The most difficult river rafting on Zanskar River

Ladakh tourism is the backbone of ladakh’s economy. This industry has provided employment to a huge number of local people. Ladakh tourism offers great scope for adventure activities amidst landscapes of breathtaking, rugged beauty. The most popular among these are trekking, mountaineering and river-rafting.

Nestled in the snowy peaks of the alarming Zanskar Range, Zanskar is a sub-division of Kargil in the interior part of the Leh Ladakh region. Its administrative center is at Padum. Zanskar is the most isolated part of the Leh Ladakh region.

River Rafting on Zanskar River

Ladakh temperature can fall to a bone-severing -30 degree Celsius during winter season. Temperature in Ladakh rises up to 30 degree Celsius in the summer months. The best time for tourists to visit Leh ladakh is between April to September.

River rafting is available on the Indus and its major tributaries. The best stretch for professionally guided rafting in white water is on the Indus River between Spituk and Saspol. River rafting in this stretch can be performed by up to grade 2 rafters. After Saspol, the river becomes very difficult and funny, so it requires technically more skilled 4+ grade participants under careful and best trainer’s organization. The easiest stretch in Lndus River is between Spituk to Karu that can be performed by below 2+ grade rafters in a day. This stretch is an ideal for basic training and full of scenic floating for amateurs. In recent years, running the Indus has become an attractive alternative to trekking and features on the itinerary of most visitors.

The most difficult but exciting option for river rafting is on the Zanskar River between Padum and Nimo through the gorge in the Zanskar Mountains. This is suitable only for well organized white-water expedition, prepared for several days of river running and camping in absolute wilderness. Participants are required to be trained rafters of grade 4+. The arrangements should be assigned to a dependable professional agency like Destination@doorstep. Sufficient rescue arrangement is an essential pre-requirement for embarking for a white -water expedition on river like the Zanskar.

Plan your vacation now, call us on 1800-103-2228 (toll free in India) or visit our website http://www.destination-doorstep.com/leh/

The biggest festival of Leh Ladakh

Hemis Gompa is the wealthiest, best-known and biggest monastery (gompa) of Ladakh. It is located at 40 km west from Leh. The major annual festival of the monastery is Hemis festival which is celebrated in summer and is the main cause for its popularity. The major celebrations can be witnessed here at the biggest and wealthiest monastery of Leh Ladakh. Hemis monastery was built in 1630 during the reign of Sengge Namgyal, a well-known ruler of Ladakh. It flourished under the Namgyal dynasty for the royalty favored the Drugpa sect. Local people call this monastery as “Chang Chub Sam Ling”, which means the single place of the passionate.

Hemis Gompa

The monastery is divided into two parts, 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 varandahs have a surfeit of frescoes, among them the Buddhist 'wheel of life' (Kalachakra) and the lords of the four quarters, besides the prayer wheel.

The courtyard of Hemis Gompa, the biggest Buddhist monastery in Ladakh is the stage for the famous Hemis festival that celebrates the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. He is said to be responsible for bringing Buddhism to Nepal and Ladakh. The occasion also celebrates the ancient victory of Lamaism over Shamanism and other religious practices.

Hemis Festival

Local people are seen dressed up in their finest traditional dress for the occasion. Lamas perform splendid masked dances and holy plays with cymbals, drums and long horns. The head lama presides over the function. This famous Thanka, richly decorated with pearls and semi-precious stones. A colorful fair of beautiful handicrafts is the special highlight of the festival. The fair is organized in the courtyard of the monastery.

The Hemis festival is celebrated for two days on the 10th and 11th day in the fifth month of the Tibetan calendar. Generally this festival is celebrated in the month of June. This year the Hemis Festival is going to be celebrated on 29th and 30th June. Tibetan Monkey year is celebrated after every 11 years. The Hemis festival takes an auspicious turn in the Monkey year, when the two-storey high 'Thanka' is displayed.

The Most Important Buddhist Site in Ladakh

Ladakh tourism provides the opportunity to trek in a cold desert, nestling in the arid region of Himalayas with wide river valleys on whose fertile soil vegetation and villages have sprung up with its ancient culture. Various Ladakh Packages lead you through Alchi monastery in the remote corner of Ladakh, which is the house of rare manuscripts and ancient painting culture. Today, Alchi monastery is probably the most important Buddhist site in Ladakh.

It is reached by a short deviation from the main Leh to Srinagar road. The settlement is made up of four separate villages surrounded by fields. The trek leads you through above an older settlement with chortens, the newer settlement with guest houses, and a small row of shops. Track ends in a parking area where souvenir shops and a centuries old tree. According to local people, the tree has grown from the walking stick of Lotsava Rinchen Zango. He was the translator of many Indian Buddhist texts into Tibetan and founded Alchi Gompa in 10^th century.

You have to go round the outside of Alchi Gompa which is surrounded by a wall with small prayer wheels.  Rinchen Zango the founder of the Alchi Gompa, brought sculptors and wood carvers from Kashmir. They were abandoned in the 15^th C. The wall paintings are some of the oldest surviving paintings in Ladakh, painted with semi precious stones. They are considered to be among the rarest and most widespread examples of Buddhist art in Leh Ladakh. Photography is not allowed in any of the temples. Pictures of inside of the temples in the form of post-cards and books are for sale in the Dukhang.

