MONASTERIES OF LADAKH TOUR
Duration : 06 Nights / 07 Days
Destination Covered: Leh-Monastreis- Alchi - Monasteries - Khardungla Pass- Leh

Day 01:- Leh Kushok Bakula Airport
Arrival at Leh Kushok Bakula airport our RIE representative will meet & Greet you and transfer to the Hotel. This flight is one of the most sensational flights in the world. On a clear day from one side of the aircraft can be seen in the distance the peaks of K2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum and on the other side of the aircraft, so close that you feel you could reach out and touch it, is the Nun Kun massif. You would take a little time to settle in and acclimatize since you have gone from a relatively low elevation in New Delhi to over (Altitude 11,000 feet) During the afternoon, you can walk through the old town, beneath the Leh Palace, to allow you to get oriented to this fascinating city. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Day 02:- Indus Valley -Monasteries Tour
After breakfast Leave for full day tour of Monasteries is as follows below
Indus Valley,(Description: - The earliest cities became integrated into an extensive urban culture around 4,600 years ago and continued to dominate the region for at least 700 years, from 2600 to 1900 B.C. It was only in the 1920's that the buried cities and villages of the Indus valley were recognized by archaeologists as representing an undiscovered civilization)

Stok Palace & Museum, (Details: - Built in 1814, the Stok Palace, which used to be the home of the Kings of Ladakh is situated opposite Leh on the other side of the river Indus. It is the only inhabited palace, the other two – Leh and Shey Palace are in ruins. There are more than 80 rooms of which only 5 are open to the public. The palace museum has a unique display of tangkhas, old weapons, kings’ armour, queens’ ornaments and perak (turquoise-studded head gear), traditional clothing and silver jewellery.)

Shey Palace, (Details: - Situated 15 kms south of Leh towards Thiksey, the ruins of this former summer palace of the kings of Ladakh is perched high up on a rocky cliff. The 12 m Sakyamuni Buddha statue made of gold-plated copper by King Singge Namgyal’s son Deldan Namgyal, is the largest in the area. There is a small library in the lower chapel and a collection of tangkhas. To the left of the gompa is a huge chorten (stupa) with golden spires, and to its right are the ruins of a fort. Scattered across the nearby fields and along the hill range, are a large number of disintegrating chortens, perhaps the largest collection seen in Ladakh.)

Thiksey Monastery (Details: - Located about 17 kms south of Leh, this monastery of characteristic beauty is probably the most photographed, and also the best place around Leh to see a puja. It is a magnificent complex with its red and yellow main building rising grandly above the numerous monk cells. The Chamba lhakhang (‘house of God’ for the Buddha to come) was built in 1980 in hnour of the Dalai Lama and houses an impressive two-storey Maitreya Buddha. This gompa that houses about 500 monks belongs to the Gelukpa sect, and exhibits excellent works of art.The roof of this monastery provides a panoramic view with the Zanskar range in the backdrop.) and

Hemis Monasteries. (Details: - Hemis monastery is one of the most famous and largest of all monasteries in Ladakh, 45 Kms south of Leh founded in 17th century belongs to the Drukpa order. the monastery was founded by Stagsang Raschegn who was invited to Ladakh by king Singee Namgyal. The king offered him religious estates and attended him as his principal guru. Hemis Tsechu (festival) assemble annually from 9th to 11th day of the 5th Tibetan month. The Gompa has well preserved Thankas and copper gilt statue of the lord Buddha, various stupas made of gold and silver and many auspicious objects. The largest thanka in Ladakh over 12 Mtrs. Long is at Hemis), after return back from sighseeing to Hotel Overnight stay

Day 03:- Leh - Likir - Alchi (Altitude 11480 Fts. 67 Kms 2 Hours Drive)
Leave for Alchi in the morning, via Likir & Basgo Castle. The name Likir is a distortion of the word Klu-Kkhyil or "spirits of the water.This 14th Century monastery belongs to the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) Sect. Also known as the Choes-kor or "religious enclave", the Alchi monastery was built in the 11th Century by a famous scholar, Rinchen Zangpo. The abandoned monastery is maintained by monks from the Likir Gompa. Presently, it serves as the residence of approximately 120 Buddhist monks. The monastery also has a school, in which almost thirty students study. In the 15th century, Likir Gompa came under the influence of Lodos Sangphu. A disciple of Khasdubje, he made efforts to see that the monastery flourished and prospered.

Basgo Castle is a historical town situated on the bank of the Indus River in Ladakh. It is known for its gompas and historical ruins. The complex of buildings includes a ruined fortress dating from 15th century as well as two large temples and a small shrine.

