9D Leh & the Hemis Festival
Jun 19-27, 2007, Himachal Pradesh & Ladakh
Ladakh may geographically be a part of India, but culturally and physically it is more like the Tibet and Central Asia of old. A remote borderland region in far northern India, Ladakh remains an unspoiled enclave of Tibetan Buddhism. For centuries, Silk Road caravans and faithful pilgrims passed through the mountain crossroads between India, Tibet and Chinese Turkestan, endowing Ladakh with a melting pot of artistic tradition.
We will make our way through the Lahaul-Spitti valleys and transverse high mountain passes to arrive in Ladakh. The trip culminate in the highlight of the trip - the Hemis Festival at Hemis Monastery in Leh.
Hemis Monastery & Festival Located 40 km from Leh, the Hemis Monastery is the wealthiest, best-known and biggest gompa of Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major annual festival held here in summer. The festival is in honour of Guru Padma Sambhav’s birth anniversary.
Hemis was built in 1630 during the reign of Sengge Namgyal, an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the royalty favoured the Drugpa sect, which managed the monastery.
The courtyard of Hemis Monastery or Gompa is the stage for the famous ‘Hemis’ festival. The colourful two-day pageant falls on the 10th day (Tse-Chu) of the Tibetan lunar month. The local people are seen dressed up in their finest traditional garb for the occasion. Lamas called ‘chhams’ perform splendid masked dances and sacred plays to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums and long horns. The head lama presides over the function.
The festival takes an auspicious turn every 12 years in the Tibetan Year of the Monkey, when the two-storey high ‘Thanka’ depicting Padmasambhava is displayed. This famous ‘Thanka’, richly embroidered with pearls and semi-precious stones, is due to be displayed at next year’s festival i.e. in 2008. A colourful fair, displaying some beautiful handicrafts, is the special highlight of the festival.
Day 01 / Jun 19 / Singapore - Delhi - Chandigarh (-/-/D)
Arrive Delhi airport, meet and greet by our Indian Tour Leader and orientation drive around Delhi before transferring to New Delhi Railway Station. Board the fast Shatabedi train leaving Delhi 1720 hours and arriving in Chandigarh 2040 hour. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Day 02 / Jun 20 / Chandigarh – Manali (B/L/D)
After breakfast drive 320km, 7-8 hours, to Manali visiting Himachal Darshan Photo Gallery, Brijeshwar Mahadev Temple, Rorich Art Gallery and Naggar Castle at Naggar. Rorich Art Gallery displays the artwork of both Professor Nicholas Rorich and his son. Naggar was the old capital of Kullu state before it was shifted to Kullu town in 1660.
Day 03 / Jun 21 / Manali – Keylong (B/L/D)
After breakfast begin our incredible journey over the Pir Panjal range of the High Himalaya crossing Rohtang Pass (3978m) with fantastic views of the surrounding Chandra Bhaga range of peaks, mountains and glaciers. Most of the peaks in Chandra Bhaga range are above 5000m. From Rohtang, descend into the Lahaul valley at Koksar check-point. After completing formalities to enter into the tribal area of Lahaul, we follow the Chandra river to our next destination, a small town called Keylong - the district headquarters of Lahaul. Enroute we will pass through many traditional tribal villages against a backdrop of huge glaciers and snow capped peaks.
Day 04 / Jun 22 / Keylong (B/L/D)
After breakfast trek to Shishur Monastery, located just above Keylong town. We head back to Keylong for lunch and then drive to visit Kardang Monastery on the opposite side of the valley. The afternoon is free for shopping and own activities.
Optional: Kora Trek at no extra cost
Those who wish for a longer trek and would like to acclimatise can do so by crossing a small pass. We start by walking from Keylong to Kardang monastery before crossing the Kardang Pass above the monastery in about 5-6 hours. This trek is called the Kora, one of the traditional pilgrims trek of the natives of Lahaul, and it ends at Gondla about 15km from Keylong on the other side of the mount. We drive back to Keylong after the trek.
