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Day 01 : Delhi
Arrive Delhi.
Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel (check in time is 1200
noon)
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Day 02 : Delhi - Leh (By flight)
Early morning transfer to airport to connect
flight 9W 609 for Leh.
Dep. Delhi : 0540
Arr. Leh : 0655
Upon arrival check-in at hotel. Rest of the day at
leisure to acclimatize. Overnight at the hotel.
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Day 03 : Leh
Full day visit of :-
Spituk Monastery : 14 kms from Leh. The Spituk
Monastery has a collection of 21 gold statues of
Goddess Tara and a number of scroll paintings.
Also visit the temple of Kali which has an
interesting collection of masks.
Sankar : A relatively modern monastery. It is
closely associated with the Spituk monastery and
serves as the residence of the head priest -
Kushak Bakula. A number of gold icons are to be
found here.
Overnight at the hotel.
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Day 04 : Leh
Full day visit of :-
Shey : Situated on a hillock 15 km upstream from
Leh. It was once the residence of the Royal
family. According to tradition, it was the seat of
power of the pre-Tibetan kings. A 7.5 metre high
copper statue of Buddha, plated with gold, and the
largest of its kind, is installed here.
Thikshey : 19 Kms from Leh, spectacularly most
impressive gompas. There are several temples in
the gompa containing images, stupas and wall
paintings of Buddha which are exquisite.
Hemis : 40 kms from Leh. It is the wealthiest,
best known and biggest gompa of Ladakh Its
popularity stems from the major annual festival
held here in summer. The festival is also has the
largest thanka in Ladakh which is unfirled once in
12 years. On these days hundreds of pilgrims will
gather at hemis to pay their tribute and homage.
Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Sengg
Namgyal, an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It
flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the
royalty favored the Drukgpa Sect which managed the
monastery. It is divided into tow, the assembly
hall on the right and the main temple on the left.
The hall, Dukhang, is also used as a "green room"
by the dancers during the festival. The temple is
known as Tshogkhang. The verandahs have a surfeit
of frescoes, among them the Buddhist "Wheel of
Life " and the "Lords of the Four Quarters"
besides rows of prayer wheels.
Overnight at the hotel.
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Day 05 : Leh
Full day visit of :
Alchi : 70 Kms from Leh, on the banks of the Indus
river, is the Alchi Gompa dating a thousand years
back. One of its walls features thousands of
miniature- sized pictures of the Buddha. Three
large sized images made of clay and painted
brightly are its focal attraction. No longer a
active religions center, it is looked after by
monks from Likir.
Likir : Founded in the 11th century AD and
rededicated to a different monastic order in the
15th century AD, its earlier gompa was destroyed
in a fire. The present Gompa dates back to the18th
century. Skilled craftsmen producing excellent
thankas, earthern pots and carved folding wooden
stools, liver here in the village. Majestically
situated, Likir commands a spectacular view.
Lamayuru Monastery : Situated at the altitude of
3800 meters between Fotu-la and Khalsi. As per the
legend, in ancient times a lake covered this site.
One day a Hermit predicted that there will be a
monastery one day and he throws the grainof rice
on the earth which automatically forms the shape
of Swastika (Yundrung) from where the name comes (Yundrung
Tharpaling Gompa), constructed by Rinchen Zangpo
one of his 108 constructions. Monastery noted for
the sect drigungpa. In the gallery see 35 Buddha
painted on the wall. Chapel of Avlokiteshvara -
the 2 mtrs high image of him with 11 heads and
1000 heads.
In the principal building the traditional
paintings of four Lokpals and wheel of life. The
statue of Apchi Ihakhang, the goddess of drigungpa
sect, the sculpture of Mahakala (Gonpo), Apuchi
and Kubera the god of wealth and the interesting
foom of gokhang. Overnight at the hotel.
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Day 06 : Leh
Full day visit of :-
Stock Palace : The last king died in 1974 but his
widow continues to live here, their son continues
the royal line and ascended the throne in July
1993. The palace is a rumbling building where only
a dozen of the 80 rooms are used. The small palace
museum is worth visiting. It is a showpiece for
the royal Thangkas (many 400 years old), the
crown, jewels, dresses, coins, pearls encrusted
with turcoise and lapis lazulli as well as
religious objects.
Also visit MATHO MONASTERY. Overnight at the
hotel.
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Day 07 : Leh - Sarchu ( 253 Kms. / 8 Hrs. )
Leave by road for Sarchu, enroute stop for
photography and admire the natural beauty.Upon
arrival check in to the camp.
Overnight in Tents.
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Day 08 : Sarchu - Jispa ( 125 Kms. / 5 Hrs.)
Morning depart for Jispa.
Overnight in Tent/hotel.
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Day 09 : Jispa - Manali ( 141 Kms. / 6 Hrs.)
Leave by road for Manali. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 10 : Manali
Full day visit of Manali.
Situated at the northern end of Kullu valley,
Manali has spectacular views of snow capped peaks
and wooded slopes. Manali offers marvellous walks
through dappled orchards and fairy tale forests of
Deodar. You will visit the Hidimbha Temple,
standing tall among the stately Deodars. This
ancient temple with its three level roofs looks
like a pagoda and its lintel and door frame are of
intricately carved wood. The market is crowded
with interesting shops selling Tibetan carpets and
crafts. The village of Manali is 2 kms away across
scented meadows and a quaint bridge over the
sparking stream.
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 11 : Manali - Dharamshala ( 253 Kms. / 8 Hrs.
)
Leave by road for Dharamshala.
Arrive and check in to hotel. Overnight at the
hotel.
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Day 12 : Dharamshala - Amritsar ( 199 Kms. / 6
Hrs. )
Morning visit
Dharamshala : The principal township of Kangra is
a fascinating place. It is spread over a height
difference of over 450 metres. Here you can see
the Mcleod Ganj and Forsythe Ganj which retain the
British flavour so peculiar to the towns of
Himachal Pradesh. Here is also the residence of
H.H. THE DALAI LAMA next to the monastery. The
library at the school of Tibetan studies is
treasure trove of manuscripts and texts on Tibet
and its culture. There are several picuresque
picnic spots here.
In afternoon, depart for Amritsar. Upon arrival
check in to hotel and Overnight.
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Day 13 : Amritsar - Delhi (Train)
Morning visit :-
Amritsar : The city was founded by the fourth Sikh
Guru - Ram Das. While excavating the holy tank
called the "Pool of Immortality". This city is
famous for the GOLDEN TEMPLE. The most sacred
shrine of the Sikhs. Guru Arjun Dev built the
temple and RanjitSingh, the Sikh ruler, enshrined
the shrine and covered the doms with copper,
overlaid with gold foil. The exterior walls are
inlaid with precious stones and inside contains
fine fillgree and gold inlay works. Also visit the
Jalianwalan Bagh, Rambagh Gardens, Khalsa College,
The Durgiana temple and Kashmir Emporium.
Afternoon visit Golden Temple. Later in the
afternoon, transfer to railway station.
Dep Amritsar : 1705 Hrs
Arr Delhi : 2250 Hrs
Meeting upon arrival and transfer to hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
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Day 14 : Delhi
Morning proceed for the tour of :
New Delhi : This city designed and built by the
British in the 1920's - a city of wide boulevards
impressive Government buildings, green parks and
gardens. First you will visit two monuments from
Delhi's past Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar. Then
your drive takes you along the ceremonial avenue,
Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate and
Parliament House.
In the afternoon visit :
Old Delhi : An ancient walled city. Here you will
see Red Fort, the most opulent Fort and Palace of
the Mughal Empire, Raj Ghat, the memorial site of
the Mahatma Gandhi; Jama Masjid, the largest
mosque in India; and Chandni Chowk, the bustling
and colourful market of the old city.
Overnight at the hotel.
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Day 15 : Leave Delhi
Depart by homebound flight.
Book tour