You will arrive at New Delhi’s International Airport in the morning.
Following customs, immigration formalities and baggage collection, a
BHARAT TRAILS representative will meet you as you EXIT the
ARRIVALS TERMINAL building after which you would be transferred
to your hotel
India’s capital and a major gateway to the country, contemporary
Delhi is a bustling metropolis, which successfully combines in its folds
- the ancient with the modern. Amidst the fast spiraling skyscrapers
the remnants of a bygone time in the form of its many monuments
stand as silent reminders to the region’s ancient legacy. The first
impressions for any visitor traveling in from the airport are of a
specious, garden city, tree-lined with a number of beautiful parks.
Later proceed for Delhi city tour.
The tour of Old Delhi. The tour will begin with a visit to Raj Ghat, a
simple memorial to Mahatma Gandhi; drive pass Red Fort (closed
on Mondays & national holidays). Continuing to the Jama
Masjid, one of Asia’s largest mosques and which is viewed from the
outside. People stream in and out of the mosque continuously and the
presence of a nearby bazaar means that the area is rarely quiet.
After visiting Old Delhi proceed to visit New Delhi, which will include
a visit to the Qutub Minar, the tallest stone tower in India. Qutubud-din Aibak started it in 1199. Pulling down 27 Hindu and Jain
temples and using their columns erected the attached Quwat-ul-Islam
mosque also built by him. Then visit Lotus temple, located in New
Delhi, India, is a Bahai House of Worship completed in 1986. Notable
for its flowerlike shape, it serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian
subcontinent and has become a prominent attraction in the city. The
tour also includes a drive past the imposing India Gate, the
Parliament building and the Rastrapathi Bhawan, the President’s
residence. Also make a visit to Humayun Tomb - the tomb of the
Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India. The tomb was
commissioned by Humayun’s son Akbar in 1569-70, and designed by
Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect chosen by Bega Begum.
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.
Arrive Leh early in the morning by flight. On arrival met by our
Representative and Transfer to your Hotel. On arrival in Leh, check in
at the hotel.
Mysterious dust –covered Leh sits in a fertile side valley of the Indus,
about 10 km from the river. Encircled by stark awe-inspiring
mountains with the cold desert beyond. It is the nearest experience
of Tibet in India. Leh developed as a trading post and market,
attracting a wide variety of merchants from Yarkand, Kashgar,
Kashmir, Tibet and North India. Tea, salt, household articles, wool
and semi-precious stones were all traded in the market. Buddhism
traveled along the Silk Road and the Kashmir and Ladakh feeder,
which has also seen the passage of soldiers, explorers and pilgrims,
foreign tourists who today contribute most to the urban economy.
Rest of the day at leisure for Acclimatise to the high altitude.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
In the morning we will be doing short sightseeing around upper Leh.
Shanti Stupa, built by a Japanese master in 1995, from here we can
have the panoramic views of Leh and surrounding areas of Indus
valley. Sankar Gonap is a small Gelukpa Buddhist monastery at
upper Leh and it is the monastery of Head lama of Ladakh. Namgyal
Tsemo or the Victory peaks as it is called is on the top of the Leh and
it was an ancient Castle of Ladakh King Rakpa, Lehchen Spalkhar or
the Leh Palace is in nine storey built in 17th century by Ladakhi
famous King Senge Namgyal. Now it is taken care of by the
Archeological Survey of India, Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Early morning proceed to Nubra Valley via the World Second
Highest Motorable road (5602 Meters) -Khardungla pass. After
crossing the pass stop at Khardung village to explore the area and
visit a local school. Arrive Nubra and check in your own camp. In the
evening go for a small walk and explore the village. Upon arrival visit
Diskit monastery, Hunder Village: Hunder is a beautiful village with
a lot of trees and you will really enjoy your stay at Hunder. It has a
small monastery and ruined fort above the village. The walk or Camel
Safari (Double Hump Bactrian camels) from Hunder to Diskit.
Dinner & Overnight stay at the hotel.
Morning after breakfast, drive to Village Sumur Visit the
Samtanling monastery to witness the prayer. Later drive back
to Leh via Khardong la pass 5600 m,
Dinner and Overnight in a hotel.
Morning after breakfast, drive to Indus valley to visit SHEY PALACE
AND GOMPA: Situated on a hillock 15 Kms upstream from Leh, it
was once the residence of the royal family. According to tradition, it
was the seat of power of the pre-Tibetan kinds. A 7.5 m high copper
statue of Buddha, plated with gold and the largest of its kind, is
installed here.
