Ladakh Offbeat Adventure, waiting for the Journey to Begin

Less than 24 hours to go.. waiting for journey to begin. Still going thru packing list.. TODOs.. handing over pending proposals .. a slot saved for quality time with family.. some for a short sleep..

 

Hope all is well at Srinagar..

 

Team (Asif, Unny, Bindhu, Uma, Dimple, Rakhi, Genevieve, Adhvaita, Arif, Sohil, and Somdutta)... trip is dominated by Nature Knights Women EcoAdventure Club..

 

Will keep you posted on the adventure whenever possible. Cheers.

 

best way to reach me is sms.

--

M. Asif
www.natureknights.com
Cell: 9821081566 / 9619182010
 
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Current working in transit.. on tour offsite.

 

Kashmir – Sonmarg – Gumra (11,250 feet) – Sonmarg – Experience thrill of crossing Zoji La Pass (11,250 feet) – Baltal – Zoji La Pass (11,200 feet) Landscapes changes from Green Medows to Ladakh Arid Zone – Gumra (11,250 feet) - Drass (Second coldest habitat place in Planet Earth) –  Cross over to Kargil under enemy observation – 45 km from Kargil Mulbek (10,600 ft) 30 feet statue of Maitreya Budha carved on cliff – Namkila Pass (12,204 ft) – Bodh Karbu (10,890 ft) – Heniskot (11,640 ft) – Fatu La (13,479) Highest pass between Leh and Kashmir – Camp at UlheyTopko – River Rafting in Indus and Zanskar Sangam – Herigate and Culture (Alchi, Pathar Sahib, Likir),  Exhotic ( Magnetic Hill, Pangong Lake, Camping at UlheyTolpko, Camping in Wilderness on way to Tsomoriri lake, Camping at Tsomoriri Lake, Camping at Sarchu, Exhotica Keylong (in Lahaul Spiti Valley), Cross Rohtan La also to Manali, Also experience Baralachala (4892 m) – Lachung La (5065 m), Pang, Debring (4500 m), TanglangLa – Morrey Plains – Manali  - Dharamsala - MCLeod - Dalousie - Chamba - Waghat Border - Amritsar Golden Temple and Jalyawala Baug - Mumbai

Ladakh - Off Beat Adventure

July 17, 2010 - Ladakh Off Beat Safari (Kashmir – Kargil - Ladakh – Lahual Spiti – Manali)

Ladakh the land of contrast. High passes and deep gorges, arid landscapes without blade of grass and green valleys. You might get frostbitten and sunburnt at the same time. Ladakh is a land filled with warm people and colourful festivals, in contrast to its harsh climate, forcing even the most seasoned nomadic tribes to be on the move, for survival. 'Ladakh' means the land of many passes (La: a mountain pass; dhak; many).

Highlights (Ladakh Offbeat Safari - A Nostalgic Experience)

The Journey is more important than the destinations..
Kashmir (Stay and Enjoy Kashmiri Hospitality in Luxury House Boat) – Shikara Ride – Sonmarg – Gumra (11,250 feet) – Sonmarg – Experience thrill of crossing Zoji La Pass (11,250 feet) – Baltal – Zoji La Pass (11,200 feet) Landscapes changes from Green Medows to Ladakh Arid Zone – Gumra (11,250 feet) - Drass (Second coldest habitat place in Planet Earth) –  Cross over to Kargil under enemy observation – 45 km from Kargil Mulbek (10,600 ft) 30 feet statue of Maitreya Budha carved on cliff – Namkila Pass (12,204 ft) – Bodh Karbu (10,890 ft) – Heniskot (11,640 ft) – Fatu La (13,479) Highest pass between Leh and Kashmir – Camp at UlheyTopko – River Rafting in Indus and Zanskar Sangam – Herigate and Culture (Alchi, Pathar Sahib, Likir),  Exhotic ( Magnetic Hill, Pangong Lake, Camping at UlheyTolpko, Camping in Wilderness on way to Tsomoriri lake, Camping at Tsomoriri Lake, Camping at Sarchu, Exhotica Keylong (in Lahaul Spiti Valley), Cross Rohtan La also to Manali, Also experience Baralachala (4892 m) – Lachung La (5065 m), Pang, Debring (4500 m), TanglangLa – Morrey Plains – Manali to Delhi – Mumbai. Lots of opportunities for Camping of totally off beat Ladakh.

