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Day 01.
Flight to India (Delhi)
Around midnight arrival in
Delhi.
The cosmopolitan City and capital Delhi is the main gateway for
travellers. You are met by an Indo Vacations representative and
transferred to your Hotel.
Day 02.
Delhi - Leh (by air)
In the morning a short flight brings us to Leh, the
capital of Ladakh. Due to its
altitude (3500 m.) Ladakh is also known as the roof of the world.
Leh was an important place in the historical times on the
silk road to central Asia. The rest of the day is at leisure to
acclimatize ourselves to the high altitude of Leh.
BD
Day
03. Leh Excursion: Thikse, Shey, Hemis
Today we
start our excursion by visiting the monastery of Thikse. Thikse is
one of the most imposing monastery in Ladakh. The monastery has 12
stories, 10 temples, a nunnery and 60 lamas in residence. It
contains numerous stupas, statues, Tankhas, wall painting and a
large pillar engraved with the teaching of
Buddha. We can also see here a
collection of Tibetan scripts. After the visit of Thikse we visit
the village of Shey on the eastern bank of the Indus. Shey was the
royal residence and was located at an important vantage point in the
Indus valley. It has a large victory stupa which is topped
with gold. After the visit of the monastery of Shey we visit the
monastery of Hemis. The rich monastery of Hemis is the biggest in
Ladakh and is perched on top of a pleasant green hill surrounded by
spectacular mountain scenery.
BLD
Day
04. Leh Excursion: Spituk, Phyang, Choglamsar
Today we start our day by visiting the monastery
Spituk. Spituk monastery
(15th Century) is 8 km from Leh and is situated on a hilltop
overlooking the Indus. Spituk valley has an enormous status of
Kali whose face is unveiled once a year during the Spituk
festival. This monastery also contains an ancient collection of
masks. 135 yellow capped monks resides in this monastery. After the
visit of Spituk we shall proceed to the Gompa Phyang which is a
traditional monastery setting for a spectacular religious festival
with masked dancing. There are 50 red capped monks residing here.
After the visit of Phyang we have a stopover at the Choglamsar
village where we have a look at that arts and crafts made by Tibetan
refugees.
BLD
Day
05. Leh - Alchi (about 70 km / 8 hours)
Today we
drive to Alchi through the exciting landscape of Ladakh. On the
banks of the Indus river, is the
Alchi Gompa dating a thousand years back. One of its walls features
thousands of miniature sized pictures of the Buddha. Alchi has been
declared as an UNESCO monument. The Monastery of Alchi is a large
temple complex and is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist
centers in Ladakh and a jewel of monastic skill. Three large sized
images made of clay and painted brightly are its focal attraction.
BLD
Day 06.
Alchi - Lamayuru - Alchi
Lamayuru
is the oldest known Monastery (Gompa) which dates back to the 10th
century and is overlooking the Indus river. This Monastery belongs
to a Red Hat sect. Lamayuru is considered a sacred site for the Pre
Buddhist religion known as the BON. There are renowned collection of
carpets, thankas and frescoes. After visit drive back to Alchi.
BLD
Day 07.
Alchi - Leh
In the
noon we drive from Alchi to Leh. Leh Palace in the NW has been
described as a miniature version of Lhasa's Potala palace, with
which this 17th century building is contemporary. This Potala
(palace) rises up like mountain. From the town below it is dazzling
in the morning sun and ghostly at night. We enjoy the wonderful view
of the city and beautiful surroundings from the roof of the palace.
This palace was built by the King Singe Namgyal and still owned by
the royal family. At present is this palace not occupied as the
royal family resides in the other palace in stock.
BLD
Day
08. Leh - Hunder (about 128 km)
Early morning we will drive to
Hunder. After travelling for around 39 km from Leh we cross
the Khardungla Pass (5578 m)
which is the highest motor able road in the world. The view from the
top is simply amazing. Sheltered on the other side is the beautiful
and fertile Nubra valley
situated along
river Shyok. The valley is
covered with dense thickets of sea buck thorn - a throny shrub which
the villagers use for fuel and fencing their fields. The Nubra
Valley, with an average altitude of 10000 feet has a milder climate
than the rest of Ladakh and the Shyok river which feeds this valley
has made agriculture possible. It is in this valley that you will
see the double humped Bactrian camel, which were used in earlier
days as means of transport on the Silk Route. Snow capped mountains
surround this valley which also boasts of some of the best
monasteries in Ladakh. We will drive further and arrive at the small
village of Hunder (3048 m) and have an overnight stay there only.
BLD
Day
09. Hunder - Panamik - Hunder (Excursion)
After
having breakfast we excursion for Panamic.
Today, Panamic is a sleepy village, with its people quietly working
in their fields. There we will visit the thermal hot springs locally
reputed to have therapeutic qualities. Drive back to Hunder.
BLD
Day
10. Hunder - Leh (about 128 km)
After
breakfast we leave for Leh. In the evening you will arrive in Leh.
Upon arrival you will be transferred to the hotel in Leh. Rest of
the day at leisure.
BLD
Day
11. Leh - Stok - Leh (about 30 km)
Today
after having breakfast we drive to Stok from there we start our
trekking tour. The attraction of Stok remains the palace of Stok
which is 200 years old. The palace and museum at Stok is a showpiece
for the royal Tankhas, royal crown, dresses, coins, precious stones
and turquoise head dresses. Today we visit the Stok Palace. In the
evening drive back to Leh.
BLD
Day
12. Leh - Delhi (by air) - Agra (about 200 km)
Arrive at Delhi and drive to
Agra. In the evening arrive in Agra. Rest of the day at
leisure. BD
Day
13. Agra
We start
today our sightseeing by a visit to the Agra
Fort, built by three of the greatest Mughal emperors. The
construction of this massive structure began in 1565 under Akbar's
reign and continued till the time of his grandson's reign, Shah
Jahan who built the impressive imperial quarters and mosque. After
the visit of Agra Fort we proceed to visit the most beautiful
monument of India, the Taj
Mahal, an enduring monument to love, with a continually
fulfilling beauty. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
between 1631-52, as a tomb and memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz
Mahal (Jewel of the Palace), who died at the age of 39 giving birth
to her 14th child. BD
Day
14. Agra - Delhi
In the
morning we drive to New Delhi. In the afternoon we have sightseeing
in Old Delhi. Sightseeing of Old Delhi includes "Rajghat",
the place where
Mahatma Gandhi was cremated,
and Jama
Masjid, the great mosque of Old Delhi. Today we also visit
the famous “Humayun
Tomb” which is the first substantial example of Mughal
architecture
in
India
and “Qutub
Minar” which is 71 meter high and was constructed in 1199.
Before we proceed to the hotel we drive through New Delhi where we
visit the India
Gate, Government buildings and Embassies.
BD
Day 15: Flight to home destination
Today
flight to home destination.
About
Hotels:
We provide you the accommodation as per your budget mentioned above
in the table of hotels category for any of the booked tour. Hotels
provided by us are from budget to luxury class hotels. Luxury hotels
are all five stars or of above standard. Deluxe would be a
combination of 3 and 4 star Hotels and standard would be a
combination of 2 and 3 star or similar hotels. The criteria for
selecting hotels by us remains the best value of your money. We also
provide you wherever possible accommodation in heritage hotels.
Heritage Hotels are old Palaces, Forts and Grand mansions of
Maharajas which have been later renovated and converted into Hotels.
Rooms are decorated all individually. Rooms are comfortable,
romantic and present the flair of olden Maharaja days.
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