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Day 2 :
Visit Shey, Thiksey, Hemis
Monasteries:
Full day sight seeing of SHEY / THIKSEY and HEMIS monasteries.
SHEY : Situated on a hillock 15 km. upstream from Leh was
once the residence of the royal family. According to tradition,
it was the seat of power of the pre-Tidetan kings. A 7.5 meter
high copper status of Buddha, plated with gold and the largest
of its kind is installed here.
THIKSE : Spectacularly sighted, Thiksey is one of the
largest and architecturally most impressive gompa. There are
several temples in this gompa, containing images stupas and wall
painting of Buddhas which are exquisite.
HEMIS : It is the wealthiest, best known and biggest
gompa in Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major annual
festival held here in summer. The festival is in honour of Guru
Padma Sambhav's birth anniversary. It also has the largest
Thanka, which is unfurled once in 12 years (next in 2004).
Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of
Sengge Namgyal. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the
royalty favored for Drugkpa Sect, which managed the monastery.
Day 3: Leh - Lamayuru - Alchi:
Drive to Lamayuru monastery, after visiting the monastery drive
to Alchi for overnight stay.
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.
ALCHI : On the banks of the Indus is
the Alchi gompa, dating a thousand years back. One of its walls
feature thousands of miniature-sized pictures of the Buddha.
Three large sized images made on clay and painted brightly are
its focal attraction. No longer an active religious center, it
is looked after by monks from the Likir monastery.
Day 4 : Alchi - Likir - Leh:
Visit Alchi monastery and drive back to Leh, enroute visit Likir
monastery. Overnight stay in hotel at Leh. LIKIR : Founded in
the 11th century and rededicated to a different monastic order
in the 15th century, its earlier gompa was destroyed in a fire.
The present gompa dates back to the 18th century. Skilled
craftsmen producing excellent Thankas, earthen pots and carved
folding wooden tables. Majestically situated, Likir commands a
spectacular view. A magnificent giant juniper tree, one of the
few survivors of its species stands in the courtyard.
Day 05 : Leh - Khardungla Pass (18,380
ft) - Leh:
After breakfast, start for a full day excursion to Khardungla
pass. The Khardungla pass, which is the highest motorable pass
in the world, has been recorded in the Guinness Book of World
Records. At the top, you can enjoy the natural beauty of
snow-capped mountain. In the evening return to the hotel and
spend the night there.
Day 05 : Leh - Khardungla Pass (18,380
ft) - Leh:
After breakfast, start for a full day excursion to Khardungla
pass. The Khardungla pass, which is the highest motorable pass
in the world, has been recorded in the Guinness Book of World
Records. At the top, you can enjoy the natural beauty of
snow-capped mountain. In the evening return to the hotel and
spend the night there.
Day 6 : Leh - Delhi:
Departure transfer to the airport for flight to Delhi/ Jammu/
Chandigarh. |