekhar is situated there on a hill of clay. The Dharmaraja Jamyang Namgial and Singay Namgial, father, and son built it. The Principal image there is that of the so-called Golden Maitreya sacred copper - the gilt image of the Buddha Maitreya, two stories in height. The Dharmaraja Singey Namgail as funerary builds it to his father, king Jamyang Namgial. There is also an image of the Buddha Maitreya made of clay three stories in height that you can see at the top of the castle.
The ruins of a temple and a stupa built by Rinchen Zangpo.Like lies at a distance of 62 km west of Leh. During the time of Lachen Gyalpo, the fifth king of Ladakh, a religious estate and the land on which to build the monastery was offered to Lama Duwang Chosje, who was a champion of meditation. The Lama blessed the site, and in 1065, the monastery was built. The monastery was encircled by the bodies of the two great serpent spirits, the naga - rajas (Nanda & Taksako), and so its name became widely renowned as Likir (The Naga - Encircled). In the 15th century, the disciple of Khasdubje known as Lhawang Lodos Sangphu caused the monastery to flourish. The monastery was brought into the order of the great Lama Tsongkhapa, and up till the present time, the ritual and observances of the three basic Pratimoksa disciplines, which form the basics of Buddhist teachings, are preserved. There are many shrines in this monastery, and there resides a protective deity wearing golden armor and of stern command. Every year from the 27th to 29th of 12 th Tibetan month, the votive offerings known as Dosmochey are assembled, and sacred dances are performed. The successive reincarnations of Naris Rinpoche act as the incumbents of the monastery. Overnight at Ule Ethnic Resort.
DAY 04 : ULE - LAMAYURU - ALCHI - LEH
Drive to Lamayuru. Visit Lamayuru monastery. Lamayuru Monastery is situated 127 km west of Leh and 60 km. In the 11th century, the mahasiddha Naropa came to this place and the cave where he resided and meditated. Then Rinchen Zangpo, a translator came to build many temples and stupas, and so the teaching of the Kadampa School came to flourish there. For many years, the monastery was administered by the Zhwa - mar - pa (Red Hats), after which the Dharmaraja Jamyang Namgial offered it to Chosje Danma, whom he had invited to Ladakh. The rituals and observances of the Digung Kargyud School were introduced, and the monastery received the name of Yungdrung Tharpaling. The successive reincarnation of Skyabsje Toldan Rinpoche acts as the incumbents of the monastery. There is a custom that each year on the 17th & 18th of the 5th Tibetan month, the festival of the so-called (Yuru Kabgyad) is held, and also dances are performed. In this monastery, there are various shrines to be seen, including thangkas and wall paintings. Visit the monastery Visit Alchi. Alchi monastery. Although there are a great many temples, caves, and stupas built in Ladakh by Rinchen Zangpo, Translator, Alchi Choskor is the large and most famous of all of them.
Alchi is situated at a distance of 67 km west of Leh, founded by Rinchen Zangpo, Translator, in 1000 AD. The sacred temples to be seen there include the Principal one of the Rinchen Lhakhang, at Lotsa Lhakhang, the Jamyang Lhakhang (Manjusri temple), and the sumtsag Lhakhang. The main image is that of Vairocana, but there can also be seen the five Buddha Families together with their attendant deities. The paintings are not like the Tibetan style, but they are executive according to the Indian tradition. To build these temples, Rinchen Zangpo translator is said in the various biographies to have brought with him from Kashmir (thirty-two sculptors and woodcarvers). Other temples built by Rinchen Zangpo, the translator is to be found at Mangu and Sumda, each containing a sacred image of Veronica, various most beautiful images of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and many kinds of lovely paintings. They also include among the 108 temples built by Rinchen Zangpo, the translator, within the province of Naris Skorsum. Drive further towards Leh. Overnight at hotel at Leh.
DAY 05 : DRIVE TO TSOMORIRI - 210 KM EN - ROUTE VISIT SHEY PALACE & THIKSEY MONASTERY
Tsomoriri lake is a beautiful mountain bound expanse of water around the Rupshu valley. It extends 15 miles in length and 3 - 5 miles in width and at a height of 14,000 ft. The water is salty and clear. Evening explores Korzok village and lakeshore. Korzok village is on the southwest bank of the lake inhabited by friendly people, and there is a beautiful Monastery which is about 140 years old.
DAY 06 : DRIVE TO LEH VIA TSOKAR LAKE, TAKLANGLA (5350 MTS), HEMIS - 250 KM.
Tsokar (4268 mt) is another beautiful lake, about 76 km from Tsomoriri lake. There is a small monastery at Thukje village, which is a branch of Korzok monastery. Hemis monastery is about 43 km before Leh and was built in 1630 and is one of the most famous and largest monasteries in Ladakh. Hemis festival, which is held in June or July is famous worldwide.
DAY 07 : LEH - KHARDONG LA TOP ( 18380 FT)
After breakfast, leave for Khardong la, 35 km driving through Gangle's village (4200m) - the highest Village in Leh valley. The road ascends to reach Khardong La (5,600m), the world's highest motorable road. From here you have a spectacular bird's eye view of Leh town. Snow remains throughout the year on the Khardongla Pass.
DAY 08 : TRANSFER TO AIRPORT FLY LEH - DELHI
