Buddhism study tour, Ladakh & Kullu Valley
| country: | India |
| location: | Indian Himalayas, Ladakh |
| departures: | This trip can be tailor made at a time to suit you between May and September |
| price: | From £795 (17 days) excluding flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Ladakh is a much forgotten land of mountains, monasteries and great heritage and culture. This north western most province of India is geographically an extension of the high Tibetan plateau situated between the great ranges of the Karakoram and Himalaya. The capital Leh lies in the Indus valley surrounded by the 3 smaller mountainous ranges of Stok, Ladakh and Zanskar. The area has representations of all four Buddhist sects. However, the most followed sect is of these is Gelukpa.
The local people – Ladakhis have been Buddhists long before the Tibetans came to reside here. The Kings of Ladakh - Nyamgyal Dynasty was keen to encourage Buddhism in Tibet. For 700 years from the 13th Century there were strong links between monasteries across Ladakh and Tibet - an era known as the second spreading.
It would also be interesting to include in the tour one of the monastic festivals of the region. You would experience some of the celebrations, dances and activities of the locals and these events are quite spectacular to experience. In 2009 Lamagyuru is on June 20th / 21st and Hemis is July 2nd / 3rd.
The trip can either incorporate a trek in Ladakh, a tour of the monasteries representing each sect or an overland journey incorporating Manali, Dharamsala, Mandi and Rewalsar. The suggested itinerary includes a two nights at Hemis Festival and an overland journey to visit other important Buddhist locations.
The local people – Ladakhis have been Buddhists long before the Tibetans came to reside here. The Kings of Ladakh - Nyamgyal Dynasty was keen to encourage Buddhism in Tibet. For 700 years from the 13th Century there were strong links between monasteries across Ladakh and Tibet - an era known as the second spreading.
It would also be interesting to include in the tour one of the monastic festivals of the region. You would experience some of the celebrations, dances and activities of the locals and these events are quite spectacular to experience. In 2009 Lamagyuru is on June 20th / 21st and Hemis is July 2nd / 3rd.
The trip can either incorporate a trek in Ladakh, a tour of the monasteries representing each sect or an overland journey incorporating Manali, Dharamsala, Mandi and Rewalsar. The suggested itinerary includes a two nights at Hemis Festival and an overland journey to visit other important Buddhist locations.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival In Delhi and tour of Red Fort. Accommodation: City Hotel B&B |
| Day 2: | Flight to Leh. Today we take our internal flight to Leh. A remarkable flight over the Himalaya, Stok and Ladakh mountain ranges. Accommodation: Leh Hotel B&B |
| Day 3: | Leh. Today we visit two of the great sites in Leh. Firstly we will go to Shey Palace, a beautiful building sitting majestically on a spur looking out on the plains of the Indus valley. This is the old palace of the Kings of Ladakh. We then visit the Picturesque Tikse Monastery, a 15th century monastery complex on the outskirt of Leh. Accommodation: Leh Hotel B&B |
| Day 4-6: | Central Institute of Buddhist Studies. Buddhist study at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) in Choklongskar and accommodation at HH 14th Dalai Lamas Residence guesthouse. During these days you will gain an insight into Tibetan Buddhism as told by professors, monks and practitioners. A fantastic experience. |
| Day 7: | Free day in Leh. Today is a free day in Leh to reflect on the previous days experiences, enjoy the Tibetan Bazaars and restaurants in the town. You may also wish to walk up Namgyal Hill to Leh Palace and on to Tsermo Monastery for a magnificent vista across of the Leh Valley and snowcapped mountains. Accommodation: Leh Hotel B&B |
| Day 8-9: | Hemis. This morning we head out to Hemis in order to enjoy the annual Monastic festival. |
| Day 10: | Ladakh to Keylong. We drive out to the main “highway” and drive through the stunning arid mountain landscape of the Ladakh to Keylong. Accommodation: Guesthouse B&B |
| Day 11-12: | Kulu Valley. Today we see the transition as we head through the greener lush landscape of the Himalayan alpine region. Manali is an alpine resort town in the Kulu Valley and here we will spend a couple of nights visiting the temples, Rohriech’s Art Gallery and the Naggar Castle from where there is a beautiful view of the Kullu Valley and surrounding mountains. Accommodation: Hotel B&B |
| Day 13: | Drive to Mandi. We drive to Mandi, an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists who cover great distances to visit this small town on the banks of the Beas river. With over 80 temples and shrines including some impressive sixteenth century Nagari style temples. After enjoying this fascinating and charming town we shall go up to Rewalsar to stay the night by a beautiful hill top lake. Accommodation: Guesthouse B&B |
| Day 14-15: | Drive to Dharamsala. We drive to Dharamsala, the home of the Dalai Lama & the Tibetan Government in exile. Here we base ourselves for two nights to visit the Tibetan craft centre at the Norbulinkha and the Dalai Lama’s Mcleod Gunj residence and temple. Accommodation: Hotel B&B |
| Day 16: | Journey to Amritsar. Today is our final journey to Amritsar, the capital of the Punjab region. The Golden Temple is the most important temple for Sikhs; we shall join the pilgrims to visit this amazing complex during the afternoon. The waters around the temple represent the “lake of nectar” which is the literal translation of the name Amritsar, and they are believed to bring peace and tranquility. Accommodation: Hotel B&B |
| Day 17: | International Departure. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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When you travel with us you benefit and so does the local community. Here are five good reasons to travel with us:
Superior value & lower cost with no extra fees or land charges: Our pricing policy rewards customers for choosing to take their holiday with us. People can visit the HQ of several NGOs in Leh such as SEMol, Women’s Alliance and Ecological Development Group Campus. Local economic development is at the heart of our operation – with almost 95% of revenue going into the local economy. We use Ladakhi Guides and support staff. All staff are trained by our company. Leaders give a full trip briefing which includes topics: We only use locally run accommodation and furthermore support heritage buildings and authentic building materials, avoiding patronisation of buildings that contrast to local architecture and are against the culture and authenticity. All facilities and services are locally provided. In Ladakh only Ladakhi’s can run businesses. Our hotel is a run by a Ladakhi family and has it’s own vegetable garden. Maximum group size is 12 to minimise impact and maximise the benefit to the members – avoiding the feeling of herding of large groups and enables good contact with local staff and facility providers to interact and exchange. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |