LADAKH AND ZANSKAR REGION

Ladakh nests between the Himalaya in the south and Karakoram in the north at an altitude of 3500----6000 metres. Its significance lies hid in its strategic position in the east. In the east and northwest are Tibet and Xinjiang and Pakistan to the west. Nurtured with hybrid cultures from all sides, it glorifies with intricacies of clustered art and artifacts and 'Tankas' of rarest type.

Perpetually lighted by heavenly hue, Ladakh stimulates inspiration and provokes excitement. When such hue, flashes on tiny frames of castles, stupas, monasteries erected on the rim of the heights, becomes its dcor. The perilous declines of the heights covered with woods make amends with their swinging branches to form mysterious notes with wafting breezes. Such invincible notes fill the air like holy thoughts of holy men.

Surging through central Ladakh, river Indus expands into a broad valley to form a bed for Leh. On its north and northeast lies Shyok and Nubra valleys and on the southeast spreads the barren plateau of Rupsu. But Zanskar which stretches on its southwest and west occupies the road linking Ladakh to Kashmir valley. Lower Ladakh is daubed with Drass and Kargil.

Ladakh has extremes of winter and warm in summers. People dress up in their traditional dresses and women wear jewelleries of beads and shells. People are farmers by profession. They are humble, honest and compassionate. People follow Buddhism, which was introduced by Tibet. Originally Ladhakis were Mongolians. Excellent trek routes of the region are----------

|| STOK---HEMIS BY THE MARKHA VALLEY ||

|| MANALI--DARCHA--LAMAYURU TREK

|| PADUM TO LEH VIA CHA CHA LA, RUBRANG LA & THE MARKHA VALLEY ||

Its accessibility and beauty have made this the most popular trekking route in recent years. To the south of the Indus valley, this trail through the Markha Valley had been followed by villagers and monks for many centuries. The Kongmaru La (5030 m) is the highest pass on the trek and affords great views, south to Zanskar Range and North to the Ladakh Range. This Trail covers apricot orchards of Kaya, beautiful Markha village on the bank of Markha River, Yak grazing Plains of Nimaling at an altitude of 4700 m dominated by the Kang Yatse (6400m) peak. Also visit Spitok monastery one of the oldest in upper Indus and Hemis-----principal monastery having largest Thangka (Tibetan religious cloth painting) in Ladakh, over 12m long, but only exhibited every 12 years. Its next on display in 2004 & 2018. Hemis monastery head monk administers all the associated monasteries in the Ladakh and Zanskar region.

ITINERARY:

DELHI--LEH--SPITOK--RUMBAK--YURUTSE----GANDA-LA (4920M)--SKIU---MARKHA (3850M)---NIMALING PLAINS--KONGMARU-LA (5030M)---CHOGDO--HEMIS (3505M)--LEH--DELHI

MANALI--DARCHA--LAMAYURU TREK

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REGION	:	KULLU, ZANSKAR, LAHAUL AND LADAKH
SEASON	:	MID JUNE TO MID OCTOBER
DURATION	:	22 DAYS
GRADE	:	MIDIUM TO STRENUOUS
HIGHEST ELEVATION	:	5,090 METRES

One of the classic treks of the region, the first day seven hours drive to Darcha (3,360 metres) over Rohtang-la (3,978mts) the gateway to Lahaul and Spiti, Pangi and Zanskar valleys. We camp at Darcha to acclimatization. Darcha venue of all major trekking bases, we cross Shingo-La Pass (5,090 metres) to get in to remote Buddhist kingdom of Zanskar valley. Many ancient Buddhist monasteries on the way like Phuktal monastery where famous Hungarian explorer Coso De Koros spent years to translate Buddhist text from Ladhakhi in to English, which is built under a huge cave, a day after we visit Karsha monastery which is biggest in Zanskar region. Enroute we pass shepherds with their flocks and climb beautiful snow covered passes with panoramic views of the mountains of the Himalaya. Trek terminates at Lamayuru, which has a famous ancient monastery. It is the oldest monastery in Ladakh, with large library of Buddhist literature. The monastery subscribes to one of the older Tibetan schools, the Kargyapa order. Leh City is 147 k.m. from Lamayuru.

ITINERARY:

PADUM TO LEH VIA CHA CHA LA, RUBRANG LA & THE MARKHA VALLEY

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REGION	:	LADAKH
SEASON	:	JUNE TO OCTOBER
DURATION	:	12 DAYS
GRADE	:	STRENUOUS
HIGHEST ELEVATION	:	5030 METRES

This challenging trek is acid test for adventure lovers, which is followed by only a handful of trekkers each season. From Padum the trails heads north to the village of Zangla, in ancient times famous for its royal lineage of Zangla king-who has ruled the nearby villages of Honia and Chazar, and the villages of Hanumil, Pidmu and Pishu on the far side of the valley. The head monk at Spitok monastery is related to King's family, and also administers the Zangla monastery, which is on the cliff just beyond the village. After Zangla the trails divert from the Zanskar valley to the Cha Cha La (4950 m). From the pass there are uninterrupted views south towards the Great Himalaya Range. Heading north the trails enters a series of Awe-inspiring gorges that support rare wildlife including snowleopards, Bharals and brown bears. It takes a minimum of two stages to reach the Rubrang-La (5020 m) before a steady descent to the villages of the Markha valley. Enroute see the Khampa nomad's, they live in tents made of Yak hair and rely on the produce of their yaks, goats and sheep. From Markha village it takes a further three stages to cross the Kangmaru La (5030m) to Hemis Monastery and the Indus valley.

ITINERARY:

DELHI----LEH----PADUM-----ZANGLA----CHACHA LA(4950M)--BASE CAMP(3800M)--TILAT SUMDO--RUBRNG LA(5020M)----MARKHA(3850M)----NIMALING--KONGMARU LA(5030M)--CHOGDO--HEMIS--LEH---DELHI