|
Itinerary
1st Day:
Srinagar to Kargil, 9 hours Drive the taxi toward Srinagar, by passing
the Zoji-la and picturesque Sonamarg, entering to the Kashmir valley.
Drass: Drass 3230 metres, 60kms west of Kargil on the road to
Srinagar, are a small township lying in the centre of a valley of the
same name. It has become famous as the second coldest inhabited place in
the world by virtue of the intense cold that descends upon the valley
along with repeated snowfall during winter. Winter temperature is
sometimes known to plummet to less than 40 degree Celsius. During the
spring and summer, however the valley around the township becomes very
picturesque as the gently undulating hillsides turn into lush green
pastures splashed with a variety of fragrant wild flowers. Its
inhabitants are mainly of Darad stock, an Aryan race believed to have
originally migrated to the high valleys of the Western Himalayas from
the Central Asian steppes. They speak Shina which, unlike the
Tibetan-originated Ladakhi dialects spoken elsewhere in Ladakh region,
belong to the Indo-European linguistic family. Their ancestral sport,
Horse Polo, which the Darads play with particular zeal, resembles our
modern polo. The Drass vallley starts from the base of the Zojila pass,
the Himalayan gateway to Ladakh. For centuries its inhabitants are known
to have negotiated this formidable pass even during the most risky
period in the autumn or early spring, when the whole sector remains
snowbound and is subject to frequent snow storms, to transport trader's
merchandise across and the to help stranded travelers to traverse it. By
virtue of their mastery over the pass they had established a monopoly
over the carrying trade during the heydays of the Pan-Asian. A hardy
people enduring with fortitude the harshness of the valley's winter, the
inhabitants of Drass can well be described as the guardians of Ladakh's
gateway.
2nd Day: Kargil to Lamayuru 8 hours The
caravan move toward the Kargil and the way passing through the:
Kargil: the valleys of Suru, Drass Wakha and Bodkarbo
lie midway between the alpine valleys of Kashmir, and the fertile
reaches of the Indus valley and Ladakh. The region is politically part
of India, ethnically part of Baltistan and geographically and integral
part of Ladakh. Geographically, there is little doubt that one has
crossed the Himalayan watershed. The steep barren hills now stretch to
the snow line. As the snows melt, the waters flow freely down into the
heavily irrigated valleys. Here Tibetan-style settlements thrive.
Whitewashed mud and stone houses contrast with deep-green barley fields.
Shergol: Between Kargil and Shergol you cross the dividing line
between the Muslim and Buddhist areas. The small village of Shergol has
a tiny gompa perched halfway up the eastern slope of the mountain. In
the afternoon tourists will reach to Kargil.
Mulbekh : There are two gompas on the hillside above the village of
Mulbekh. As in other villages, it is wise to Enquire if the gompa is
before making the ascent. Just beyond Mulbekh is a huge Chamba statue,
an image of a future Buddha, cutting to the rock face beside the road.
It's one of the most interesting stops along the road to Kargil.
3rd Day: Local Sight Seeing, Lamayuru,
Likir and Alchi & in the evening hotel at Leh Whole day is dedicated for
the local sight seeing, Lamayuru : After exploring villages around the
area, it comes as a surprise to find that Lamayuru is a scruffy little
place. The gompa, is the completely overshadowed and most famous
spectacular monastery in Ladakh.
Alchi and Likir Monasteries: These two
monasteries are located near Saspol on the Srinagar-Leh road. They house
many gigantic clay statue of Buddha in various forms. The primary
attraction of these monasteries is , however, their 1000-year old wall
painting which make a visit more than worthwhile.
4th Day: Rest at
Leh 5th Day:
Shopping and Cultural programme in the evening (Ladakhi Dance, Depending
upon the strength of group) The whole day is dedicated to the shopping
and to discover some interesting things about Ladakhi art and cultural
by the visiting the Tibetan refugees camp Choklamsar, Library and
Ecological Development etc.
6th Day: Leh to Pangong Lake/ Tso
Moriri Lake 9 hours, On way sight seeing of Hemis monastery Hemis
Monastery : This is biggest and the most important monastery in Ladakh.
It is situated 49 kms to south of Leh, a little off the main Leh-Manali
road. It was built in the 17th century by Chapgon Gyalshas and ever
since has enjoyed the patronage of the royal family. Hemis is the
headquater of the Drukpa order and all the monasteries throughout Ladakh
are administered by it.
Shey Palace and Monastery: Also on the way to Hemis
Gompa and 15 kms from Leh is the summer palace of the erstwhile, Raja of
Leh, set upon a hill sitting Buddha wrought with copper and gold that
leaves one lama before hand. Many chortens can be seen to the east of
the monastery. After the Shey tourists reach to Leh, Main Centre of
Ladakh. With the inhabitants of 50,000, Leh is located in small valley
just the north of Indus valley.
7th Day: Around lake of Tsomoriri lake/ Pangong lake
Pangong Lake/ Tso Moriri Lake Tso Moriri lake is situated in the middle
of the elevated district of Rupso. It name is characteristic of its
situation. Nestle in the midst of 20,000 feet, peals which completely
shut the lake. A kilometres ahead is a picturesque village of Korzok
consisting of about a hundred families. Visiting the monastery on the
top of the village, belonging to the yellow sect and has about 35
resident monks. The night camp along the side of Lake. The main
attraction Changla region is the Pangong Lake situated at 14,500 feet
(4,297 m) a long narrow basin of inland drainage, hardly six to seven
kilometres at its widest point and over 130 kms long, it is bisected by
international border between Indian and China. The farthest point to
which foreigners are permitted, is only some seven kilometres along the
southern shore from the head of the lake. Another attraction of this
lake is sight os eastern cranes and other migratory black necked cranes
birds.
8th Day: Tsomoriri lake/ Pangong lake, to Keylong 9
hours The tough journey will begin toward Manali. On the descent
tourists are leaving the Ladakh region and the last village is the Upshi
and one can enjoy the beautiful landscape and magnificent valley views.
The next pass is Taglang La, the second highest motorable road of the
world, 5328 metres. The next destination is the Pang. Just after this
pass tourist are entered to the tent site called Sarchu. Lachlung La,
5060 metres, is the second highest pass on the Leh-Manali road. While
next move is the , which is 4883 metres means crossroads pass
Baralachala. The journey becomes more adventurous and interesting while
passing the this pass. Darcha is the another major tent site on this
road.
9th Day: Keylong to Manali, 7 hours The
journey will begin toward Manali in the morning, Rohtang Pass 3978
metres not high, but treacherous all the same-starts the ascent to
Manali. Keylong is the last town of any size on the journey to Manali.
 |
|