THIKSEY GOMPA: 19 Kms from Leh, spectacularly sited, Thiksey is
one of the largest and architecturally most impressive Gompas. There
are several temples in this Gompas, containing images, stupas and
wall paintings of Buddha, which are exquisite also called mini potala
palace.
HEMIS GOMPA: 40 Kms from Leh, it is the wealthiest, best known
and biggest Gompa of Ladakh. Its popularity stems from the major
annual festival held here in summer. The festival is in honor of Guru
Padma Sambhava’s birth anniversary. It also has the largest Thanka
in Ladakh which is unfurled once in 12 years Hemis was built in 1630
during the reign of SinggeNamgyal, an illustrious ruler of Ladakh. It
flourished under the Namgyal Dynasty for the royalty favored the
Drugpa sect, which managed the monastery. It is divided into two,
the assembly hall on the right and the main temple on the left. The
hall (Dukhang) is also used as “green room” by the dancers during
the festival. The temple is known as Tshogkhang. The verandahs have
a surfeit of frescoes, among them the Buddhist “Wheel Of Life”
(Kalachakra) and the lords of the four quarters, besides the prayer
wheel. Dinner and Overnight at the Hotel.
Drive to Kargil enroute visit Alchi monastery which is famous for its
1000 year old wall paintings, built by Zinchen Zangpo. Later visit
Lamayuru monastery. Lamayuru monastery which is 1000 years
old
Drive via Futo La pass 4147m the route’s highest pass, then
Namika La Pass (3760mt, on the you can visit 8m-high Maitreya
statue, an image of future Buddha, cut into the rock face and dating
back about 700 AD, this village name called Mulbek it’s the first
Buddhist village after Kargil.)
Dinner and Overnight at the hotel in Kargil.
Today after breakfast drive to Srinagar drive over Zoji La Pass
3529m Zoji La pass is the watershed between Kashmir and Ladakh
on one side you have the green, lush scenery of Kashmir while on the
other side everything is barren and dry. Drass is the first main village
before the pass. It’s famous for being one of the coldest inhabited
places in the world—second only to Siberia in winter temperatures
can drop to -45°C (-49°F).
drive via Sonamarg (2740mt)Sonamarg is an excellent base for
trekking. Its names “Meadows of Gold” transfer to the Hotel for
Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.
Gulmarg's legendary beauty, prime location and proximity to Srinagar
naturally make it one of the premier hill resorts in the country.
Originally called ‘Gaurimarg’ by shepherds, its present name was
given in the 16th century by Sultan Yusuf Shah, who was inspired by
the sight of its grassy slopes emblazoned with wild flowers. Gulmarg
was a favourite haunt of Emperor Jehangir who once collected 21
different varieties of flowers from here. Today Gulmarg is not merely
a mountain resort of exceptional beauty- it also has the highest green
golf course in the world, at an altitude of 2,650 m, and is the country's
premier ski resort in the winter. Dinner and overnight
Morning start the city tour, visiting Mughal gardens, With terraced
lawns, cascading fountains, paint-box-bright flowerbeds with the
panorama of the Dal in front of them - the three Mughal Gardens of
Chesmashahi, Nishat and Shalimar are the Mughal Emperors' concept
of paradise and are today very popular places for picnics and
excursions. Shalimar garde, Built by Emperor Jehangir for his wife
Nur Jehan, Shalimar, is a beautiful garden with sweeping vistas over
gardens and lakes, and shallow terraces. Nishat garden, Situated
on the banks of the Dal Lake, with the Zabarwan Mountains as its
backdrop, this 'garden of bliss' commands a magnificent view of the
lake and the snow capped Pir Panjal mountain range which stands far
away to the west of the valley. Nishat was designed in 1633 AD by
Asaf Khan, brother of Nur Jahan. Pari Mahal,Once the royal
observatory, Pari Mahal has a charmingly laid out garden and is a
five-minute drive from Cheshmashahi. A Buddhist monastery at one
time, it was converted into a school of astrology by Dara Shikoh,
Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan's eldest son. Later a boat
rides(Shikara Boat) in Dal Lake,Later Drive around the walled city.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Breakfast at the hotel and in time transfer to the airport to board a
flight for Delhi.
Upon arrival transfer to the hotel for check-in and overnight stay
Rest of the day at leisure.
In time transfer to airport to board flight back home.
