Overview
Hemis Monastery is one of 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. 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 "green room" by the dancers during the festival. The
temple is known as Tshogkhang. The varandahs have a surfeit of frescoes, among
them the Buddhist 'wheel of life' (Kalachakra) and the lords of the four
quarters, besides the prayer wheel.
Package
Inclusions:
• Double room on twin sharing basis on bed & breakfast
basis in Delhi & Full board elsewhere
• All transfers and sight seeing by air-conditioned Vehicle in Delhi & non
air-conditioned jeeps elsewhere
• Entrances in the monuments as in the itinerary.
• Services of English Speaking local guides in each city for sightseeing as per
the itinerary.
• All inner line permit in Ladakh
• Service Tax.
Package
Exclusions:
• Any airport taxes.
• Any airfares.
• Any new tax imposed by the Government.
• Any meals other than specified
• Any expenditure of personal nature such as tips, drinks, telephone charges,
laundry etc.
IMP
• Incase of waitlisted booking we have to hold
the alternate, for which we will advise the supplement OR reduction accordingly.
• The above rates are based on presently prevailing taxes and entrances to the
monuments. If there is any change, prices will also change accordingly.
• Check in and check out time is 1200 Hrs noontime.
• In case of fluctuations in the Rate of Exchange, the above-mentioned prices
will change.
23rd, June 2012:
Arrive Delhi
Fly to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, you will be Greeted and Escorted by Indo Asia
Tour Executive to your Hotel.
On arrival at hotel check in. (Room will be available from 1200 Noon)
In its 3000 years of existence; seven cities have risen where the present
capital of India stands. Here you'll encounter a fascinating blend of the
ancient and the contemporary. Where government buildings, medieval palaces and
bazaars exist beside a modern metropolis. Delhi is a city waiting to be
explored.
Overnight at the Hotel.
24th ,June 2012: Delhi
After breakfast enjoy a full day city tour of Old & New Delhi. Visit the Red
Fort the 17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone is surrounded by
a huge 33m high boundary wall. Inside are exquisite palaces and beautiful
gardens.
Opposite the Red Fort lies Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red
sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656 at a cost of one million Rupees
has perfect proportions. India's largest mosque where more than 20.000 people
can kneel in prayer. The interior of the prayer hall is divided into aisles by
arches. The walls and floors are of marble inlay panels.
Also visit the Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna is Mahatma
Gandhi's Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January
1948. The memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a simple
square platform of black marble inscribed with his last words "Hey Ram". An
eternal flame burns 24 hours.
Drive through Lutyens Delhi and see India Gate Built of Bharatpur
stone, commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war.
13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are
engraved on the arch and foundations. Photo stop at Rashtrapati Bhawan
once the Viceroy's residence is now the official residence of the President of
India.
Later in the afternoon explore New Delhi. Visit the Humayun's Tomb,
built by his wife Haji Begum in the 16th. Century. An early example of Mughal
architecture considered the
predecessor of the Taj Mahal. The elements in its design a squat building,
lighted by high arched entrances, topped by bulbous dome and surrounded by the
char bagh (garden divided into quadrants), water channels and fountains.
Later visit the Qutub Minar the landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of
victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The Minar is 72.5m high with a
diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top. The tower has 379 steps to the
top.
Overnight at the Hotel
IMP: Red Fort is closed on Mondays.
25th ,June 2012: Delhi - Leh
Morning, transfer to the airport to board the flight to Leh.
On arrival in Leh, transfer to the hotel and check in.
Leh, the capital of Ladakh is situated at a height of 3505 meters and is towards
the eastern parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The region is watered by the Zanskar
River, which flows into the Indus River just below. Leh is a beautiful
destination with so many attractions and is the center of Tibeto-Buddhist
Culture for ages. Its colorful gompas have attracted the devout Buddhists from
all over the globe.
Rest of the day free rest and leisure to acclimatize.
Dinner and Overnight in the hotel.
26th ,June 2012: Leh
Forenoon is free. Here you can walk around the City & visit Local Gompa.
In the afternoon visit Shankar Monastery a couple of km north of the town
centre. There is a library and great views from the roof. There is an impressive
representation of Avalokitesvara complete with 1000 arms and 1000 heads.
Later visit Shanti Stupa, The Japanese for World Peace built the Shanti
Stupa, at Changspa, on the hilltop, and was inaugurated by Dalai Lama in 1985.
Its state of the art work attracts a lot of tourists to Ladakh and is
spectacular to watch. From there one can see the nice spectacular view of Leh
town.
Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
27th ,June 2012: (Excursion to Shey, Thiksey and Stok)
Today we proceed for Indus Valley monastery tour. We start with a visit to Shey
the ancient capital of Ladakh. The monastery here has a huge gold-gilded statue
of Buddha Sakyamuni with a large silver lamp burning in front of the statue.
Then we visit Thiksey Gompa an impressive complex rising tier upon tier
on a hill above the
village. The monastery has a beautiful 30 m high gold-plated statue of Maitreya
Buddha, the Buddha of the future. Drive further to visit the famous Hemis
Gompa founded in 1630's by Stag-tsang-ras-pa under the royal patronage of
Sengge Namgyall.
