Trans Himalayan Journey

Day 1 Arrival in Delhi,

Reception in the airport , transfer to the hotel, O/N in hotel.

Day 2 Delhi to Amritsar, by train, check into hotel, visit the city.

Visit Amritsar translates as (Pool of nectar) the name of the sacred pool by which the Sikh Golden temple is built. Golden Temple,

The temple itself is surrounded by the lake which gave the town its name, a causeway connects the temple in the middle of the pool. The high priest of Sikh who reads the holy book sits on the east side of the temple. Pilgrims from all over the world come here to visit the temple.

Indo-Pak Border 30 KM drive to watch retreat ceremony- on the road to Lahore is an interesting experience especially at Sunset, night in hotel.

Day 3 Amritsar to Dharamsala, 190 km., 6 hours.

Leave the city of nectar, lunch stop on the way, afternoon check in hotel. evening stroll in the crowd of Indo —Tibetan mixed culture in the street of Mecleodganj. night n hotel.

Day 4 Visit Dharamsala, ( 1830m.)

A former colonial retreat, Mcleodganj rose to prominence after the large scale exodus of Tibetan from their homeland in 1959. It is a residence of (OCEAN OF TRANQUILITY) His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the backdrop of the majestic Dhauladhar mountains. The Tibetan government in exile has been based here for over three and half decades. With traditional architecture designs drawn from Tibet, the impressive Namgyal monastery is surrounded by the row of prayer wheels and houses large life images of the Budha, Padmasambhava and Avalokteshwara. if time permit Tibetan handicraft center can be visited. night in the hotel.

Day 5 Dharamsala to Mandi via Baijnath- Rewalsar , 167 km. O/N hotel.

Leave early, on the way at Palampur take short stop to visit the tea garden, At Baijnath to visit Shiva temple dedicated to Vadianath, that built in Shikhera style and is remarkable for its proportion and architectural beauty. Further to Rewalsar ( POOL OF ANCIENT WISDOM ) is like a Dark jewel on a wooded hillside, the sacred lake is identified as the Sahar of yore. Legend is that , this is a place from where Padma sambhava left for Tibet to spread the word of the Budha in the 8th century A.D. Mandi is an important town of Himachal Pradesh, and the gateway to Kullu valley. It is known for its aesthetically carved shikhara style temples of Bhootnath, Triloknath, Panchvakra and Shyamakali at Tarna hill.O/N hotel.

Day 6 Mandi to Kullu-Manali (2000m) 90 km.

Leave for Manali. En route visit Shiva temple at Bajaura. Kullu—Manali is situated in the inner range of the Himalaya and is famous for apple orchards, pine trees and cheerful people. The valley has hundreds of temples and deities. The Aryans named this valley as Kulantpitha, meaning “the end of the habitable world”. Visit the temple of Manu at old Manali, stroll in village. Night in hotel.

Day 7 Explore Manali

Hadimba Devi temple the femme of Mahabharata, Jagatsukh: the capital of Kullu in olden time and the temple of Gayatri Devi, Nagar castle and the temple of Goddess Tripurasundry, Shiva temple, Roerich art gallery of the Russian painter, Evening back to Manali, night in the hotel.

Day 8 Manali to Keylong , ( 115 km, 2850m ) or Jispa-135kms. 3200m.

Uphill drive along Beas river to Rohtang pass ( 3950 mtrs. ) the gate way between semi desert Lahoul and the lush green valley of Kullu, Descend to Koksar, following Chandra river through several villages till Keylong, the headquarter of tribal district of Lahoul and Spîti. Take 3kms of uphill drive by narrow road till Shashur Gompa dominating entire Valley facing magnificent Snow capped mountains. A 16th-century gompa belongs to the red hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism or Drukpa order and has spiritual connection with the Lion Cave Temple of Bhutan. Evening free at leisure, night in the hotel at Keylong or in Jispa.

Day 9 Keylong to Sarchu 4253 mtrs , over Baralachala la ( 4800m) 90 km.

A scenic drive leads to Jispa, short visit in a village , accompanying by mountain lakes, hanging glacier and snow capped mountains we even don’t realize how soon we reached wonderful place of Sarchu.Night in deluxe camp,

Day 10 Sarchu to Leh ( 3500 m. 250 km.

Leave the vast Sarchu plateau , uphill curvy drive till Namkila 4950 mtrs ), spectacular view of rugged rocks, over Lachulangla (5090 mtrs ) descend to the gorge of cliffy Gangla jal to Pang .and further drive on vast plateau of Kyangchu-Thang ( plateau of wild donkey ) over Tanglangla 5332 mtrs , descend to the valley, passing by several villages of Ladakh, evening reached Leh check in hotel . night in the hotel .

Day 11 Around Leh: 90km.

Visit Shey, Thiksey, Hemis, full day sight-seeing ( to the famous monasteries of Ladakh ).. Leave to Hemis monastery, A mass of splendid architecture on a green hill has been built by the inveterate royal architect Singe Namgyal in 1630. the monastery belongs to Drukpa sect of Buddhism, site is privileged for Namgyal dynasty, its mural painting represents the different divinities dated back to the 18th sanctuary. there is a huge Thanka reputed to be the Largest in existence which is exhibited once in every twelve years. Thiksey,

A majestic monastery perched on a rocky outcrop built in the 15th century during the first wave of expansion of Gelugpa sect in Ladakh. In the entry, there are the paintings of protective deities and the great masters of the sect. Way back visit Shey, once the capital of Upper Ladakh before being supplanted by Leh, monastery housed rich murals painting, well restored and represent the 18 arhats (disciples of Buddha who attained enlightenment). Evening back to Leh, Night in hotel.

Day 12 Leh to Lamayuru 140 km. via Alchi ( 3450m.)

Drive toward west of Leh via Indus valley , on the way visit Alchi, and Lamayuru monastery, Night in Lamayuru in simple guest house .
Alchi monastery, Among the many temples, caves and stupas built in Ladakh, is the largest and most famous of all of them, built by Rinchen Zangpo about 990 years ago. Monastery house valuable mural painting and Thankas. Further drive to Lamayuru, one of the ancient monastery magnificently perched on the hill . Before Buddhism penetrated in the region this site was known as a centre for Bon religion, one can participate evening Puja (ceremony ) if authorised to visitors, Stroll around the monastery campus and admire the stunning beauty of landscape, Stroll around the monastery campus and admire the stunning beauty of landscape, night in simple hotel.

Day 13 Back to Leh via Rizong and Ohyang , 71 km.

Leave to leh, on the way visit Rizong and Phyang monastery. Afternoon at leisure, night in hotel.
Rizong: A beautiful monastery built in 1840 by the Lama Tsultrim nyma who wished to restore an orthodox Lamaism that the monk still practice. The monastery is totally isolated , no village having been established in this barren area . At the entrance ceiling decorated with beautiful Manadala . Numerous thankas, representing for most part Budha or Tsonghapa , with the thousand Budhas. Together with the library complete the traditional contents of his dukhang.
Phyang Monastery:The monastery was founded 446 years ago (reckoning from 1977). Called Tashi Chozang, there are sacred shrines and various wall paintings are to be seen which date from the royal period. The protected deity of the monastery is Apchi Choski Dolma. Stroll in village and further drive to Leh, night in hotel.

Day 14 Leh–Delhi , flight

Transfer to domestic airport , flight to Delhi , on arrival in Delhi transfer to hotel afternoon half day sight seen in old Delhi, Over view of red fort, Jama Masjid (closed during prayer time), India Gate and President House, after dinner drop at International airport.