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| Delhi
– Leh – Delhi
Duration: 10 Days Season:
July – Sept.
DAY
01. FLY TO DELHI
Fly to Delhi, the capital of India.
DAY 02. ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi International airport, after meet and greet
by tour manager, transfer by chartered a/c transport to
hotel. Rest of the morning at leisure.
Afternoon half day guided
tour of New Delhi includes drive past Parliament house,
visit India Gate, the memorial arch, Humayun’s tomb
built in 1565 AD and the 13th century Qutab Minar, 72 meters
high.
Night
Stay: Hotel
DAY 03. IN DELHI
After breakfast half day guided tour of Old Delhi
previously called Shah jehanabad, the 300 year old walled
city built by Shah Jehan as his capital. Begin with a visit
to Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the nation
was cremated in 1948. Thereafter proceed to the magnificent
Red Fort (outside view only) (closed on Mondays) built of
red sandstone dating from the very peak of the Mughal power,
then visit opposite the fort Jama Masjid, the largest and
most elegant mosque in India and have a Cycle rickshaw ride
through famous Chandni Chowk market, . Afternoon at leisure.
Option for
mutiny and war site Lovers: |
After breakfast, most of the day
will be spent around old Delhi to explore the war / mutiny related
sites. We will visit Battlefield of Badli-ki-Serai, built by an
old king as traveler’s shelter; single pillared memorial
of Gordon Highlanders, Mutiny Memorial – an octagonal, tapering
tower built to commemorate the British and the Indians who fought
on their side in 1857, John Nicalson’s Grave, Kashmiri Gate
area - Built in 1835, it was raised as a defense against any attack
from the direction of the Ludlow Castle, which was towards the
north-west of the city, brief look at St James Church, then explore
Jama Masjid and drive past by Red Fort (Outside only) which stands
along the eastern edge of the walled city, on the west bank of
the Yamuna River.
In between sightseeing, take
a break for lunch.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 04. DELHI – LEH Fly
Early morning transfer to airport and fly to Leh, the
ancient capital of Ladakh which lies in the Upper Indus valley
at 11,500ft above sea level. Arrive and transfer to hotel. Rest
of the day at leisure for acclimatization.
Ladakh is a land abounding in awesome
physical features, set in an enormous and spectacular environment.
Bounded by two of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Karakoram
in the north and the Great Himalayas in the south, it is traversed
by two other parallel chains, the Ladakh Range and the Zanskar
Range.
For nearly 900 years, from the middle
of the 10th century, Ladakh was an independent kingdom, its ruling
dynasties descending from the kings of old Tibet. The kingdom
attained its greatest geographical extent and glory in the early
17th century under the famous king Singge Namgyal.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 05. IN LEH
After breakfast explore the city. Visit Shankar Gompa
(monastery), which houses a remarkable representation of Avalokitesvara,
the Buddhist god of compassion, complete with 1,000 arms and 1,000
heads, Shanti stupa, looming impressively and commanding a panoramic
view, Spituk Gompa, built in the 15th century and perched proudly
on a hilltop, and Phyang Gompa which was built around the 15th
century by king Tashi Namgyal, and now houses about 45 monks who
belong to the Kagyupa order. Afternoon at leisure for personal
activities.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 06
IN LEH
Morning depart for full day sightseeing of Shey Palace
– Shey was once the capital of Ladakh in the pre –
Tibetan era until the 15th century. Thiksey – Tsong Khapa
had prophesied that a monastery would be built here and was founded
by one of his disciple. Hemis - largest monastery founded in 1602
by Tagtsangrepa and Taktok – this monastery of the Nyimapa
order has about 50 monks and is not far from Chimiri. In the centre
of the monastery is a cave in which Padmasambhava, the founder
of the order is said to have meditated.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 07. IN LEH
Full day excursion to the magnificent Likir it was founded
in the 14th century, and was the first gompa in Ladakh known to
have been built under the direction of Tibetan monks, and Alchi
is the only one monastery in the Ladakhi region on flat ground,
founded in the 11th century by the Great Translator, Ringchen
Zangpo, on his return from India, which accounts for the Indian
and particularly, Kashmiri influences.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 08. IN LEH
Full day at leisure for personal explorations. Browse
around the local bazaars where shawls, carpets, painted scrolls
and jewelry are on sale, and where Ladakhi women can be seen wearing
their traditional tall hats, distinctive dresses and selling vegetables.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 09. LEH - DELHI Fly
Morning fly to Delhi, arrive and transfer
to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure for personal activities.
Night Stay: Hotel
DAY 10. DELHI - DEPARTURE
Transfer to international airport for onward journey.
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