17 July Fly to Srinagar Airport transfer to the hotel  Shikara ride on the lake. Over night in Srinagar D
Expected to Land in Srinagar by 10am.
Enjoy Kasmiri Hospitality Food and Stay in Super Delux House Boat
We will do a couple of Mughal Garden
Shikara Ride in the evening
Evening evening in sitout of House Boat

18 July Srinagar  Kargil Drass Moon Land , Lamayuru Uley . Over night in Uleytopko  B / PKD L/D

Early morning (Optional activity - those going will pool this amount, Shikara ride to experience the wholesale trading market in Dal Lake)..
Post breakfast, hit the road
Interesting destination - Kashmir Country side, Sonmarg, The trill of Rustic Ride over Zojil La Pass (11,200 feet), see the landscape change from Lush Green Medos to Grass Lands to Arid Cold desert of Ladakh (Gumra 11,250 feet), Pass Drass the second coldest inhabited place on Planet earth (Spare some time with Indian Army at Army Museum) - Pass at Stone throw away .. a warning boards tells you (Under Enemy Observation).. Bypass not so interesting Kargil.. A small busy town.

After Kargil, Soon you would reach Mulbek (10,600 feet) check out 30 feet statue of Maitreya Budha carved on cliff – Namkila Pass (12,204 ft) – Bodh Karbu (10,890 ft) – Heniskot (11,640 ft) – Fatu La (13,479) Highest pass between (Also known as the pillar to the sky).. Now experience magic. Reaching Lamayuru (Oldest Monastery of Ladakh) and Moon Landscape.. after a quick peep head for Uleytopko camp site.. Hit the sack..

19 July Alchi and River Rafting , Pathar Sahib, Magnetic Hill , Likir . Over night in Leh B / PKD L / D

Early morning for those who get up.. a small walking trip to experience the wild country side around Ulleytopko..
Post breakfast get ready for River Rafting in Indus River, later this river merges with Zanskar River..

Heritage experince at Alchi and Likir Monastery; Patharsahed Gurudwara
Validate Natural Phenomenon at Magnetic Hill

20 July Leh Pangong Lake Leh Over night in Leh B / PKD L / D
Driver to Pangong Lake.. The highest Saltwater lake in the world. It is said that the colour of the water changes every few minutes.

21 July Leh Tsomoriri Lake . Over night Camp B / PKD L / D

Start of a Off Road Journey on a new un-explored route to Tsomoriri Lake, the lake shown in the movie (3 IDOTS),
Camp in the wilderness for the night (Mobile camp). You may get to see Nomadic tribes of Ladakh/ some wild life..

22 July Tsomoriri Lake to Sarchu  Over night Camp B / PKD L / D

Dive further into the wilderness .. Spend some time a Tsomoriri Lake.

Overnight camping at Sarchu.

23 July Sarchu to Keylong Over night Camp B/PKD L / D

Driver to Keylong.. Spend some time at Keylong Mall road experiencing the local culture.
Evening enjoy lazy hot tea over looking valley from cozy balcony of our hotel..Rejuvinate.

24 July Keylong to Manali  Over night in Manali  B/PKD L / D

Pre-breakfast.. Off Road hill ride to explore a little known isolated monastery on hill top..

Post breakfast proceed further on the adventure

Spend some time at Rohtang La before hitting onto Manali
25 July Manali Afternoon Coach to Delhi Over night in Coach B/L
Walking trip at Manali

26 July Arrive at Delhi by 06 am to 10 am by coach... proceed to take train/flight back to Mumbai..

27 if coming by train arrival in Mumbai during morning.

 
For more details and registration click at the link below

http://www.natureknights.com/Ladakh-Off-Beat.php

--
M. Asif
http://www.natureknights.com/
Cell: 9821081566 / 9619182010

Keep in touch with me at:

http://natureknights.blogspot.com/

http://picasaweb.google.com/natureknights

http://www.facebook.com/natureknights

http://twitter.com/natureknights


Microblog

Passion Leads to Excellence
  When you Hobby becomes your Profession. the Passion becomes your Profession
  You will be able to lead upto Excellence in Life
  Satisfaction, Joy, Pleasure & Love will be the outcome of Passion
  Following your passion for years, you will surely become somebody one day.

Ladakh - Rustic Ramble Safari.

The Adventure The Journey, Once in a life time adventure with people who know Ladakh.

Ladakh the land of contrast. High passes and deep gorges, arid landscapes without blade of grass and green valleys. You might get frostbitten and sunburnt at the same time. Ladakh is a land filled with warm people and colourful festivals, in contrast to its harsh climate, forcing even the most seasoned nomadic tribes to be on the move, for survival. 'Ladakh' means the land of many passes (La: a mountain pass; dhak; many).

Batch 1 - The Journey is more important than the destination.. Experience the Trans-Himalayan Adventure with people who know Ladakh Best.

