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Exploring The Hidden Monasteries
Exploring the hidden monasteries
Duration - 6 nights / 7 days
Day
01: Arrive at Leh airport by morning flight from Delhi.
This flight is one of the most sensational flights in the
world. On a clear day from one side of the aircraft can
be seen in the distance the peaks of K2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum
and on the other side of the aircraft, so close that you
feel you could reach out and touch it, is the Nun Kun massif.
Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel. You
would take a little time to settle in and acclimatize since
you have gone from a relatively low elevation in New Delhi
to over 11,000 feet! During the afternoon, you can walk
through the old town, beneath the Leh Palace, to allow you
to get oriented to this fascinating city. Overnight in a
hotel.
You may book your flights at www.indian-airlines.com &
http://www.itn.net/cgi/get?itn/air/jetairwaysusb/index
Day 02: In Leh - Visit Saboo Gompa and SOS Village
(Choglamsar)
The morning is at leisure to acclimatize to the rarefied
air. You may choose to stroll along the main bazaar - observing
the varied crowds. Looking into curio shops is an engaging
experience. A particularly attractive sight is the line
of women from nearby villages sitting along the edge of
the footpath with baskets of fresh vegetables brought for
sale. Behind the main bazaar, Chang Gali is less bustling
but has interesting little shops selling curios and jewellery.
Further on are the labyrinthine alleyways and piled-up houses
of the old town, clustering around the foot of the Palace
Hill. In the other direction, down the bazaar, are the Tibetan
markets where one can bargain for pearls, turquoise, coral,
lapis lazuli and many other kinds of semi-precious stones
and jewellery, as well as carved yak-horn boxes, quaint
brass locks, china or metal bowls, or any of a whole array
of curios. When tired of strolling, one can step into any
of several restaurants, some of them located in gardens
or on the sidewalks and serve local Tibetan, Indian and
Continental cuisine.
In the afternoon you will drive to SABOO - 8 km from Leh,
standing majestically on top of a hillock overlooking the
Indus Valley. It is a less frequented gompa in Leh.
On your drive back to Leh, you visit SOS Village (Choglamsar).
Choglamsar is an important center for the study of Tibetan
Culture and History. There is the "Central Institute
of Buddhist Studies", a Tibetan library, medical center,
shops selling handicrafts, books and plenty of restaurants.
It abounds in greenery with Poplar and Willow trees dotting
the landscape. There is a golf course, horticulture nurseries
and a polo ground as well.
Day 03:
In Leh - Visit Takthok - Chemrey - Hemis Monastries
The days' tour of monasteries begins with a visit to TAKTHOK
GOMPA in the morning. In the 8th century, the great propagator
of Buddhism, Guru Padmasambhava set out from India to journey
across many lands en route to Tibet. Along the way, legends
speak of numerous halts one of which was at a cave at Takthok
("a ceiling made of rock") where he meditated.
Takthok monastery developed around this cave. In the 16th
century a learned monk, Tsewang Norbu arrived from the Kham
region of Tibet, mediated in this cave and laid the foundations
of the monastic order. Within the dark interiors of the
cave, the slow dripping of sacred water or Dhukchhu from
the rocky roof can be heard. The wall paintings can barely
be seen obscured by layers of soot from the constant burning
of butter lamps. Some fine butter sculptures made by the
head lama of the gompa can be seen at the Udgyan Photsang.
The monastery belongs to the Nyingma-pa Sect.
Returning from Takthok, the CHEMREY GOMPA rises majestically
on a hill with the residences of the lamas spilling along
its contours. Though most of the books, including the Ladakh
Chronicle, tell us that the great lama Stag-tsang-ras-pa,
under the patronage of Sengge Namgyal, founded it, but Professor
Luciano Petech has shown that it was actually founded after
Sengge's death as a funeral act of merit for him. The building
was started in March 1644 A.D. and completed in 1645 / 1646
A.D. Overlooking fields and houses, the monastery is perched
picturesquely atop a small hill, down one side of which
spill the monks' dwellings. The main du-khang, a large rather
bare temple, has images of Stag-tsang-ras-pa and other Drug-pa
lamas, together with a fine silver chorten about fifty years
old made at Chiling. The murals are mainly manifestations
of Sakyamuni, as is common in Drug-pa temples; there are
also fine mandalas of Kalchakra and Akshobya. Twenty-nine
volumes of the scriptures have title pages whose lettering
is in solid silver of exquisite craftsmanship, the text
is pure gold. A smaller temple upstairs houses a nondescript
collection of images of Drug-pa lamas.
Continue your drive to HEMIS GOMPA, crossing over the Indus
River at the village of Karu. The most famous of Ladakh's
monasteries, Hemis or Changchub Samstanling (The love palace
of the compassionate person), dates back to the 17th century
and was built over a period of 40 years (1602 - 1642 A.D.).
Today Hemis is well known for its festival or Hemis Tsechu
commemorating the birthday of Guru Padmasambhava. In the
year of the Monkey (every 12 years) a giant thangka depicting
Guru Padmasambhava is unfurled from the terrace draping
the five-storey facade. Delicately wrought in pearls and
appliqué, it is one of the most famous art treasures
of Ladakh. The central courtyard forms the focus for the
masked dances held every year in summer. In the dukhang,
remnants of the original 17th century murals can be seen.
The gompa boasts of an excellent library, well preserved
frescoes and murals, silver gilt chortens and a Kashmiri
lacquered wood throne.
By the evening drive back to your hotel for dinner and an
overnight stay.
