Himalyan Buddhist Oddessy

Delhi-Manali-Shimla-Kinnaur-Spiti-Lahaul-Ladakh

Once this rectricted route now takes one across high Himalayan passess and extensive plain. It is a journey through terrain, leaving the lush green hill side, apple orchards and verdant evergreen forest of the kullu, kalpa shimla and sangle valley, this spectacular road traverse again seldom and rarely witness by travellers. On the way amidst a barren and awesome landscape tiny streams gliston in the sun whilst immense show glad mountains in the distance.

The kullu valley : end of the habitable worlds. It is narrow aline valley drained by the beas river and enclosed by the pin panjal range to the east. The Rajahs (kings) who ruled the valley preserved kulu's rich culture heritage. Each mountain, stream and river confluence in this beautiful valley is sanctified to honour the numerous hindu god so it is hardly surprising that kullu has been known as the valley of gods. The kullu valley today is still beautiful and a welcome haven. The valley's size enhances its popularity, its bazars at kullu and manali can be easily and near by Parvati valley can be reached in an hour or two from Kullu and Manali.

Shimla: is the days before independence, was the most important British hill station and during the hot season became the "Summer capital" of india. It was first surveyed by the GERALD brothers, two Scotish military officers, in 1917. Immidiately prior to this, Shimla and the nearby hill state had been over run by the Gurkhas. The first permanent house was built in 1922 but it was not untill years later that Shimla become the semi-official capital of India.

Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti- the tribal districts of Himachal Pradesh which unfolded for foreign tourist from 1992 consists of hangrang, pooh, morang, kalpa and sangla. According to the 1991 census the population is 70,931. It has been thrown open to foreign tourists and an adventureous trails from shimla, Kinnaur, spiti and lahaul to manali or to leh can be followed. It is an ideal place for anthopologists, scholars and buddhist cultures to meet.

North of the Rohtang pass the georgraphy of the himalaya changes. From the alpine valley of kullu the mountains of the lahaul appear bare and rugged, the valleys devoid of forest and lush vegitation. It is a land which would have appeared to the ancient traveller as being beyond the habitable word; a land which marks the southern limit of the tibetain plateau. In many ways, Lahaul's historical background runs parallel with that of Ladakh. Accounts recall how sages crossed Rohtang pass, Jalori pass, Kun Zum la pass, Baralachala pass, Lapchung la and tunglung la passes enroute to ladakh. In the 10th century upper lahaul was united with spiti and zanskar as a part of the vast lahaul-west tibet kingdom.

While crossing the extensive plains, one is travelling through the highest plains in the world, for the terrain lies arround the area 4000 mtrs. The mountains and hill assume fantastic slopes and forms, the result of million of years of high winds and erosio. Once the high tunglungla pass acrossed, the road winds downwards into the indus valley of ladakh. All along the way tiny revulets suddenly glistenin the sun, from the deepest of blue skies. Each movement is magical and the vast spaces almost an illusion. Tiny villages appear, small oasis in the mountain desert. On reaching leh it seems one has stepped back into time. Here the ageless monasteries cling to the craggy hilsides which present one with strangely beautiful picture. Undoubtedly one of the most memoraboe jeep safari to be encountered anywhere in the world.

"Surely the Gods live here, this is no place for men". Said Kim. An unoforgetable journey on the roof top of the world.

Day 1
Delhi
Programme - Arrive Delhi. Transfer to the hotel. Afternoon sight seeing tour of old Delhi. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2
Delhi-Kalka-Shimla
Transport - Train
Programme - In time transfer to new Delhi Railway station to board train for Shimla (2114 mtrs.) on arrival at Kalka railway station transfer to Kufri resort. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3
In Shimla
Transport - Drive
Programme - Day at leisure at Shimla. Overnight at hotel.

Day 4
Shimla-Sarhan
Transport - Drive
Programme - Drive from Kufri to Sarhan (2300 mtrs) via Narkanda (2690 mtrs) Visit Bhim Kali temple at sarhan meals and overnight at tourist bungalow.

Day 5
Sarhan-Sangla Chitkul
Transport - Drive
Programme - After breakfast drive to Sangla valley to chitkul (3436 mtrs). Overnight at camp.

