Zanskar Tour

SANI FESTIVAL DATES:
Year 2006: 8 & 9 August.
Year 2007: 29 & 30 July.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

Day 01: Arrive Manali. O/N hotel.
Rest in the Valley of Gods. Manali is a small town surrounded by snow-clad peaks, thick pine wood forest with stunning view. There are hot springs and trials for short walks through forest.

Day 02: Manali. Sightseeing.
We will be visiting the five hundred year old pagoda temple of Hadimba Devei, a goddess from the famous Hindu epic Mahabharata and Nagar known for the art Gallery of Roerich and some other nearby places.

Day 03: Drive Manali - Keylong. (2050m) over Rohtang-pass (3978 mts) - 123 km. O/N hotel.

Day 04: Drive Keylong - Sarchu over Baralacha La (4892 mts) - 100 km. O/N Fixed Camp.(4080m)

Day 05: Drive Sarchu - Leh over Lachulung La (5059 mts) & Taklang La (5325 mts), the second highest motorable pass in the World - 251 km. O/N hotel.

Day 06: Leh. AM at leisure. PM visit Sankar, Shanti Stupa and Leh Palace.

Day 07: Leh. Sightseeing of Shey, Thiksey, Hemis and Stok Palace museum. O/N hotel.

Day 08: Drive to Uleytokpo - 4/5 hrs. O/N in Mobile Camp.

Day 09: Drive to Uley Tokpo-Mulbek - 4/5 hrs. O/N Mobile camp.
PM visit Mulbek Chamba. O/N mobile camp.

Day 10: Drive Mulbek-Parkachik - 6/7hrs. Parkchik is a beautiful place with a view of Nun and Kun Peaks.

Day 11: Drive Parkchik-Sani (3510mtrs) - 6/7 hrs. Sani is 06km before Padum. Both Guru Padmasambhava and Naropa is said to have visited Sani & meditated here for several years. The chief attraction of this picturesque village is the Castle like monastery, which is unique in its own kind. It is built on level ground unlike other monasteries of the region. As the legend goes, its initial foundation is associated with Kanishka on account of the Kanishka Stupa which sands in the backyard of the walled complex. The main building consists of a huge multi columned central prayer hall, housing an array of statues of popular Buddhist divinities and Drukpa yogis. Naropa, the famous Indian Yogi from Vikramshila meditated at Kanishka Stupa. The site is now occupied by a small room housing a veiled bronze figure of this Yogi which is unveiled every year during Naro Nasjal Festival which is held for two days & is attended by people from far & wide. Monks from Bardan monastery perform masked dances as ritual offering. We will be visiting this monastery.

Day 12: Sani. Full day attend Sani Festival. O/N Mobile camp.

Day 13: Sani. Full day attend Festival. Also visit local sites. Among the eight great charnel grounds one called Dechen Dal is located here.
The ancient self-emanated stupa Kanishka stands here,where the elders say that they hear different dharma sounds and also sometimes they see invisible beings offer butter lamps.

Day 14: Sani. AM visit Stakrimo & Bardan Monasteries. PM visit Padum (3505m), A short drive of about 1 hour. O/N mobile camp at Sani. We can also hike to the caves of Guru Nyima Ozer.
Stakrimo Monastery is situated on a small hill to the west of Padum & is a branch of Stakna monastery. The xth century monument carved on a huge rock near the riverbank provides epigraphic evidence that Buddhism influenced the region since ancient period. Around 30 monks reside here.
Bardan Monastery is situated on a huge rock overlooking the Lingti River to the south of Padum. Dewa Gyatso founded it in the xviith century. It is also a branch of Stakna monastery & about 50 monks reside here.
Padum (3505m) is the administrative headquarter of Zanskar valley. There is a small market along the main road with hotels, restaurants & shops. It was once the capital of the Kingdom of Zanskar.

Day 15: Drive Sani - Zongkhul - Parkachik. The spectacular cave monastery of Zanskar, Zongkhul falls on the Padum-Kishtiwar trekking trail just before the ascent of Omasila pass. It is situated like a swallow's nest on the rock face of the Ating gorg. The monastery is associated with legends like Naropa who lectured in the Nalanda and Vikramshala Universities. The 02 caves present in the monastery are said to have been used by the yogi for a solitary retreat. A footprint on the stone near the ingress of the lower cave is reserved as that of the yogi. The frescos in the cave walls are very old and reflect a high degree of artistic achievement. These are believed to be the original murals executed by Zopa Dorje, the celebrated scholar-painter of the same monastery who was activate about 300 years

Day 16: Drive Parkachik- Mulbek. O/N. Mobile camp. . On the way we cross Fotula pass (4080m) and Namila (3719m). Sankhu is the largest village in the area surrounded by colorful rocky mountains and flowers. It has a small market dotted with shops and restaurants.

Day 17: Drive Mulbek - Leh via Lamayuru. O/N Hotel.

Day 18: Leh. Day of leisure. Evening enjoy local cultural dance show by local troupe. O/N hotel

Day 19: Departure transfer to fly back to Delhi.