Discover North Indian Himalaya

Day 1: Arrival Delhi

On arrival at Delhi airport assistance & transfer to hotel (check in/out time 12pm). Rest time free for personal activities. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 2: Delhi (B)

City tour of Delhi. In Old Delhi visit the majestic Red Fort (closed on Monday) the residence of the Mughal emperor for nearly 200 years until 1857. Jama Masjid one of the largest mosques in the world built by Shah Jahan. Cycle Rickshaw ride in Chandni chowk & Khari Baoli Spice Market a busy shopping area with markets full of spices, dried fruit, silver jewelry and vivid saris, while the narrow side streets are crowded with tiny shops selling essential oils, stationery and traditional Indian sweets. Raj Gath the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi where he was cremated after his assassination. 
In New Delhi visit Humayun Tomb the first garden-tomb in Indian subcontinent and an early example of Mughal architecture commissioned by Humayun`s first wife Empress Bega Begum in 1569-70. Qutab Minar a 73-metres tall minaret that forms part of the Qutb complex a fine examples of Afghan architecture. Lotus Temple a Bahai House of Worship notable for its flowerlike shape. Also drive pass President House, Parliament & India Gate etc. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 3: Delhi - Chandigarh (245km) (B)

Drive to Chandigarh, check in at hotel. City tour of Chandigarh the best-planned city in India, with architecture which is world-renowned, and a quality of life, which is unparalleled. The face of modern India Chandigarh is the manifestation of a dream that Le Corbusier executed. Chandigarh is a rare epitome of modernization co-existing with natures preservation. These have been planted beautifully carved out lawns and flowers beds. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 4: Chandigarh - Shimla (115km) (B)

Drive to Shimla check in at hotel. City tour of Shimla, once the summer capital of British India. Visit Jakhoo Temple, an ancient site dedicated to monkey god Hanuman. Set amidst the lush green background of the Shivalik hill ranges on Jakhoo Hill, the highest point in Shimla, Temple has the world`s largest Hanuman statue, which is visible from most parts of Shimla. The Christ Church the second oldest church in entire northern India. The church, which took 11 long years to complete, stands as a reminder of the British colonisation in India. Viceregal Lodge, built in 1888, this six story building constructed in Scottish Baronial style once served as the residence of Lord Dufferin, the British Viceroy of India, is a perfect place for history lovers. Today, this lodge houses several articles and pictures that will remind you of the British rule. Also visit The Ridge a wide open street located on the side of Shimla Mall Road. Best known for shopping it is often the most photographed part of the hill station covered with pine, firs, Himalayan Oak and Rhododendron trees. The Scandal Point, located on the Mall Road. It owes its interesting name to the fact that the King of Patiala abducted the daughter of the Viceroy, because he fell in love with her, from this very place. The Mall an ideal spot for shopping, besides a number of good eating joints. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 5: Shimla (B)

Excursion to visit Chail - a small village situated at a height of 2250 m above sea level known for its salubrious beauty and virgin forests. Surrounded by lush greenery and mesmerizing views from such a great height, Chail is a hiker`s paradise. The Chail Palace built as summer retreat by the Maharaja of Patiala during the British Raj is well known for its architecture. The cricket ground at an altitude of 2,444 m is the world highest cricket ground. Next head to Kufri - which offer breathtaking views, stunning locales and tranquil surroundings. Kufri has a Himalayan wildlife zoo which hosts rare antelopes, felines and birds including the Himalayan monal. On the way back to Shimla stop at The Green Valley the beautiful and breathtaking mountain range that falls on the way to Kufri & Shimla. The Green Valley is surrounded by verdant hills on all sides that are covered with thick forests of pine and deodar. It is not uncommon to sight some Yaks wandering and grazing around in the valley. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 6: Shimla - Manali (280km) (B)

Drive to Manali, enroute visit Roerich Art Gallery at Naggar. Nicholas Roerich a Russian artist arrived in the Himalayas after the revolution of 1917, where he died in the year 1947. The Nicholas Roerich art gallery was founded in 1962 by Svyetoslav Roerich, son of Nicholas Roerich. The building that now houses the gallery once served as the residence of Nicholas Roerich. Paintings of Kullu, Spiti and Lahaul made by the painter have been housed in the ground floor of the gallery. A great number of his works are preserved in museums. Most of the paintings show the beauty of ice covered valleys and peaks during early hours of evening.
Continue drive to Manali check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 7: Manali (B)

City tour of Manali a high-altitude Himalayan resort town. Visit Hidimba Devi Temple, an ancient temple dedicated to wife of Bhima, a figure in the Indian epic Mahabharat. Vashisht Village the premises enclose a pyramid-shaped stone temple dedicated to Sage Vashisht, and the water spring, which believed to possess medicinal values and people take a dip in the holy water to get rid of skin diseases and infections. Tibetan monastery which include Himalayan Nyingmapa Gompa and Gadhan Thekchhokling Gompa. These monasteries serve not only as a place of worship but also as guardians of the rich culture and history of the Tibetan people settled in Kullu and Manali. You can shop for beautiful handicrafts that are made by Tibetan people at these monasteries. Manu Temple a historical Hindu temple, dedicated to Sage Manu, a must-visit place, not only because of its religious significance but also because of its ancient, beautiful architecture and wooden carving. Also visit Old Manali a charming, laid-back district known for its wooded mountain trails, apple orchards, and scenic spots by the Manaslu River. It`s dotted with quaint backpacker lodgings and bohemian cafes serving global fare, grilled trout, and pancake breakfasts, while souvenir shops sell hand-knitted woolens and dream catchers. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 8: Manali - Rohtang Pass - Jispa (150kms) (B)

Drive to Jispa on the way visit Rohtang Pass a high mountain pass at an elevation 3,980 m on the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas. The pass provides a natural divide between the Kullu Valley with a primarily Hindu culture (in the south), and the arid high-altitude Lahaul and Spiti valleys with a Buddhist culture (in the north). The pass lies on the watershed between the Chenab and Beas basins. On the southern side of this pass, the Beas River emerges from underground and flows southward and on its northern side, the Chandra River (flows from the eastern Himalayas), a source stream of the river Chenab, flows westward.
Next stop to visit Kardang village in Keylong. It has a monastery situated on the left bank of River Bhaga, said to have been founded about 900 years ago but stood in ruins until 1912 when a lama renovated it. This gompa is scenically perched against the backdrop of the bare mountains of the Rangcha massif, which rises above the valley to give it a stunning feel. The main temple has the statues of Sakyamuni in the centre, Padmasambhava on the right, and Vajradhara on the left. This monastery houses the large number of lamas and chomos (female monks). The library of Kardang Gompa is huge and contains full volumes of Kangyur and Tangyur (sacred Buddhist texts). The walls of the gompa are decorated with colourful wall paintings. In Kardang village there is another small monastery by the name of Jabjesh Monastery and outside the gompa, you can see rock carvings and two big chortens. There is a road near Tandi Bridge to take visitors directly to the monastery.
Continue drive to Jispa check in and overnight at hotel/guesthouse.

 

Day 9: Jispa - Sarchu (80km) (B)

Hike to Jispa village, a beautiful village on the banks of river Bhaga. And Darcha village the last village of Lahaul valley towards Ladakh. 
Drive to Sarchu, situated at the junction of Yotche nullah and the Zangskar chhu which takes off from the Shinkun la. Both these nullahs meet with the main river Bhaga at this place. The valley broadens out from Darcha. The altitude of Darcha is about 3500 m. which makes it an ideal base camp for acclimatisation. Darcha is the jumping off point for treks to Padum over the Shinkun la or Baralacha la and Phirtse la and for treks or mountaineering expeditions to Leh and peaks of Chandra Bhaga series. Darcha is the last village where one can see sparse growth of trees. Beyond Darcha not even a single tree can be seen on either side of the highway. Landscape starts looking desolate and absolutely barren. Sarchu is the last inhabited point in Himachal Pradesh on the Manali - Leh route - which is regarded as one of the highest highways in the world. On arrival check in and overnight at camp/guesthouse.

 

Day 10: Sarchu - Leh (245kms) (B)

Drive to Leh through Nakeela and Lachlangla Pass 16,617 ft. Cross Pang, More Plains (Biggest and Highest Plateau on Earth on Stretch of 42 km), Taglang La Pass (2nd Highest Motorable Road in). Reach Upshi, from here the road follows the Indus River, passing villages with there terraced Fields and neat - Whitewashed houses. 
Arrive Leh check in at hotel. For centuries, Leh was an important stopover for the caravan merchants going to Central Asia. Rest time free and easy to relax and explore the local market. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 11: Leh (B)

City tour of Leh. Visit Leh Palace, a 17th-century former royal palace built under the patronage of King Sengge Namgyal, it used to house his family. The nine-storey dun-coloured palace now houses a museum and a prayer room, while the highlight is the sweeping view of Leh and the surrounding Zanskar mountain from the rooftop. The beauty of the Leh Palace still stands in pride with a lot of ancient Buddha relics, paintings, old utensils, cutlery used by the royal family and artefacts adorning the walls, most of which are almost 450 years old. Thiksey Monastery built in 1430 AD belongs to the Gelukpa Order of Buddhism. Lakhang Nyerma a Temple dedicated to Goddess Dorje Chenmo is within the Thiksey monastery. Apart from Lakhang Nyerma there are a few more shrines inside the monastery complex. Shey Palace and Gompa, built in the 16th Century AD, the monastery enshrines the Du-Khang with an almost 10 meter high copper statue of Lord Buddha. Shanti Stupa, a magnificent white-domed Buddhist monument located atop a steep hilltop at a dizzying height of 11,841 feet. Built in 1991 jointly by the Japanese and Ladakhi Buddhists to mark the completion of 2500 years of Buddhism and to promote world peace. 
Also visit the popular Magnetic Hill of Ladakh, a cyclops hill where vehicles defy the force of gravity and move upwards on the hill when parked at the marked location. To experience this phenomenon, park the car in the neutral gear in the yellow box marked a few metres ahead of the Magnetic Hill road. From this point, the car starts moving at a speed of 20kmph. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 12: Leh excursion to Alchi & Likir (B)