Day 6
Chitkul-Sangla Pooh
Transport - Drive
Programme - Drive from chitkul to pooh (3200 mtrs). Enroute visit the huge village with Buddhist prayer flags fluttering. Pooh is in the rain shadow area. Meals and overnight in camp at Pooh.

Day 7
CPooh/Tabo
Transport - Drive
Programme - Drive from Pooh to Tabo (3200 mtrs). Enroute visit Nako where a beautiful artificial lake is located and a beautiful village where people still hae preserved their oldest culture and tradition. Visit Tabo monastery. This 12 century old buddhist Monastery, is said to have been established as a seat of learning by Padmasmbhawa, the profounder of Tantric Buddhism. It is also known as the Ajanta of Himalayas. Meals and Overnight in camp at Tabo.

Day 8
Tabo/Kaza
Transport - Drive
Programme - Drive from Tabo to Kaza, enroute visit Dankhar Monastery. Meals and overnight in camp at Kaza.

Day 9
Kaza/ Dankar/ Kaza
Transport - Drive
Programme - Drive to Kibber Monastery (4424 mtrs). {erja[s the jogjest vo;;age om wpr;d. enroute visit Kyi Monastery. Return to Kaza (total 35 kms) meals and overnight at Kaza.

Day 10
KKaza/Manali
Transport - Drive
Programme - After an early breakfast drive to Manali over Kunzum La pass and Rohtang pass (3978 mtrs). Evening arrive Manali and check in at hotel for meals and overnight stay.

Day 11
In Manali
Transport - Drive
Programme - Day at leisure or one can explore the surroundings.

Day 12
Manali/Jispa
Transport - Drive
Programme - After an early breakfast drive for Jispa. The road leaves Manali and climb upto the 3978 mtrs. High rohtang pass. The pass invariably windy and the chilly. The lush green valley and the hills of Kullu are replaced by barren hill down to the valleyfloor supporting the civilization of a few crops in the summer, here one can find tiny villages skirted with field of Potato, Barley and Kuth, a medicinal herb. The trees one can find are mainly popular and willows of stunted growth.

Once across the pass, the road leads down into the valley of Lahaul, by the afternoon the district capital of Lahaul - the town of Keylong is reached. Here after a high tea a short walk arround the town, the journey continues onwards to a tiny hamlet, where a delightful camping site waits you on the bank of the river Bhaga. The actual hamlet of Jispa is a little further on, so camp is held a few kilometers before. Meals and overnight at camp.

Day 13
Jispa/Sarchu
Transport - Drive
Programme - After an early breakfast drive over to Baralacha pass (4908 mtrs) and enter to the high altitude, cold and mountain desert land comparable to the moon scape. The landscape slowly charges, from green field bellow barren mountain and the terrain becomes slightly rough. The scenery becomes more and more spectacullar, as the road continues into a small GREF camp at Sarchu. At the days end, we camp at Sarchu located right at the beginning of the spectacular lingti plains. Overnight at camp.

Day 14
Sarchu/Rumtse
Transport - Drive
Programme - Morning we leaveteenchanting composite of Sarchu-lingtiplains, the road climbs higher and suddenly mountainscape encounter so far. Continuesly drive over the Lapchungla pass 95066 mtrs) to be followed by the drive through the most remarkabe sekyunehothang plains at the end of Tanglangla pass (5328 mtrs) considered as one of the highest motorable mountain pass in the world. We camp at rumtse located at the foot of the mighty tanglangla pass after driving over the pass. Meals and overnight at camp.

Day 15
Rumtse/Leh
Transport - Drive
Programme - After breakfast drive to leh. Afternoon arrive leh and check into hotel. Meals and overnight at hotel.

Day 16 & 17
In Leh
Transport - Drive
Programme - Leh-situated at 3100 mtrs. Has changed a little since the days when polo was played in the main sreet, but it retains much of its culural and historical fascination. In its quanit markets the lovals in their coral necklaces and turquoise headgear will charm you into buying their wares, and you will be made welcome in the fine monasteries.

Day 18 & 19
Leh/Delhi
Transport - Flight
Programme - In time transfer to airport to fly back to Delhi. On arrival transfer to hotel. Rest day at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 20
Delhi
Programme - Day at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 21
Delhi-out
Programme - In time transfer to International airport to board flight for onwards destination.

END OF THE TOUR