Buddhist Circuit Tour

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    Buddhist Circuit Tour: Exploring BuddhistTradition & Spiritualty in Ladakh.

    Lonpo Adventure [email protected]

    Duration: 21 daysExplore the path of Buddhism the path of its culture, its people and its landscapes.

    This tour is a very personal one for Lonpo adventures, as the company founder and

    tour leader, Tashi Tsering, is a member of the Buddhist community of Paddar.

    This is our proposal for a beautiful and inspiring trail that will bring you closer to the

    world of Buddhism in Ladakh, India.*

    Meet the people, see the sites and learn all about the Buddhist community, its

    beliefs, history, culture and customs with the help of our expert guide.

    Day by day itineraryDay 1: Delhi-McLeod Ganj

    Arrive Delhi. Transfer to hotel , after rest start sight seeing in Delhi.

    Day 2: Delhi-McLeod Ganj

    Morning flight to Gagal airport, meet the Lonpo representative and drive to McLeod Ganj hotel

    after refreshing walk around McLeog Ganj market, and Dalai Lama monastery.

    Day 3: Norbulingka and Karmapa monastery

    After breakfast, drive to Norbulingka and Karmapa monastery. A wonderful place: they train

    newly arrived Tibetan refugees in traditional arts in order to make a living in India.

    Day 4: Drive to Shimla

    Shimla, the former summer capital of the British in India, and the present capital of HimachalPradesh is famous for its natural beauty, architectural buildings, wooden crafts and apples. There

    is a sense of nostalgia about Shimla, with its old bungalows and their gabled roofs and beautiful

    gardens.

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    Day 5: Shimla- Saharan via Rampur

    Day 6: Saharan to Sangla

    Sarahan, the gateway to the Kinnaur valley, is a small village on the Hindustan

    Tibet Road beyond Rampur. It provides a spectacular view of Shrikhand Mahadev

    (5227 m) and hiking opportunities to the nearby villages such as Ranwin and

    Bashal Peak.

    Day 7: Sangla- Kalpa

    Sangla to Kalpa.(2759 m.) 5 hrs. Recong peo and Kalpa are respectively the new

    and old district headquarters of the Kinnaur district. They are famous for their

    dry fruits and offer the closest view of Kinner Kailash (Shivlingam) peak from

    Kalpa. Yang Thang is the scenic Nako village, the largest village in the desolate

    Hangrang valley.

    Day 8: Kalpa- Tabo(3050 m) High mountains surround Tabo, where the oldest and archeologically

    most important monastery of Spiti is located. Tabo Monastery celebrated its

    millennium jubilee in 1996. Built in 996 A.D. by Rinchen Zangpo, the monastery

    is also known as Ajanta of Himalaya. Sherlang, Duang Domlang gompa regarded

    by many as only next to Tholong monastery in Tibet.

    Day 9: Tabo - Kaza

    Day 10: Kaza

    (3600 m) Kaza is a beautiful place and sub-headquarters of the Spiti region. A

    little deeper along the valleys, Kaza is noted for its historic Kee Gompa located atan altitude of 4160m.

    Kay 11: Kaza- Keylong

    Day 12: Keylong

    Day 13: Keylong - Leh.

    Day 14: Leh, Shay, Thiksey, Hemis (sight seeing )

    Shey Gompa of Ladakh is situated on a small hill, at approximately 15 km to the

    south of Leh town.

    The main image inside the Shey Monastery is that of Buddha Shalyamuni, a huge

    image of the seated Buddha, the second largest Buddha statue in the Ladakh

    region.

    Stok Gompa of Ladakh is situated at a distance of approximately 15 km to the

    south of the Leh town. It dates back to the 14th century. One of the major

    attractions of the Stok Monastery is its own library.

    Thiksey Gompa of Ladakh is situated 18 km from Leh. One of the most beautiful

    monasteries of Ladakh, it belongs to the Gelukpa Order of Buddhism. Sherab

    Zangpo of Stod built the first Thikse Monastery at Stakmo.

