Ladakh boastsoffamous monasteries and old castles, many monasteries of them being more than 1,000 years old. accrding to popular belief Buddhism was first introduced to Ladakh about 2,000 BC, evidence from Zanskar and the Suru valley imply.each monatery has its own religious festival including mask and oracle dance, taking place every year, some in summer, most of them, however, bing perfprmed during the winter. their dates are fixed according to the lunar calendar.The most famous monasteries and castles are located in Leh are Sankar,Spituk, Shey,Thiksey, Stakna, Matho, Dakthok, Chamdy, Alchi, Rigzong,Liker, Lamayuru, Phing, Mangu, Wanla and Sumda. Many more are located in rout of the tour. For cultural tours by car estimated two weeks and app. three weeks if Zanskar shall be included
Best time-Most of this tour you can do through the year.
Day 1, arrival Delhi International airport transfer to Hotel.
Day 2, Early morning transfer to domestic airport and fly to Leh Arrival Leh airport transfer to Hotel.
After welcome tea coffee rest for day for acclimatization, Leh is 3500m above sea level, you mast need 36hrs to acclimatization O/N Hotel.
Day 3, Monastery excursion around Leh.
After breakfast drive and visit Pheyng Monastery is funded in 1350-1375 AD, it is Digong Red sect Order monastery , one room is nice wall painting, after visit Guru lakhang, a small chapel belong to local family, in side of the chapel very beautiful wall paintings from 12th 13th century. After drive to Spituk pharka ancient natural Meditation cave (Tragkhung Kowache) in side the cave beautiful wall paintings, 10th 11th century, some paintings are not very visible due to smoky from batter lamps. After visit Spituk monastery it is yellow sect order, it was built 11th century, about 80-90 monks residence there, many sculptures and wall paintings to see. After lunch visit Shanti stupa, Samkar monastery, inside of the monastery many sculptures to see, after visit Leh Palace built 14th century inside the castle a small Shane for the Riyal family and Namgyal Tsemo, on the top hill built in the 15th century inside of the monastery two store high Future Buddha and Mahakala very nice wall paintings to see O/N Hotel.
Day 4, Leh to Alchi .
After breakfast drive enroot visit Basgo castle and monastery, built 1350 century, inside one chamber two store copper gilt Maitreya future Buddha and upper chamber two store Buddha made of clay and there is wonderful wall paintings. After visit Liker monastery outside of the landscape is nice with three store Buddha to seen the monastery was built 1065 century there is new paintings 500 year old and. After lunch drive to Alchi transfer to Hotel after rest visit oldest Alchi monastery and world famous wall paintings it is built 990 century by Lotseawa Renchan zangpo, the art is Bahamian or Gander still, the artist brought from Kashmir, O/N Hotel.
Day 5, Monastery tour Mangu, Rizong Lamayuru.
After breakfast visit another small monastery in Alchi Tseskarmo Lakhang very nice wall paintings, after drive a small village to see Mangu monastery it is similar like Alchi monastery. Drive back to Alchi after lunch drive and visit Rizong monastery and to Lamayuru O/N Hotel evening visit Guru Lakhang and wonderful landscape of broken Moon land. O/N Hotel.
Day 6, Lamayuru to Panikhar Kargil.
After breakfast drive enroot visit Kharbu monastery, Mulbak ancient rock craved Buddha 7m high gander still in the 8th century after drive to kargil short drive from Kargil visit another rock craved Buddha 7 m high in the Sanku vally ( Kartse village) after drive to Panikhar village O/N a small Government Rest house.
Day 7, Panikhar to Rangdum- Padum Zanskar.
After breakfast drive enroot enjoy the panorama view of great Himalayan mountain, NUN KUN peak massif, and Rangdum monastery was build 300 years old one room is nice sculptures and wall paintings , yellow sect order, the Dali lamas Brother is the head lama of the Monastery after lunch drive over Pantse la pass 4420m inter the zanskar valley after pass long drive to Padum O/N Hotel in Padum.
Day 8, Monastery tour around Padum Rest up to lunch,
After lunch visit Takrimo monastery near padum 500 years old monastery in side there is very nice wall paintings and sculptures, after little walk to river side on the rock Five Buddha craved on the rock it is about 8th century, after visit pipiting Guru Lakhng and village , evening see zanskar villages and a small bazaar padum O/N Hotel.
Day 9, Monastery tour Padum to Stonde, karsh.
After breakfast drive and visit Stongde monastery is 12th 13th century founded Yellow sect order, beautiful shrines and wall paintings to be seen. After drive back to Padum, after lunch visit Karsha monastery Largest monastery in zanskar it is funded 14th century several shrines and beautiful wall paintings to see after visit Nunnery monastery on uphill there is a small stupa and one shrines which is very nice wall paintings almost 40 Nunn’s are resend there after back to Padum O/N Hotel.
Day 10, Padum to Pure.
After breakfast drive enroot visit Bardan monastery the Bardan monastery is on top of a high cliff by the side of Lingti river. It was funded by Bodhisattva Deba Gandhara about 16th century in the monastery principal Image is Gandhara statue of the future Buddha and protractor Room and wall paintings to see, the monks are flowed red sect order, very nice view from the monastery. After visit a small Mone monastery some nice statues and beautiful wall paintings after drive to Ichar from there live car 3 hrs walk to Purne O/N local house or tent.
Day 11, Visit Phuktal monastery.
After breakfast walk 2 hrs to phuktal monastery in a valley wonderful cave monastery was funded 15th century, there are many sacred relics and shrine to see, beautiful wall paintings, about 40-50 monks are resend there, inside the cave a stupa and waterhole, the level of the water never change, all the monks use that water for there every day life, also there is a stone table left by Hungarian Alexander Csoma De Koros, one of the first explorers of Tibe. He spent time here from 1826 to 1827. After back to Purne O/n local house or Tent.
Day 12, Purne to Ichar and drive to Padum O/N Hotel.
Day 13, Zungkul and sani monastery tour.
After breakfast drive two hrs to Zungkul cave monastery, 990 century the great Indian Mahasiddha Naropa , went India to Tibet on the way he spent there long time for meditation, the cave still to be seen their is very nice paintings, and blow there the new cave monastery. Way back visit Sani castle is the particularly sacred place due to its having been visited and blessed by Padma- sambhava of Oddiyana, there is a cemetery surrounded there rock craved five Buddha about 7,8th century and very special stupa fixed with iron chain. After back tp Padum O/N Hotel .
Day 14, Padum to Kargil.
After breakfast drive back to Kargil, Enjoy the Mountain View and meet village and people O/N Hotel.
Day 15, Kargil to Leh.
After breakfast drive enroot visit Gyal Monastery and back Leh O/N Hotel.
Day 16, Monastery tour Shey, Thiksey, Chmday, Takthok, Hemis.
After breakfast drive and visit shey castle, the first King of ladakh Lachen Palgyigon funded in 11th century, after some time inside of the monastery built three store copper gilt Statue of lord Buddha, like this type of Buddha statue only in shey even not in Tibet, it is made by King Daldan Namgyal as a funerary memorial to his father king Singgey Namgyal in 1633 AD. After visit Thiksey monastery there are many shines to see manly three story Future Buddha and white Tara Room . After drive to Takthok rock cave monastery and chamday monastery they have many shines and many status mail female Protector, Bud sativa, Back to Himes monastery largest monastery in ladakh belong to Red sect order, two chambers Buddha made by silver and gold, there is also Museum executed very old Thanks Status during the gander art, the monastery is funded in 1650 AD more than 100monk are live here. Drive back to Leh O/N Hotel.
Day 17, Leh to Nubra valley.
After breakfast drive over high pass Khardung la 5520m after descent reach Disket visit monastery very nice view from out inside the monastery with three store high future Buddha, inside old chamber beautiful status and paintings, protractor chamber, and new chamber built 1420AD from there nice view of the Nubra valley, after visit disket village and Hundar village in this village many double humped Camel to see. Ancient time Ladakh is most trading rout to central Asia and silk tour to China, Mongolia, yarkndi, Afghanistan since the caravan stop the camel are remain here, drive to Sumur O/N Hotel or Camp.
Day 18, Nubra to leh.
After breakfast visit Samstangling monastery and drive back to Leh O/N Hotel.
Day 19, Monastery tour Leh.
Drive early morning 5 Am to witness morning prayer at thiksey monastery about 30 monks participating in assembly hall for morning prayer it will be takes about two hrs, it is very intrusting and very new experience for you. After breakfast drive and visit Stakna monastery belong to red sect near Indus River on top of hill very unique monastery many shine to see, it was build 1580 AD one Saint from Butan chosje Jamyang, who had invited him to Ladakh by King Jamyang Namgyal. After drive visit Matho Monastery, is a only one monastery by Saskya order, it was funded about 15 century by Lama Dungpa Dorje, the shrines and also a sacred temple dedicated to the Guardian Deities are to be seen, monastery has new Room , Matho monastery is very famous for winter oracle mask dance . After lunch drive and visit Stok Royal palace Museum, inside the palace still Royal family are living , executed royal this ornaments , Buddha status, Thanks, war equipments , after drive back to leh O/N Hotel.
Day 20, Leh to Delhi. Morning after breakfast transfer to Leh airport fly to Delhi,
meet our representative take you to Old Delhi sightseeing evening transfer to International airport and fly with sweet memory.
Ask for more information and itinerary as per your requirement without any hesitation.
