Plains to Mountains
Duration: 13 nights / 14 days
Destinations Covered: Delhi, Amritsar, Dharamsala, Manali, Jispa, Sarchu, Leh, Delhi

Golden Temple, Amritsar

Day 1: Arrive Delhi
Meeting assistance on arrival and transfer to HOTEL.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Delhi - Amritsar
Transfer to New Delhi Railway station to connect SHATABDI EXPRESS train to Amritsar.

Leave Delhi at: 0720 hrs
Arrive Amritsar at: 1300 hrs

Meeting on arrival and transfer to HOTEL.

Afternoon 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 filigree and gold inlay works. Also visit the Jalianwalan Bagh, Rambagh Gardens, Khalsa College, The Durgiana temple and Kashmir Emporium.

Overnight.

Day 3: Amritsar - Dharamsala

Leave Amritsar for Dharamsala by surface, on arrival check-in at HOTEL.
Afternoon visit Dharamsala.

DHARAMSHALA - The principal township of Kangra is a fascinating place. It is spread over a height difference of over 450 meters. 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 picaresque picnic spots here.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 4: Dharamsala - Manali
Leave Dharamsala for Manali by surface, on arrival check-in at HOTEL.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at hotel.

Manali

Day 5: Manali
Morning city tour:
Manali : Situated at the northern end of Kullu valley, Manali has spectacular views of snow-capped peaks and wooded slopes. Manali offers marvelous 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 doorframe 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.

Afternoon free for independent activities.
Overnight.

Day 6: Manali - Jispa
Leave Manali for Jispa by surface, on arrival check-in at HOTEL.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Jispa - Sarchu
Leave Jispa for Sarchu by surface, on arrival check-in at HOTEL.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Sarchu - Leh
Leave Sarchu for Leh by surface, on arrival check-in at HOTEL.
Rest of the day free to acclimatize. Leh

Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Leh
Morning visit Shankar, Spituk & Phiyang Monasteries:
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.
SPITUK: Monastery 14 kms from Leh. The Spituk Monastery has a collection of 21 gold staties of Goddess Tara and a number of scroll paintings. Also visit the temple of Kali which has an interesting collection of masks.
PHYANG: Built by kind Lkra-Shis_namgyal, founder of Namgyal Dynasty, in 1500 after defeating the last of the Lah-Chen King and is the home of the Sri Khing Pa sect (Red Capped). On approaching the monastery entrance, on the grounds, is a long flagstaff on an elaborate pedestal put up by the king after he had won the throne. Several temples have scenes from the eight members of happiness painted on the walls. Suddenly the recd waters of the Indus disappears in the sand, ahead lies vast stretch of desert, the horizon while the mountains appear to form two straight parallel lines running alongside the road.

Afternoon free for independent activities.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Leh
Full day visit SHEY, THIKSEY and HEMIS.

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.

THIKSEY: 19 kms from Leh, spectacularly sited, Thikse is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive gompas. Hemis

There are several temples in this gompa containing images, stupas and wall pintings 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 in honour of Guru Padma Sambhav's birth anniversary. It also has the largest thanka in Ladakh which is unfurled 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 Sengge Namgyal, an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the royalty favoured the Drugkpa Sect which managed the monastery. It is divided into two, the Asssembly 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' (Kalachakra) and the 'Lords of the Four Quarters', besides rows of prayer wheels.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Leh
Full day visit ALCHI, LIKIR.

ALCHI: 70 kms from Leh, on the banks of the Indus, 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 centre, it is looked after by monks from the Likir monastry.

LIKIR: Founded in the 11th century AD and rededicated to a different monastic order in the 15th century AD, its earlier gompa Leh

was destroyed in a fire. The present gompa dates back to the 18th century. Skilled craftsmen producing excellent thankas, earthern pots and carved folding wooden stools, live here in the village. Majestically situated, Likir commands a spectacular view. A magnificent giant juniper tree, one of the few survivors of its species, stands in the courtyard.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 12: Leh
Full day free for independent activities.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 13: Leh - Delhi
Transfer to airport to connect flight for Delhi.
Meeting assistance on arrival (No accommodation envisaged).

