|
Cycling in
Ladakh (12 Days / 11 Nights)
Delhi - Leh - Sumur - Panamik - Tigar - Delhi
DAY 01 Delhi
Previous day or early morning, arrive in Delhi and transfer
to hotel.
Sightseeing : QUTAB
MINAR - HUMAYUN'S TOMB - RED FORT - RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN -
INDIA GATE...
NEW DELHI : New Delhi is
the capital of India and its third-largest city. In Old
Delhi you will find many mosques, monuments and forts
relating to India's Muslim history. The other Delhi in New
Delhi, the imperial city created as the capital of India by
the British. It is a spacious, open city and contains many
embassies and government buildings.
DAY 02 DELHI - LEH
Morning transfer to airport to catch the flight to Leh. Upon
arrival in Leh, transfer to Hotel. Rest of the day free for
acclimatization. Overnight at Hotel
DAY 03 LEH
LEH : India's link with
the exotic past, when lengthening caravans piled the ancient
silk route and lingered long at Leh to rest to buy to plan
or just to visit . What Hong Kong is to the Far East . Leh
was in the not so ancient times to Central Asia .
In the north lay the caravan route to Yarkand and Kashger
both in Sinkiang in the east is Lhasa, the holy city in the
west is Baltistan and Kashmir and to the south lay Himachal
Pradesh. Traders from Afghanistan, Turkey and the Arabian
kingdoms all congregated in the main square displayed their
wares and in the evening played an invigorating game of
polo. Situated at the apex of a triangular plateau formed by
the Indus at an altitude of 3368 Mts. It is a small town of
narrow intersecting lanes and one main street leading to the
old palace of the raja of Ladakh.
SIGHTSEEING OF THE MONASTRIES
SHEY : Situated on a
hillock 15km. upstream from Leh was once the residence of
the royal family . According to tradition, it was the seat
of power of the pre-Tibetan kings. A 7.5 meter high copper
statue of Buddha, plated with gold, and the largest of its
kind is installed here.
THIKSE : Spectacularly
sighted, Thikse is one of the largest and architecturally
most impressive Gompa. There are several temples in this
Gompa, containing images stupas and wall paintings of Buddha
which are exquisite.
HEMIS : It 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 honor of Guru Padma Sambhav's
birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thanka in Ladakh,
which is unfurled once in 12 years ( next in 2004 ). 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 favored for Drugkpa Sect, which
managed the monastery. It is divided into two, the Assembly
Hall on the right and the main temple on the left. The hall,
Dukhang, is also used as a ' Green room ' by the dancers
during the festival. The temple is known as Tshogkhang. The
verandahs have a surfeit of frescoes among them the Buddhist
Wheel of Life ( Kalachakra ) and the Lord of the four
quarters, besides rows of prayer wheels.
DAY 04 LEH - SARAI
Cycle trek starts - all luggage,
camp staff will go in a truck. Ladakh Cycle Tour
SARAI : Starting from
Leh at a height of 3368 Mts. ascend steadily along a bridle
path for few kilometers to Sambog a height of 4500 Mts. From
here the ascent is steep and though the snow ( till August )
rises 1030 Mts. Within 16 km. Is a two hour back breaking
climb to reach the Khardong-La pass at 5602 Mts. Braving the
ever present threat of avalanches the route is a steep
descent goes down over rocky and slippery terrain to 4572
Mts. reaching the Sarai village enclosed in a cluster of
willows.
DAY 05 SARAI - SUMUR
SUMUR : The next stage
is the most precarious negotiating a steep descent within 8
kilometers through narrow gorges down to the left bank of
the Shyok river which leads to the village of Khalsar or
Khartsar, 6 km. Away. After a 5 km. Stretch along the bank a
suspension bridge crosses over to the otherside. Following
the river bank for 18 km. Over s sandy maiden with thorny
bushes one reaches extensively cultivated villages, Ran
Kralzung and Sumur on the fringes of this valley.
DAY 06 SUMUR - PANAMIK
PANAMIK : The last stop,
Panamik is another 19 km. Away, after crossing a sandy and
stony road and fording swiftly flowing side stream. The
ascent from Leh, and descent from the pass to the Khardong
valley, but once the ordeal is over the hardy soul is
rewarded with a smiling valley and villages flowing with
apples, apricots and mulberry trees amidst and amidst the
patches of thick scrub jungle that dot the valley.
DAY 07 PANAMIK
Free day to explore the area.
DAY 08 PANAMIK - TIGAR
Mountain Biking from Panamik to Tiger & back to Panamik.
DAY 09 TIGAR - LEH
Mountain biking to Leh
DAY 10 REST DAY IN LEH
Day free to explore the surrounding area & last minute
shopping
DAY 11 LEH - DELHI by Planes
Transfer to Airport to catch the flight to Leh. Upon arrival
in Delhi, transfer to Hotel. Later full day sightseeing tour
of Old & New Delhi.
DAY 12 DELHI
Rest and shopping. Transfer to airport. |
