Trans Ladakh: Srinagar – Leh

Today we cross the famed Zojila pass, the movement on this is restricted by the movement of the military convoys. We climb over Zojila Pass and then pass the Dras War memorial. It was built to commemorate the victory of “Operation Vijay” in July 1999 and in honor of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Kargil war. The Museum displays photos of Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the Indo-Pak wars; miniatures of the mountain-scape of Jammu & Kashmir; official Army emblems; archives of war documents and recordings; and captured Pakistani war gear and equipment. Kargil is an outpost which gained prominence in the recent war there. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Kargil.

After breakfast we depart for Lamayuru. We visit the Lamayuru Monastery, one of the largest and oldest gompa in Ladakh. The monastery is very striking with its position on top of a beautifully eroded crag, complete with rock pinnacles and caves giving it a fairy tale look. We continue our drive to Themisgam which is approx. 1 hr further. On arrival we check in a hotel and rest for the day. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Themisgam/Nurla.

Post breakfast, we drive to visit Alchi Monastery. Standing on the banks of river Indus, the monastery is also known by the name of Alchi Choskhor. The significance of the monastery also lies in the fact that it is the only one that has been built on a flat ground. The monastery complex has three major shrines: the Dukhang (Assembly hall), the Sumtseg and the Temple of Manjushri, all dating from between the early 12^th and early 13^th centuries. The artistic and spiritual details of both Buddhism and the Hindu kings of that time in Kashmir are reflected in the wall paintings in the monastery complex. These are some of the oldest surviving paintings in Ladakh. We then proceed to see the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus rivers at Nimo. Post lunch, we continue our drive to Leh, enroute seeing the “Magnetic Hill” and “Gurudwara Pathar Sahib”. Overnight stay at hotel in Leh.

This day is for taking in the sights of Leh. We visit Hemis Monastery, Thiksey Monastery and Stok Palace.

Hemis stands on the western bank of the Indus River. The monastery also boasts of a very rich collection of ancient relics. The Hemis Monastery also serves as the venue of an annual festival known as the Hemis Festival.

Thiksey houses one of the largest Buddhist statues, the 15-meter-tall Champa, the Buddha of Future. Thiksey is one of the most frequented and photogenic monasteries in Ladakh. About a hundred plus monks live here.

The Stok Palace is where the current royal family lives. The museum at the Stok Palace has an intriguing collection of Buddhist art, weapons, jewellery and artefacts, including thangkas painted with colours derived from crushed precious stones. Also on display are the ceremonial head dresses or ’peraks’ of the erstwhile rulers of Ladakh. These head-dresses are decorated with turquoise, lapis lazuli and coral and gold, making them an exotic sight.

We then visit Leh Palace, Hall of Fame and head to Shanti Stupa which is a Buddhist white domed stupa on a hilltop in Changspa. We enjoy the panoramic view of the city at sunset. From here we can choose to leave the vehicles and walk down to Leh taking some quite back roads and into the Leh market to wander around at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel in Leh.

Back on the road this time towards Khardungla pass (5602m/18,380 ft.), the world’s highest motor able pass. After a photography session and acclimatization break on the pass we cross it and head towards Nubra valley. Nubra valley is sandwiched between the Karakoram Mountains to the north and the Ladakh range to the south, in between lie the Shyok and the Nubra Rivers. The villages of Nubra valley are scattered along these two valley floors. This is a beautiful region that once formed a part of the Silk route into Afghanistan. Because of the lower altitude a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and grains are grown, creating an impression of abundance. We go to Hundar village and check into a hotel. After a late lunch the group sets off to visit the white sand dunes and if lucky one can take a ride on the double humped Bactrian camels. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Nubra Valley (Hunder).

Post breakfast, we drive on the trade route till the India’s last village ‘Turtuk’, on Tibetan border. Because of the lower altitude, a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and grains are grown, creating an impression of abundance. There is 20 minutes’ walk & climb from road end to the village. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Nubra Valley (Hunder).

Today post breakfast we set off for Pangong Tso, the world’s highest brackish water lake – Pangong Tso, 134 km long and 5 km wide at its broadest point, spans two countries, India & China (2/3^rd of the lake lies in China). The sun paints its various hues on the canvas of the surrounding mountains as we watch spellbound while walking on the shores of the lake. We are to spend the night in this magical setting and we check into our deluxe tented campsite and spend the evening watching the drama of light over water as the sun sets. Dinner and overnight stay at Deluxe Tented campsite in Pangong Tso.

We get up early morning, experience the sunrise at Pangong Tso. Post breakfast, drive to Leh. We may stop at some villages enroute and explore them. Check in at hotel. Evening is free for leisure, we head out to Leh and enjoy the hustle bustle and sights and sounds of the bazaar, shopping for curios and gifts. Overnight stay at hotel in Leh.

Early morning, drive to Leh airport, make sure have a window seat so that you may enjoy the stunning landscape of Ladakh as you head back to the plains.

End of arrangements…