Day 14: Delhi - Abroad
Transfer to the International airport in time to connect your onward flight.
Click here for Reservation / More Information

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Ultimate Heights
Duration: 11 nights / 12 days
Destinations Covered: Delhi, Srinagar, Kargil, Lamayuru, Ulitopko, Leh, Delhi

Shikara, Srinagar

Day 1: Arrive Delhi
Meeting assistance on arrival and transfer to HOTEL.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 2: Delhi - Srinagar
Transfer to airport in time to connect flight for Srinagar.
Meeting assistance on arrival and transfer to HOUSE BOAT.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 3: Srinagar
Full day excursion to Gulmarg.
Overnight at House Boat.

Day 4: Srinagar
Morning visit Mughal gardens.
Afternoon enjoy Shikara ride.
Overnight at House Boat.
Shikara, Srinagar

Day 5: Srinagar - Kargil
Leave Srinagar for Kargil by surface, enroute visit Sonamarg.
After the visit continue your drive, on arrival check-in at Hotel
Overnight at hotel.

Day 6: Kargil - Lamayuru - Ulitopko
Leave Kargil for Ulitopko by surface, enroute visit Lamayuru.

LAMAYURU GOMPA: The Lamayuru “Yungdung” Gompa is remarkably built on a rock, around 125 Kms. West of Leh, on the Leh-Srinagar highway. Lamayuru belongs to Drigungpa order of Tibetan Buddhism.

The history of the monastery begins with the visit of Arahat Nimagung to this place, when there was merely a Lake here. It is said that Arahat made a prophecy that “the monastery will come up at this spot” and he made offerings (prayer with grains of corn) to the Nagasarpent spirits. The corns mixed with the earth and formed in the shape of Swastika (Yungdrung), later it came to be known as Yungdrung Monastery. The Great Translator Rinchen Zangpo constructed a temple here in the eleventh century. Naropa also visited Lamayuru and meditated here. Lamayuru have been taken care of by Kadampa School of Tibetan Buddhism but later it was taken over by Digungpa Order. This monastery also has festival called “ Yuru Kabgyat”, takes place on 17th and 18th of the 5th month of Tibetan Calendar.

After the visit continue your drive, on arrival check-in at HOTEL. Lamayuru Gompa

Overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Ulitopko - Leh
Morning visit Alchi and Likir.

ALCHI: 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 centre, it is looked after by monks from the Likir monastery.

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 the 18th century. Skilled craftsmen producing excellent thankas, earthern pots and carved folding wooden stools, live here in the village. Majestically situated, Likir commands a spectacular view. A magnificent giant juniper tree, one of the few survivors of its species, stands in the courtyard.

Leave Ulitopko for Leh by surface, on arrival check-in at HOTEL.
Rest of the day free to acclimatize.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Leh
Morning visit Shankar, Spituk & Phiyang Monasteries:
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.

SPITUK: Monastery 14 kms from Leh. The Spituk Monastery has a collection of 21 gold staties of Goddess Tara and a number of scroll paintings. Also visit the temple of Kali which has an interesting collection of masks. Monestry

PHYANG: Built by kind Lkra-Shis_namgyal, founder of Namgyal Dynasty, in 1500after defeating the last of the Lah-Chen King and is the home of the Sri Khing Pa sect (Red Capped). On approaching the monastery entrance, on the grounds, is a long flagstaff on an elaborate pedestal put up by the king after he had won the throne. Several temples have scenes from the eight members of happiness painted on the walls. Suddenly the recd waters of the Indus disappears in the sand, ahead lies vast stretch of desert, the horizon while the mountains appear to form two straight parallel lines running alongside the road.

Afternoon free for independent activities.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Leh
Full day visit SHEY, THIKSEY and HEMIS.

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.

THIKSEY: 19 kms from Leh, spectacularly sited, Thikse is one of the largest and architecturally most impressive gompas. There are several temples in this gompa containing images, stupas and wall pintings of Buddha which are exquisite.

Hemis

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 in honour of Guru Padma Sambhav's birth anniversary. It also has the largest thanka in Ladakh which is unfurled 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 Sengge Namgyal, an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the royalty favoured the Drugkpa Sect which managed the monastery. It is divided into two, the Asssembly 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' (Kalachakra) and the 'Lords of the Four Quarters', besides rows of prayer wheels.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Leh
Full day free for independent activities.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 11: Leh - Delhi
Transfer to airport to connect flight for Delhi.
Meeting assistance on arrival (No accommodation envisaged.

India Gate, Delhi

Short tour of Delhi:
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.

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.

Day 12: Delhi - Abroad
Transfer to the International airport in time to connect your onward flight.
Click here for Reservation / More Information

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