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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.
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