Day 05 / Jun 23 / Keylong – Sarchu (B/L/D)
Today is an easy day covering a short distance. We drive 120 km 4-5 hours through Lahaul valley to Sarchu, over the second pass at Baralachala 4890m. The landscape changes from the semi-barren Lahaul to a barren landscape with different colours of the Trans Himalayan mountains after crossing the Baralachala. Three rivers originate from this pass, named as the Chandra, Bhaga and Yanum. The top of the pass is a photographer’s delight for its panoramic views of the Western Himalaya. Four valleys meets here and it was one of the trade post where the traders of four valleys use to bring their goods and exchange these with other traders of the other valleys. Like the traders of Changthang use to bring their fine pashimna and the traders of Lahaul bring them salt, butter and other spices to exchange with their pashmina. We will also be visiting two small mountain lakes, Deepak Tal and Surej Tal on the way. Overnight Camp.
Day 06 / Jun 24 / Sarchu - Leh (B/L/D)
Early morning drive 240 km, 7-8 hours to Leh driving over 2 of the highest passes on this route, the Nakee La (5050m), Lachlungla (5100m) and Tanglangla (5360m). If we are lucky, we may chance upon some of the “Changpas” nomadic shepherds, who also engage in trade and who used to work for caravans in Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti. The area is rich in wildlife including the “Kyang” (wild ass), red fox and the rare, highly endangered, snow leopard. The mountains on this route offers excellent views and you will understand why this area is also known as Moonland.
Day 07 / Jun 25 / Leh - Hemis Festival (B/L/D)
We drive 40km to Hemis - no visit to Ladakh is not complete without visiting Hemis monastery. It is one of the largest and most important monasteries with an excellent library, well preserved wall paintings and good Buddha figures.
We will spend the revelling in the colourful Hemis festival in the monastery courtyards.
Day 08 / Jun 26 / Leh - Thikshey & Stok excursion (B/L/D)
We leave on an early morning excursion to Thikshey monastery, rated by many travellers as the most spectacular monastery in Ladakh. The monastery is set on a small hilltop in front of a small water pond.
We later visit Stok Palace, which houses a museum with fabulous display of costumes and jewelry of the Royal Family of Ladakh.
If time permits we will visit the Project Lakakh managed by International Society of Ecology & Culture (ISEG).
About Hemis Festival
Each year the Hemis Festival attracts more than its share of pilgrims & tourists. Held during the full moon in June or July for 2 days (25-26 June, 2007), it is a series of colourful masked dances performed to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums & long horns. You have the whole day to witness and photograph the entire ceremonial process including the revealing of the priceless Thangka and possible glimpses of the Head Lama
Day 09 / Jun 27 / Leh - Delhi - Singapore (B/L/D)
Early morning transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Delhi. On arrival we have free time for our own activities. We meet again for dinner before our transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Singapore.
Hotels
Chandigarh: Maya Regency
Manali: Silmog Garden
Keylong : Tashi Delek
Sarchu: Tented Accommodation
Leh: Nirwana Palace
Delhi: Sahara (day use room only)
Tour Cost
- S$2425 per person (min. 2 persons to go)
- S$451 single supplement
Tour Cost Includes
- Return airfare from Singapore to Delhi on Indian Airlines
- One-way domestic airfare from Leh to Dehli On Indian Airlines
- Seats in air-conditioned chair car in Satabadi Express between Delhi to Chandigarh
- Airport transfers and all chartered transport including jeeps for journey between Manali to Leh
- Hotels as indicated in the itinerary
- Day use room at Delhi at Sahara Hotel on Day 09
- All meals as indicated
- All camping arrangements at Sarchu in camping tents with vegetarian catering arrangements
- English-speaking Indian Tour Leader from Delhi airport to Leh airport, and local guide in Leh.
Tour Cost Excludes
- Indian visa
- Airport taxes and monument and monasteries entrance charges
- All expenses of a personal nature like drinks, tips, telephone calls etc.
- Travel insurance
- Tips & gratuities for guide(s) and driver(s)
- Any other expenses to be paid owing to any changes in itinerary or any change in domestic airfare between Leh to Delhi.
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