Travel Facts
State : Jammu and Kashmir
Time
Frame : 3 days
It's hot - Max Temp :38 C: 45C,
It's Cold - Min Temp : 0
degrees C
Right Season : June to September end
360° View : Leh Palace, Tsemo Gompa,Shantistupa, Monasteries,
Stok Palace Trekking Zone
Shopping Zones : Ecology Center's handicraft shop, Tibetian Market,
Ladakh Art Palace, Cottage Industries Chnagspa, Tibetian Handicraft
Community.
Leh
Ladakh happens to be fast and happening adventure zone of India located in
Jammu and Kashmir state of India. With the aridity of the desert and snow as
a source of water, Leh Ladakh is etched at an impressive height of 11000
fts. It's natural surrounding makes Ladakh a panorama unseen anywhere in the
world. The desert is cradled by the Karakoram and great Himalayan ranges in
the east of J & K. Ladakh is inhabited by Lamaist Buddhist population
and is banded together with Tibet border of China inheriting the
ethnological characteristics from its ally. In the recent years Ladakh has
become the hottest adventure and recreation zone. Thousands of foreign
nationals are seen relishing Leh-Ladakh of India. Welcome to land of high
mountain passes.
Aim :
Leh-Ladakh
Accessing Ladakh has become easy with new Manali-Leh highway that has
contributed in bringing down the travel time by 16 days to 2 days ! This new
drive way is a road trip without peer. A journey that passes and along the
2nd highest road in the world before reaching Leh. The new Manali drive way
is 480 kms in distance that counts for 26-30 hours of drive over 2 days,
covering the bulk distance of 220 kms on first day and rest on the second
day. Drive amidst passes and spiral climbs to move ahead on classic road
trips. If you wish to travel by air the closest spot is Jammu which
scheduled flights to Leh, Chandigarh and Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile
staying in Leh Ladakh is a delight in these panorama. Leh abounds with
places to stay with every second house converted into a guest house. But
booking your hotel in advance. The hotels here are manned by Ladakhi who are
also friendly. Enchanting panorama and great hospitality brings home lots of
visitors home. You be one more.
Day One
The first day at Ladakh would be enticing simply. Divide your time for
catching several facets of Ladakh, the hills, monasteries, gompas and
bazaars. Square one your trip from Leh Palace.
» Stop 1 : Leh Palace
The Leh Palace is dominated by imposing 9 storey Palace of Sengge. Walk to
this protected derelict under repair and a monument in supervision of
archaeological survey of India. The entrance inside the monument needs a
Ticket.
» Stop 2 : Tsemo Gompa
Further
up beyond the palace is the Tsemo Gompa which is a stiff and straight walk
up the south approach from palace. Visit the red painted Maitreya Temple
while coming back.
» Stop 3 : Shanti Stupa
A young addition to the Leh tourism this clinic white stupa with garish
murals is worth few hpur in its calm quarters. To reach here there are two
ways either walk from north or getting down few stairs from Changspa Lane.
Day Two (
Monastery Circuit)
Monasteries are jewels of Ladakh and book your time for it in advance.
South east of Leh, along the Indus are monasteries of Shey, Thiksey, Hemis,
Stakna, Matho and the Stok palace. Tough it is impossible to cover them all
in a day so visit them all in a day. Go visiting Shey, Thiksey and Hemis to
more than adequately cover the monastery experience.
» Stop 4 : Shey and Thiksey
Fifteen km from Leh, Shey was the ancient capital of Ladakh. The remains of
the old town and castle overlook the present village. You will find two
temples within the palace, some very old paintings and giant size statue of
Buddha dating back to 17th century. Further from here is Thiksey Monastery
covering a whole hillside in the shape of Potala palace in Tibet, this
monastery has lot of Murals. The huge 3 storey Maitreya Buddha is housed
here besides it the rooftop of monastery offers one of the most beautiful
views of Indus Valley and the Stok range.
» Stop 5 : Hemis and Matho Monastery
Farther 20 mins away from Thiksey the road winds up along two massive mani
walls into a gorge that hides the Hemis Gompa till last minute. A largest
monastery in Ladakh, home to the largest Thagkha in the world.
Walk another 26 km from leh and you will reach to Matho Monastery or in
another words a treasure house of weapon and swords with powerful weapons of
Oracles of Matho.
» Stop 6 : Stakna and Stok Palace
Though small, the Stakna (the tiger nose) Gompa dominates much of the
Upshi-Leh drive along the Indus offering all around view of the valley. The
only part of the 77 room palace that is open to tourists is a wing that has
been converted into museum. On view are the collection of artifacts from the
royal collection.
Day Three
(Monasteries of west Leh)
» Stop 7 : Spituk Monastery
The closest and one of the most accessible of Gompas, Spituk is closest .
Catch any of the buses and and get off at the foot of Gompa. It was Spituk
that marked the beginning of the monastery to be established in Ladakh .
» Stop 8 : Likir
After an enjoyable 2 hrs drive from Leh, shortly before Saspol, the right
from a fork in the road takes you to impressive Likir Gompa. Then from there
the five km drive Likir Village upto the monastery from where you share a
view of Maitreya Buddha, situated to one side of Complex.
» Stop 9 : Alchi
Just beyond Saspol, a bridge crosses the Indus and folds back along a river
to short distance to Alchi. Having arrived at the main village square you
have no inklings that you are near one of the most significant historical
sites in Asia. This is a small collection of 5 tiny temples at a short
distance.
» Stop 10 : Rhizdong
This is one of the more isolated monasteries at 5 kms from Leh -Kargil main
turn off.
Shopping In Leh-Ladakh
Curio shops and handicraft emporiums, travel agencies and book stores are
distributed throughout the main Leh area . For gifts check out the Ecology
Center's handicraft. During the season a Tibetian Market is set off the Fort
Road are with array of curios and handicraft. Shop for Pashmina made
garments, socks, gloves, caps and sweaters are best buys. Shop for prayer
wheels, Buddhist masks, Thangka paintings, Tibetan silver jewelry and
traditional Ladakhi jewelry with turquoise are also popular with tourists
world over. Among the fruits you can buy Apricots. Famous shops at Ladakh
are:
¤ Ladakh Art Palace
¤ Tibetan Handicraft Emporium
¤ Ladakh Environment and Health Organization
¤ Tibetan Handicraft Community Showroom
¤ Cottage Industries Exposition
¤ Ecology Centre
¤ Women's Alliance
Main markets in Leh are :
¤
Tibetan Market off Old Leh Road for clothes
¤ Moti Market near the Leh bus stand
Eating Out In
Leh-Ladakh
The Leh area has restaurants, cafes and bakeries catering to all budget
that run entire range of cusines from authentic Tibetian fare to European
Kashmiri and Israeli. The eateries, specially the outdoor ones are abuzz
through out the day and become a focus of the mid day life when everyone
seems to be on street.
You could cool off with a beer in almost all the restaurants, but you must
try the local juice made from Tse Tse Lulu Berry. If you are adventurous you
can ask the hotel people to arrange for some chhaang some rice beer.
After Leh-Ladakh
» Rumtek Dharma Chakra
» Shri Nalanda Institute
» Jawahar Lal Nehru Botanical Garden
» Saramasa Graden/ Peacca Garden
» Tsomgo / Changa Lake
» Nathula Pass
» Menmecho Lake
» Fambong La-Wildlife Sanctuary