Mumbai – Delhi – Manali – Rohtangpass (3980 m) – Koksar – Sissu – Thandi (2573 m) – The confluence of the Chandra and Bhaga Rivers to form Chandrabhaga river - Keylong – Baralachla (4892 m) – Camp at Sarchu in middle of nowhere (4253 m) –  Lachung La (5065 m) – Pang (4630 m) – Debring (4500 m) – Tanglangla – Upshi – Leh – Monasteries and Temples (Shey, Thiksey, Hemis,  Pather sahib, Basgo Palace – Spitul – Lamayuru) – Exhotic destinations – Pangong Lake Highest Lake in the world – Magnetic Hill – Moon Landscapes – Kargil (Passing under enemy observation)  – Mulbek (10600 feet 30 ft statue of Maitreya), Namkila Pass (12,205 ft) - The Fatula Pass (13,479 ft, highest pass between Leh and Kashmir) - Drass (The place of famous Indo-pak war and also the second coldest habituated place on the earth)  - Also passing Baltal – Sonmarg – Zoji La Pass (11,250 feet) – Gumra (11,250 feet) – and finally reaching heaven on earth Kashmir – Stay and enjoy Kashmiri hospitality in Luxury House Boat – Experience Shikara Ride
Schedule

 09 July Mumbai to Delhi Over night Train

10 July Delhi Arrive and Transfer to Delhi Airconditioned guest house . Evening transfer to Coach terminal for over night coach to Manali

11 July Arrive Manali by 11 am approx , transfer to the hotel Rohtang Pass Acclamatisation drive to Rohtang pass . Over night in Manali  L / D

12 July Manali to Sarchu B/PKD L / D

13 July Sarchu to Leh B/PKDL / D

14 July Shey Thiksey Hemis Local Tour B/PKD L /D

15 July Leh Pangong Leh B/PKD L / D

16 July Leh to Magnetic Hill – Pathar Sahib -    Basgo Palace –  Spituk – Moon Landscape – Lamayuru – Kargil – Long day with lots of driving involved  Over night in Kargil B/PKD L /D

17 July Kargil Srinagar – evening shikara ride. Over night in Srinagar B/PKD L / D

18 July Srinagar Transfer to the Airport Tour ends

--
M. Asif
http://www.natureknights.com/
Cell: 9821081566 / 9619182010

Keep in touch with me at:

http://natureknights.blogspot.com/

http://picasaweb.google.com/natureknights

http://www.facebook.com/natureknights

http://twitter.com/natureknights


Microblog

Passion Leads to Excellence
  When you Hobby becomes your Profession. the Passion becomes your Profession
  You will be able to lead upto Excellence in Life
  Satisfaction, Joy, Pleasure & Love will be the outcome of Passion
  Following your passion for years, you will surely become somebody one day.

Lamayuru - the moon land

Lamayuru

Lamayuru has a mystique that no other Ladaki monastery can equal. Spectacular setting of moon landscape; rugged cliffs and scree slopes that surround its towering mud-brick pile, a lost Shangrila amidst the stark mountains. This may be due to its location that is remote and isolated but not secluded, a stopover point in Ancient times for travelers on the Kashmir road.

If you plan to visit the monastery you have an option of taking the Kargil bus that leaves Leh early in the morning; the journey takes the better part of the day.

Lamayuru and village and its fields lie below the monastery, sprawling across the slopes and floor of the corrie that encloses the area and through which Drogpo, a stream, flows. The terrain all around is amazing: the cliff on which the monastery stands, a promontory-like spur, is heavily eroded, ites sheer sides jagged and bare. The ancient chortens and mud-brick houses, village homes and, higher up, monks’ quarters, blend seamlessly with it all, almost as though they aren’t manmade but part of the nature landscape.

There is mythical story that the Lamayuru corrie was once a great lake and this may well be true; the ‘Moonland’ depression close by, geologists believe, was certainly one. The great sage Arhat Nyimagong, the story goes, used his spiritual powers to open a crack at the side of the basin and drain the lake. Prophesying that a monastery would come up above the depression, he planted corn on its edges that ripened in the shape of swastikas. That, it is said, is why the Lamayuru monastery is properly called Yang-drung Gompa, yang-drug being the Tibetan word for swastika.

Some historians however see in the name indications that Lamayuru was once a religions centre of the ancient Bon faith of Tibet. Yang-drung is how an orthodox faction of the Bon religion is referred to; it flourished once in the lands to the west of Tibet, so Lamayuru could fit the bill. There are no remains now of the Bon temples that may have existed but Lamayuru’s Buddhist antiquity is in little doubt.

There is lot more to discovery at Lamayuru… Join us on our Ladakh Adventure. We are leaving Mumbai on May 29, 2009 evening by Rajdhani train.

Juley to the land of Lama

If interested in joining us click here.

Click on the picture below for see more pictures of Lamayuru the moon land