Day 04: Leh - Phyang
- 17 KM / Approx 30 mins - Basgo - 27 KM / Approx 45 mins
- Alchi - 24 km / approx 45 mins
After breakfast you will be driving to ALCHI. En-route you
would be taking a short diversion to visit PHYANG GOMPA,
which is located on the right of the main highway to Alchi.
Built on a large mound, with the village below, the setting
is one of the prettiest in Ladakh with groves of Popular
trees along the road leading up to the monastery. The founder
of the Namgyal Dynasty built it. According to popular legend,
he placed a flagpole at a spot from where the monastery
is first visible and anyone guilty of a crime could seek
pardon if he reached this spot. The gompa has an exquisite
collection of pre-4th century Kashmiri bronze statues, thangkas
and manuscripts. During July, a temple festival is held
in the beautiful setting of the temple courtyard and ritual
masked dances are staged here.
After visiting Phyang you come to BASGO, which lies astride
the road to Alchi. The jagged skyline of the ruins of the
15th century capital of Ladakh dominates the village of
Basgo. It was an important center in the old days, having
been the capital of lower Ladakh when the kingdom was divided
in the 15th & 16th centuries, and the seat of that branch
of the dynasty, which eventually unified Ladakh and took
the surname Namgyal. As with the other royal residences
at Leh and Shey, the palace at Basgo also incorporates places
of worship. The largest of the three shrines, all of which
are dedicated to Maitreya, has been described as 'after
Alchi perhaps the most beautifully painted temple in Ladakh'.
You will arrive in time for lunch at Alchi resort.
In the afternoon visit the ALCHI GOMPA. The complex of temples
located within the village is the most celebrated of Ladakh's
monasteries and dates back to the 11th century. The complex
consists of a group of five temples as well as a number
of chortens scattered around the complex. The Dukhang and
the three-tiered Sumstek are the most significant. It is
the seat of the Ngri Rimpoche, an incarnation at present
embodied in the younger brother of the Dalai Lama. Alchi
Gompa is the only monastery, built on flat ground. It is
very famous for its paintings and architecture, which has
an Indian and Kashmiri influence in them.
Dinner and an overnight stay at Alchi Resorts.
Day 05: Alchi - Ridzong - Lamayuru - 57 km / approx
2 hrs
After setting out from Alchi en-route to Lamayuru, you take
a diversion to visit the RIDZONG GOMPA, which is one of
the less frequented monasteries of Ladakh. Hidden at the
end of a steep valley, the first view of the gompa is dramatic.
Relatively new (1840), it is beautifully set in a valley,
deep inside a gorge and is the most isolated monastery in
Ladakh. Lama Tsultim Nima founded this Gompa and a monastic
community was introduced with strict rules and regulations.
There are beautiful wall paintings of scenes from the life
of Sakyamuni Buddha as well as some fine silver chortens
containing the relics of its founder and his son. Also visit
the Chulichan Nunnery around one & half km further ahead
from the Ridzong Gompa. Around 20 nuns reside at Chulichan;
they provide food and clothes to the monks.
After this visit you proceed to the 11th century LAMAYURU
MONASTERY, which is spectacularly located along the valley
plain and surrounded by mountains on all sides. According
to legend, the arhat Madhyantika, a disciple of Buddha offered
"torma' (sacred food) and water to the spirits inhabiting
the site to satisfy them. A handful of rain spilled on the
soil which caused barley plants to sprout in the shape of
Yung-drung (swastika), hence its name Yung-Drung. The great
yogi Naropa meditated in a cave, which today forms part
of the monastery. The monastery has gradually expanded over
the years and newer structures have been built around a
large courtyard. The antiquity of this site is evident from
the large number of chortens, similar to those at Alchi.
You spend the night at Lamayuru.
Day
06: Lamayuru - Leh - 126 km / approx 4 hrs
Finally, you drive back to Leh in time for lunch at the
hotel. The afternoon is free to explore the town on your
own. Leh is very Tibetan: the national dress, 'stove-pipe'
hats and felt boots with turned-up toes are much in evidence.
The 16th century Royal Palace, which dominates the town,
is very reminiscent of the Potala in Lhasa and Tibetan Buddhist
monasteries, large chortens, prayer flags and mud brick
houses with flat roofs have a dramatic effect on the landscape.
Day 07: Leh - Delhi
Transfer to the airport to fly to Delhi. Tour Ends.
Please let us know the number of people travelling
on this tour and we will send you the total cost. We also
specialize in customizing the tour. Should you need any
changes we would be happy to modify the itinerary.
The tour may include arrangements such as accommodation,
travel, meals, permit, guides, activities etc. or services
as required by the client.
How
to book
The booking
of this itinerary is with Asian Adventures, F-313,
Lado Sarai, New Delhi - 110030. Phone: (+91 11) 44128785
. Email: wildindiatours@vsnl.com
To confirm your booking
please send a 25% deposit by wire transfer to Standard Chartered
Bank, Account No 52805001839 which is in the name of "Asian
Adventures", using Swift Code "SCBLINBBDEL".
Branch address: M-1 NDSE Part I, New Delhi-110049. India.
Or you can send a cheque payable to Asian Adventures at
F-313, Lado Sarai, New Delhi - 110030. India
Cancellation charges are 30
days before arrival date 25%, 21 days before arrival date
50%, 15 days before arrival date 90%, 7 days before arrival
date 100% of the total itinerary cost.
Remaining
balance to reach Asian Adventures at least 30 days before
tour commencement by wire transfer (to bank account
stated above) or by sending a cheque made payable to Asian
Adventures to the above address. Alternatively you can pay
the balance in cash upon arrival.
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