Buddhist Circuit Tour: Exploring Buddhist Tradition & Spiritualty in Ladakh.

Lonpo Adventure Tours

lonpoadv@gmail.com

Duration: 21 days
Explore 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 itinerary

Day 1: Delhi-McLeod Ganj Arrive Delhi. Transfer to hotel , after rest start sight seeing in Delhi. Day 2: Delhi-McLeod Ganj Morning ight 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 Himachal Pradesh 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. 1

Lonpo Adventure Tours

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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 oer 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 at an 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 rst 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 rst 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 the Indus 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 magnicent 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 a number of objects made and books composed by the rst 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 magnicent 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 Valley of 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 elds. 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.