Footsteps Of Roerich (Manali To Ladakh)

Meet our representative upon arrival in Delhi and proceed to your hotel. After reaching, check-in at the hotel and spend rest of the evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Delhi.

After breakfast, proceed to Delhi airport and board flight to Bhuntar. Upon arrival, meet our representative and drive to hotel in Manali – a popular hill station in Kullu valley and next to Beas River. A staging point for a number of treks and entry gate to Ladakh, via Lahaul and Spiti. After arrival in Manali, check-in at the hotel and spend rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Today, enjoy a full-day sightseeing tour of Naggar. Visit the Nicholas Roerich Art Gallery – Roerich’s house converted into art gallery. Gallery houses number of rare paintings and other specimen of art. Paintings here reflect the unmatched grandeur of sunlit Himalayan Mountains, which were experienced during the painter’s scientific expeditions to the central Asian regions of Sikkim, Tibet, Mangolia, China, Leh- Ladakh, Lahaul- Spiti and Kashmir. The Himalayas appear as spiritual images in these sublime paintings and convey Roerich’s message of Truth and Eternity. Later, also visit temples in Naggar – Jagatipatt Temple, Tripura Sundari Temple and Gauri Shankar Temple. In Manali, Hadimba and Vashisht Temples too could be covered. Return to hotel in Manali for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, proceed towards Sarchu through Rohtang Pass to Lahaul valley, along the Chandra River to Keylong (district headquarters of Lahaul & Spiti), experience ever changing landscape which is mesmerizing and spectacular. Enroute visit the Jispa monastery on the left bank of river Bhaga, built to commemorate the auspicious the 18th KALACHKRA initiation by His Holiness the DALAI LAMA in July 1994. Drive through Darcha, Patsao, Zingzing Bar and over Barlacha-La pass, which is one of the highest passes among other passes on the way to Leh. And, one can see excellent panoramic views of the high rising/sky touching mountains. On the top of Baralacha pass is Suraj Tal (lake), a source of river Bhaga surrounded by CB mountain ranges and gradually descent down through Kalung sarai to Sarchu. Overnight stay in the camps at Sarchu.

Check-out from the camp and start your journey towards Leh. Drive through Gata Loops – 21 winding curves along the road. Adding to the adventurous sojourn, is its high altitude. Once you get here, you do feel like being at 17,000 feet above sea level, given the crispness of the winds and diffused sunlight. As you travel along the hairpin bends and curves, feel the adrenaline rush of being challenged by the terrain. Later drive through high passes – Nakki-La, Lachung-La and Tanglang-La (2nd highest motor-able road in the world).  At top of these passes, a tiny temple and a few prayer flags flutter in the strong winds that are peculiar of these passes. After that drive all the way down to Rumptse, an oasis surrounded by barren craggy hills is the first village on the way to Leh, and the last village towards the Manali. Reach Leh by evening and check-in at the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

It is advisable to relax and acclimatize to such a high-altitude region. Post lunch visit Shanti Stupa – Built in 1991 by Japanese monks to promote world peace, this large, hilltop stupa has brightly colored reliefs on its midlevel and is topped by a spired white hemisphere. The greatest attraction is the stunning view of Leh. Ideally, make the breathless 15-minute climb when golden afternoon light still illuminates the city but the steps up from Changspa are already bathed in cooling shadow. Later, visit Leh Palace – A nine-storey dun-colored palace of 17th century. Today the very sturdy walls are mostly unadorned, but it’s gently thrilling to weave your way through the maze of dark corridors, hidden stairways and makeshift ladders to reach the rooftop for great views across the city. You can seek out the small palace prayer room and a one-room exhibition showing photos of state monuments. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Enjoy full day sightseeing tour of monasteries around Leh, starting with Hemis Monastery, situated 45 kilometers west of Leh; Hemis is the largest and the wealthiest monastery in Ladakh. It was here Roerich accidently found ancient records of life of Jesus Christ.  From Hemis, you are driven back taking the same route to visit Thiksey Monastery, located on a hill-lock with formidable views of the Indus valley. Thiksey is especially noteworthy for its gigantic seated statue of the Maitreya Budhha and is also known for its (Dukhang) assembly hall which houses hundreds of rectangular prayer books, stacked between wooden covers and bound in silk. After that continue to drive through series of chortens to visit Shey Palace, the former summer palace of the King of Ladakh. Enroute visit Sindhu Darshan (Sacred river-bank) and Spituk – a three-chapel monastery.  Dinner and Over Night at the Hotel in Leh.

Today start sightseeing tour with Lamayuru Monastery and 1000 year old Alchi monastery, the only Gompa in Ladakh region on flat ground. Thereafter on return, visit Likir Monastery, a splendid three-storey Dharma Wheel Gompa. Here you will be awestruck with the sight of the massive Buddha statues. On your return to Leh, visit confluence of Indus & Zanskar River. Spend evening to explore the local market of Leh city. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

After early Breakfast leave for Pangong Lake (14,500 ft), through Changla Pass 17,350 ft., it is the third highest motor-able road in the world. Pangong Lake is the highest salt water Lake in the World, shared by two countries India & China. Enjoy the beauty of the lake on the banks of Pangong Lake while appreciating the changing colors and fascinating high-altitude of the Lake. Witness the total silence which creates an incomparable meditative atmosphere, and has been drawing the errant monks and Yogis. Return to Leh for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Leh airport for return flight.