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    Hemis Monastery is the largest and wealthiest monastery of Ladakh, Hemis

    Monastery dates back to the year 1630 and was founded by the first incarnation of

    Stagsang Raspa Nawang Gyatso. Hemis Monastery is located inside a gorge, at around

    47 km from Leh. Belonging to the Dugpa Order, it stands on the western bank of theIndus River. An unforgettable sacred mask dance is performed at the monastery every

    year.

    Day 15: Leh, Pang, Likir, and Alchi

    Likir Gompa of Leh Ladakh is situated at a approximately 62 km to the west of Leh

    town. It was founded in the later half of the 11th century, around the year 1605. It

    belongs to the Yellow Hat Sect, founded by Tsongkhapa.

    Alchi Monastery is mainly known for its magnificent 11th or 12th century wall

    paintings. Unlike the other gompas in Ladakh, Alchi is situated on lowland, not on a

    hilltop.

    Alchi is located on the bank of Indus River 70 km downstream from Leh. the capital

    of Ladakh. This village, situated amidst dramatic landscape is famous for the existence

    of one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh (declared national heritage)

    Overnight stay in Alchi

    Day 16: Rizong, Lamayuru - Leh

    The Rizong Gompa of Ladakh was founded by the great Lama Tsultim Nima in the

    year 1831. It is situated at a distance of approximately 73 km from Leh. The monastery

    serves as the residence of approximately 40 monks.

    The gompa consists of a number of shrines inside its complex and also contains quite a

    rich collection of the painting blocks of Lama Tsultim Nima's biography as well as anumber of objects made and books composed by the first Sras Rinpoche.

    The nunnery, with about 20 nuns is under the control of the governing body of Rizong

    Monastery only.

    Lamayuru Monastery is situated in Ladakh, in between Bodhkharbu and Kha-la-che,

    on a steep rock mountain. It lies at a distance of aboout 127 km to the west of Leh.

    The monastery is made up of a number of shrines and also has a very rich collection of

    thankas and magnificent wall paintings.

    Every year the Lamayuru Gompa plays host a masked dance, which takes place on the

    17th and 18th day of the 5th month of Tibetan lunar calendar.

    Day 17: Day in Leh

    Day in Leh with a visit to the local market, palace and Stok palace.

    The Royal family of King Singe Namgyal is presently residing in this palace, built by

    King Tsespal Tondup Namgyal in 1825 AD. It is famous for its beautiful gardens as well

    as for its architectural beauty.

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    Day 18: Nubra valley- Diskit - Hundur

    Drive to Nubra valley, Diskit and Hundur monasteries

    Both the Diskit Gompa as well as the Hundur Gompa are situated in the Nubra Valleyof the Ladakh region. Located quite near the monasteries, at a slightly higher altitude,

    is Lachung Temple. One of the oldest temples of this area, the temple has a huge idol

    of Tsong-kha-pa, crowned with a Gelugpa yellow hat. Hundur Monastery of Leh

    Ladakh is situated just below the main road, near the bridge and nearby Diskit

    Monastery.

    The Diskit Gompa of Leh Ladakh dates back to the 14th century. At the heart of

    Diskit Monastery is an elevated cupola, which stands adorned with a beautiful fresco

    that illustrates the Tashilhunpo Gompa of Tibet. Also, hundreds of Mongolian and

    Tibetan texts are preserved inside these temples.

    Overnight stay in Hundur.Day 19: Panamic

    Afternoon exploratin of Panamic village. During the trade between Central Asia and

    Ladakh, Panamic was the last major settlement before the caravans crossed the

    Karakoram range. Today, Panamic is a sleepy village, with its people quietly working in

    their fields.

    It is worthwhile visiting the village thermal hot springs locally reputed to have

    therapeutic qualities.

    Return back and drive to Leh. Upon arrival in the evening check in at the hotel.

    Overnight stay at hotel.

    Day 20: Leh

    Day 21: Leh- Delhi

    Flight to Delhi.

    *The tour can be personalized to suit your curiosity and travellers spirit.

    NOTE: An inner line permit is necessary for the Kinnour valley, from Rizong

    onward.