Full day excursion to visit Alchi & Likir. Likir Monastery is the oldest monastery in Ladakh, belonging to the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. A 75 feet large seated statue of Maitreya Buddha gilded in gold and various paintings of guardian divinities, murals and thangkas adorn the walls of assembly halls. There is a school inside the Likir Monastery run by the Central Institute of Buddhist studies and a library open to visitors where old manuscripts, volumes and books on Buddhism and the teachings of Tsong Khapa are housed. A temple named Gonkhang is also present in the complex having images of Sakyamuni and Tsongkhapa.
Alchi Monastery, a complex of Buddist temples, considered to be among the most extensive examples of Buddhist art. Du-Khang is the earliest temple at Alchi, founded around the 11th century AD. There is an elaborately carved doorway with panels of tiny Bodhisattvas and guardian figures. Sum-tsek is a triple-storied temple with a carved wooden facade consisting of pillars, carved brackets, and capitals. Lotsawa Lha-Khang and Manjushri Lha-Khang are two adjoining shrines that share a similar plan.
Drive back to Leh and overnight at hotel.

 

Day 13: Leh - Khardung La Pass - Nubra (160kms) (B)

Drive to Nubra Valley via Khardung La, a high mountain pass in Ladakh region. Situated at an altitude of 18379ft., Khardung La is believed to be the highest motorable road in India at an elevation of 5602 metres. It offers astonishing views of the twisting roads up the mountain and the awesome valley. Drive between Khardung La and Nubra alongside the Shyok river. Visit the Samstanling Gompa in the Sumlur village. The place is in the middle of pleasant scenic beauty and is surrounded by traditional hues of Gold, Red Ocher and white. The entrance of the Monastery is lined with religious flags and the inside halls are lined with wall paintings representing Buddha and his lectures, Dharamchakra, the Four Heavenly Kings and the other facts of Buddhism. Next stop at Panamik to visit Hot water springs which contains high amounts of sulfur, and is believed to possess a lot of medicinal properties. Head to Hunder the sand dunes village amidst the cold desert of the Nubra Valley. The gorgeous silver sand dunes are located at an altitude of 4000m and are bounded by snow-capped mountains. Ride Bactrian Camels to the remote village of Hunder. Check in & overnight in tent/ guest house.

 

Day 14: Nubra Valley - Leh (120kms) (B)

Visit Diskit Monastery, the 14th century monastery with a huge Maitreya Buddha statue atop it is considered to be the largest and oldest monastery in Nubra Valley. From the base of the statue, one can get a gorgeous panoramic view of the Nubra valley. The monastery was founded by Changzen Tserab Zangpo in the 14th century and is situated on a hill above the plains of Shayok river. The monastery house a vast collection of murals and display of frescoes. Later drive to Leh again via Khardungla pass. Arrive Leh, check in & overnight at hotel.

 

Day 15: Leh - Pangong (155kms) (B)

Drive to Pangong Lake taking the road via Karu. You will pass by the beautiful green valley of Shakti as you ascend towards Chang La the third highest motorable pass in India. As you drive down from the pass you will reach Tangste village, Enroute you will see many endemic and migratory bird species and will certainly encounter the Tibeten Marmots. The landscape as you approach Pangong Tso is breathtaking! At an altitude of 4350m Pangong Lake is an endorheic (landlocked) lake. It changes colours from azure to light blue to green and grey.
On arrival check in at camp/ guest house. Spend time soaking in the beauty of Pangong Tso. Overnight in camp/ guest house.

 

Day 16: Pangong - Leh (155kms) (B)

Early morning enjoy the picturesque view of Sun rise on lake. Drive back to Leh where you will have some time to do shopping in evening. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 17: Leh - Delhi

Transfer to airport to board flight for Delhi. Assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel, after refreshment day free for personal activities. Overnight at hotel.

 

Day 18: Delhi - Departure (B)

As per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.

Please Note: Ladakh is high altitude destination: hence Ladakh trip is not recommended for people with poor heart condition, Epilepsy and asthma.