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Himalayan Tour. 9 Days
Delhi-Leh-Delhi.
Ladakh is a land abounding in awesome physical features, set in an enormous and spectacular environment. Bounded by two of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Karakoram in the north and the Great Himalaya in the south, it is traversed by two other parallel chains, the Ladakh Range and the Zanskar Range.
In geological terms, this is a young land, formed a few million years ago. Its basic contours, uplifted by tectonic movements, have been modified over the millennia by the process of erosion due to wind and water, sculpted into the form that we see today.
Today a high-altitude desert, sheltered from the rain-bearing clouds of the Indian monsoon by the barrier of the Great Himalaya, Ladakh was once covered by an extensive lake system, the vestiges of which still exist on its south-east plateaux of Rupshu and Chushul, in the drainage basins or lakes of Tso-moriri, Tso-kar and Pangong-tso. But the main source of water is winter snowfall.
Dras, Zanskar and the Suru Valley on the Himalaya's northern flanks receive heavy snow in winter, this feeds the glaciers from which melt water, carried down by streams, irrigates the fields in summer. For the rest of the region, the snow on the peaks is virtually the only source of water. As the crops grow, the villagers pray not for rain, but for sun to melt the glaciers and liberate their water.
Ladakh lies at altitudes ranging from about 9,000 ft (2,750 m) at Kargil to 25,170 ft (7,672m) at Saser Kangri, in the Karakoram Range. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 27C in the shade, while in winter they may at times plummet to minus 20C even in Leh. Surprisingly though, the thin air makes the heat of the sun even more intense than at lower altitudes. It is said that only in Ladakh can a man sitting in the sun with his feet in the shade suffer from sunstroke and frostbite at the same time!
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Day 1 |
Arrive Delhi. Our executive will receive you at the Airport & you will be transferred to hotel. 3 or 4 star Deluxe hotel Day free of your own. |
Day 2 |
Early morning after breakfast transfer to domestic airport to connect a direct flight to Leh. The ancient capital of Ladakh which lies in the valley of the Upper Indus at 11,500ft. Rest of the day is free for you to rest and acclimatize to the altitude. Late in the afternoon there will be a brief introductory tour of the town. Your stay is at the Lharimo Hotel. |
Day 3 |
Today we will visit Sankar Gompa (monastery), which houses a remarkable representation of Avalokitesvara, the Buddhist god of compassion, complete with 1,000 arms and 1,000 heads. After Sankar we will drive to the Spitok Gompa 5 miles west of Leh, built in the 15th century and perched proudly on a hilltop. Afternoon free of your own. |
Day 4 |
Rise early this morning to hopefully witness the 6.30 a.m. puja ceremony at the Tikse Gompa, regarded by many travellers as the most beautiful of Ladakh's Buddhist monasteries. Continue to the famous Hemis Gompa, whose annual Tse-Chu festival features colourful dances and rituals. Return to Leh in the afternoon with further sightseeing en route. |
Day 5 |
Today you will take a full day excursion off the beaten track to visit the magnificent Lekir and Alchi monasteries & enjoy the landscapes. |
Day 6 |
Today we will visit village of Mankarmo , returning to Leh for lunch. Afternoon at leisure, or visit around the local bazaars where shawls, carpets, painted scrolls and jewellery are on sale, you will also see Ladakhi women wearing their traditional tall hats and distinctive dresses. |
Day 7 |
In the morning return to Delhi by air, and transfer to Hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. |
Day 8 |
Full Day Delhi sight seeing. Overnight hotel. |
Day 9 |
Transfer to International Airport for your onward journey. |
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Area: 97,000 sq kms.
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Population: Approx. 2.40 lakh in the 2 districts of Leh & Kargil.
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Languages: Ladakhi including Balti / Purgi, Shina or Dardic, Urdu / Hindi.
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People: Mongoloid/Tibetan, Dardic and assorted Indo-Aryan elements.
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Altitude: Leh 3505 m, Kargil 2750 m
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Temperature: Summer 25 deg C. Minimum: 8 deg C
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Winter (-) 5 deg C (-) 20 deg C
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Rain-fall: 15 cm, 6" (annual average)
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Clothing: Cotton & light woolens in summer and heavy woollens
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