Alchi has murals which predate the Tibetan style of painting, along with Tabo (Spiti Valley) and Phugtol Gompa (Zanskar Valley). The murals are the sole survivors of a style of painting prevalent in the first millennium, Alchi Gompa dates back to the year 1000 AD and built by the Translator, (Rinchen Zangpo.) He even made a reference about the monastery in his biographies. It is written that he brought thirty-two sculptors and wood carvers from Kashmir, for the construction of the Alchi Monastery of Leh Ladakh. The monastery is sited at a distance of approximately 67 km to the west of Leh. One can easily see an Indian touch in this monastery, especially in the way its paintings have been made. Three sacred temples, with the main one being that of Rinchen Lhakhang at Lotsa Lhakhang, make up a major part of the Alchi Gompa of Ladakh. However, there are other temples also, namely Jamyang Lhakhang (Manjusri temple), Sumtsag Lhakhang and so on. There are a number of images inside the monastery. However, the main one is that of Vairocana. The other images include the ones of the five Buddha Families, along with their attendant deities. overnight stay at Deluxe camp

Day 04:- Alchi-Lamayuru-Leh
After breakfast drive back to Leh en route visit Lamayuru monusteries, Lamayuru is the oldest religious centre of Ladakh. The Monastery here beats all others in sheer grandeur and in its uniqueness of wood carving, statues and frescoes. Gurdwara Pathar Sahib, built in 1517, is a beautiful Gurudwara constructed in the memory of Guru Nanak to commemorate his visit to the Ladakh region. At Magnetic Hill it has been noticed that when a vehicle is parked on a neutral gear the vehicle slides up-hill due to the magnetic force. One of the wonders of the nature, late evining arrive at leh check inn Hotel dinner & overnight stay

Day 05:- Leh Local Munasteries
After breakfast Leave for full day tour of Monasteries is as follows below
Spituk Gompa(Details:-Spituk Gompa of Ladakh dates back to the 11th century. It owes its inception to Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od. Od-de led to the establishment of a monastic community at this place. A three-chapel monastery, Spituk is located at a distance of approximately 8 km from the town of Leh. The name "Spituk", meaning exemplary, has been derived from a statement of a translator, Rinchen Zangpo, about the monastery. He said that an exemplary religious community would develop there, providing the name Spituk for the monastery.

At that point of time, the Spitok Monastery of Leh Ladakh was under the Kadampa School. Slowly and gradually, as time passed, the monastery started functioning under Dharmaraja Takspa Bum - Lde Lama Lhawang Lotus. He brought about the restoration of Spituk and introduced the stainless order of Tsongkhapa (Gelukpa). Even today, the monastery functions under the Gelukpa order only. Three other monasteries of Ladakh, namely Stok, Sankar and Saboo, are considered to be the branches of Spituk Gompa.)

Phyang Munasteries (Details:- Phyang Monastery of Ladakh is situated at a distance of approximately 40 km to the west of the Leh town. It belongs to the Red Hat Sect of Buddhism. The site where the monastery now stands was once a part of the numerous monastic properties, offered during the time of Dharmaraja Jamyang Namgial to Chosje Damma Kunga. The hill of Phyang served as the venue of a monastery, known as Tashi Chozong, established in the year 1515. A monastic community was introduced to the monastery and with this started, the first establishment of the Digung teachings in Ladakh. The traditions of the Digung teachings began with Skyoba Jigsten Gonbo. In the present time, the Phyang Gompa of Leh Ladakh is under Apchi Choski Dolma. The monastery is served by the successive reincarnation of Skyabje Toldan Rinpoche. There are a number of sacred shrines situated inside the monastery complex. Also, there are some exquisite wall paintings, dating from the royal period, adorning the monastery.)

In the afternoon, visit by foot to Kings Palace, Leh Mosque, Leh Gompa, Shankar Gompa and Leh bazaar, return back to Hotel dinner & overnight stay

Day 06:- Leh-Khardongla Pass - (Altitude 5602 Mrts. 45 Kms.1  1/2 hrs Drive
Morning after breakfast proceed for an unforgettable drive to the top of the world's highest motorable mountain pass Khardungla, located in the Ladakh region, The Siachen Glacier lies partway up the latter valley. Built in 1976, it was opened to motor vehicles in 1988 and has since seen many automobile, motorbike and mountain biking expeditions. Maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, the pass is strategically important to India as it is used to carry essential supplies to the Siachen. Khardong La is historically important as it lies on the major caravan route from Leh to Kashgar in Chinese Central Asia. About 10,000 horses and camels used to take the route annually, and a small population of Bactrian camels can still be seen at Hundar, in the area north of the pass, mute witnesses to history. During World War II there was a futile attempt to transfer war material to China through this route. Khardung La is widely, but incorrectly, believed to be the world's highest motorable pass. Return back to leh by visiting the monasteries

Shanti Stupa (Details: - Shanti Stupa of Ladakh is located on the hilltop at Changspa. It can be reached quite easily from the Fort Road. The Stupa was constructed by a Japanese Buddhist organization, known as 'The Japanese for World Peace'. The aim behind the construction of the stupa was to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism and to promote World Peace. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama inaugurated the Shanti Stupa in the year 1985.

A magnificent white-domed structure, the Shanti Stupa of Leh Ladakh offers spectacular views of the sunrise and sunset. The stupa looks best at night, when it is beautifully illuminated with glittering lights. A large number of tourists come to Ladakh every year to visit this amazing stupa.)

Hall of Fame, (Details: - Hall of Fame is a museum maintained by the Indian Army. One can see the memorabilia, Biographies of eminent defense personalities, images and weapons used during the Kargil War.) return back to Hotel for overnight stay

Day 07 -Depart Leh - Kushok Bakula Airport
Morning after breakfast, transfer to airport board your flight towards Destination Covered, to enjoy yet again, a beautiful flight over the great Himalayas

Tour Ends But Sweet Memories Remains Always