Stok palace; which is currently a museum was built in 1840 to house the Ladakhi
royal family after the Dogra army had exiled them.
Later in the evening we drive back to Leh.
Dinner and Overnight in the hotel.
28th ,June 2012: Leh (Excursion to Phyang and Spituk)
Today morning set out on an excursion to the Phyang Monastery built in the 16th
century by the founder of the Namgyal Dynasty. It houses hundreds of statues
including some Kashmiri bronzes, thangkas and manuscript copies of old temples.
The temple walls have colourful paintings of the 8th fold path of Buddha's
teachings. Later visit Spituk monastery which was founded by Old Led, in the
11th century AD. In those days the Gompa belonged to the Kadampa School but
Gelukpa order was introduced during the region of King Dragspa Bum idle, when
Lama Lhawang Lotus restored the monastery & Hall of Fame (war museum).
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel.
29th ,June
2012: Leh (Excursion to Hemis)
After breakfast drive to Hemis Monastery to witness the festival
Hemis Monastery: This is biggest and the most important monastery in Ladakh. It
was built in the 17th century by Chapgon Gyalshas and ever since has enjoyed the
patronage of the royal family. Hemis is the headquarter of the Drukpa order and
all the monasteries throughout Ladakh are administered by it. It also trains
Lamas for the royal monasteries at Leh, Shey and Bazgo. The Monastery contains
gold statues and stupas decorated with precious stones and many priceless old
Thankas.
Each year the Hemis Festival attracts more than its share of pilgrims &
tourists. Held during the full moon in June, is a series of colourful masked
dances performed to the accompaniment of cymbals, drums & long horns.
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel.
30th ,June
2012: Leh (Excursion to Hemis)
After breakfast drive to Matho Gompa to witness the 2nd Day of festival.
Enjoy the festival.
This is special day to watch the Oricals. Both Oricals performs puja and change
of 'LHATHO" etc.
Dinner & Overnight in the hotel.
01th ,July
2012: Leh - Lamayuru - Alchi or Uley
After breakfast to Lamayuru, and Ridzong.
Lamayuru lower ladakh its also called as sham. Lamayuru Gompa: The oldest holy
site in Ladakh, it was a bon shrine prior to the advent of Buddhism. Also known
as Yung Drung (Swastika) it is sited on a high promontory overlooking the
village and valley. For sheer spectacle value no other Gompa can match Lamayuru.
After visit at lamayuru Gonpa the drive to Ridzong Gompa: There is no
road to Rizong Gompa hence one has to walk to the monastery which is deep into
the mountains. Rizong Gompa is known as the paradise for Meditation. Guru Padma
Sambhava is believed to editated here for years. One can still find the small
caves where Lamas used to meditate for years cutting themselves from the rest of
the world except for a one feet square outlet window from where they accept the
one time meal of the day.
Then we drive and cross the River Indus and reach Alchi, Ladakh's most loved
monastery. Over a century old, its wall paintings are very similar to those of
the Tabo gompa in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. Unlike other monasteries, which are
usually on a cliff top or cling to a mountainside, Alchi is at ground level and
is nestled in the shade of a garden
Dinner & Overnight in the Camp.
02nd ,July
2012 : Alchy or Uley - Leh
After breakfast drive back to Leh and check in at our hotel for overnight stay
Dinner &
Overnight in the hotel.
03rd ,July 2012, Leh - Delhi
Morning, transfer to the Airport to board the flight to
Delhi.
On arrival in Delhi, transfer to the hotel and check in.
Later drive for the temple tour of Delhi.
Visit to Laxmi Narayan Temple, one of the biggest Hindu temple in Delhi.
A big industrialist
Mr. Birla built it about 50 years ago. It showcases almost
all Gods worshipped by Hindus.
Later visit a Sikh temple "Bangala Sahib Gurudwara". This is another
religion started in 15th century by great sufi saint Guru Nanak.
Also visit Bhai's temple. This is a new religion in India. There is one
Bhai temple in every continent, in Asia it is in Delhi. It is made in white
marble and resembles shape lotus hence also called Lotus Temple.
Overnight in the hotel
04th ,July 2012: Delhi
Departure
On time transfer to the International Airport to board the flight for onwards
journey.
End of Services
TOUR LODGING INFO:
11 Nights Hotels
| Places |
Nights |
Hotel |
|
Delhi |
02 Nights |
The Roya; Plaza |
|
Leh |
06 Nights |
Hotel Kaal |
|
Alchi |
01 Night |
Camps |
|
Leh |
01 Night |
Hotel Kaal |
|
Gurgaon |
01 Night |
Park Premier |
Tour Prices
| Category |
Currency |
04
star & A* |
| Per Person on twin sharing basis |
USD |
1192 |
| Single
room supplement |
USD |
532 |
|
Supplement for airfare between Delhi/Leh/Delhi in economy class |
USD |
581 |
Regarding Airfare:
• Kindly note that the above airfares are the CURRENT fares of the Airlines for
the given sectors & is subject to change at the time of booking.