Try and visit in the mornings when it is very peaceful and find a monk to unlock temples. The site consists of the Dukhang, Sumstek and Manjushri Lhakhangs were built between 12^th and 13^th century. The Lotsava and Soma Lhakhangs are built later. The Dukhang is at the heart of the complex and is the largest of the temples. In fact, there is a similarity in paintings between Alchi murals and Maharashtra’s Ajanta Caves. Alchi Monastery is a classic example of Kashmiri Buddhist art, which is different from Tibetan.

Destination@Doorstep, a reliable tour operator of India has launched various Ladakh packages in affordable cost. These packages have comfortable night-stay that gives you full entertainment and the essence of natural beauty in Leh Ladakh. All packages will take you through Alchi monastery.

Plan your vacation now, call us on 1800-103-2228 (toll free in India) or visit our website http://www.destination-doorstep.com/leh/

Nubra Valley: The Valley of Flowers

Ladakh is a wonderland which is artistic with incredible natural beauty and adventure sports facilities. The most famous tourist destination of India attracts nature lover and adventure sports lover from across the world. During the winter season it remains covered with snow which creates the most charming view of a desert, not of sand but snow. So, it is called Snow Desert. Ladakh Trekking is a fashion for the young enthusiast adventure sports lover of the globe. One of the most famous and charming tourist destinations of Ladakh, Nubra Valley is bordering both neighbor countries China and Pakistan.

The Valley of Flowers : Nubra Valley

Nubra Valley is situated at the altitude of about 10,000 feet in north western part of Ladakh. This Valley lies along the banks of the shayok and its tributary. While traveling from Leh towards Nubra, as soon as one will reach Khardung-la top, his heart problem will increase and you may feel headache, perhaps it is due to thin air.

After traveling further down, there is grassland, called Spang Chhenmo (North Pullu). In summer season, local people come here to graze their cattle. After 10 km moving towards Nubra valley, there is a village surrounded by mountains, called Khardong which keeps it cool even during summer. There is a Public Works Department (PWD) rest-house, a primary school and state government livestock development center. Despite efforts of the State Government more than three fourth of the total population is illiterate. After trekking 30 km, you will be in a Buddhist village Khalsar, which has a government Rest House. It has been provided the same facility by the state government. But the village is suffering in the same condition.

Nubr Valley in Summar

After traveling 12 km ahead from Khalsar, you will be in a valley which consists of two rivers: Nurba and Shayok. Both rivers are flowing in opposite directions. Diskit, Hundar, Sumur, Panamik, Bogdang and Turtuk are the main villages in and around Nubra Valley. Hundar is the most beautiful among all the other villages. It may be called fruit garden as trees of cherry, apricot, walnuts, almonds etc. can be found everywhere in this village. Its population is about 1350 in which Buddhists are more than 1200 and rest is Muslims. All live peacefully as a family and all the guests are welcomed with the same eco of “Atithi Devo Bhava”.

Plan your vacation now, call us on 1800-103-2228 (toll free in India) or visit our website: 

http://www.destination-doorstep.com/leh/

Pangong Lake of 3 Idiots

Ladakh the snow desert and enchanting beauty is a dream destination for all the adventure lovers. Poets, painters, writers, tourists, trekkers and others ultimate desire is to visit this unbelievable place once in their life time.

 Ladakh has been an independent state since 13^th century. Its culture has much strong influences of Tibet and Muslim neighboring lands. The architecture of the monasteries of Ladakh has a strong image of Tibetan art.

Ladakh consists two districts (Leh and Kargil) of the northern most state India Jammu & Kashmir, which lies between the great Himalayan and Karakoram Range. They obstruct Indian monsoon to bring rain in Ladakh. Summer is usually bright and warm, whereas winter gives freezing cold. All the roots of high altitudes are closed by snowfall during the winter season.

Pangong Lake is also called Pangong Tso. Tso is used for the abbreviation of Time sharing operation. It means that many persons can access the operating system concurrently. It appears to each TSO user he is the only user on the system. It is situated at the height of about 4350m in the Himalayas. It is an endorheic lake with the length of 134 km and the width is 5 km at the broadest point and extends from India to Tibet (China). 60% of the lake lies in China. During winter season the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water.

Amir Khan a famous director of 3 Idiots had shot climax scene of the film on this lake. Pangong lake has been featured in a few movies and songs, because it is one of the most beautiful lakes in India and it changes its color and hues every few hours.

It is advised to spend a whole day at Pangong Lake, rather than visit it just for one or two hours. A few hotels are centrally located in Leh the heart cityof Ladakh within a walking distance from Leh market and really 10 minutes drive from Leh airport, where you can relax under the apple groves in the beautiful garden of the hotel.

PANGONG LAKE Ladakh

Pangong Lake is situated in Himalayas. Its height is about 4,350 ft. It is 134 km long. It Extends from India to Tibet. 60% length of Pangong Lake lies in China. The lake is wide about 5km. Its water is saline. But lake freezes completely in winter season. But lake freezes completely in winter season.

PANGONG LAKE Ladakh

Distance between Leh and Pangong Lake can be discovered in a five hours. This route is a rough and dramatic mountain road through the village Shey and Gya and crosses Changla pass. Many Army men (guard) and Tea shops will be seen on your way. It is said that once the lake had an outlet, Shyok River, a tributary of Indus River, which was destroyed by a natural dam.

After a journey full of difficulties we reached Pangong Tso from Leh. Camping at Spangmik village will give great opportunities to admire the beauty of the lake and ladscape. Spangmik is a small village, spread across a narrow stretch of earth between the lake and adjoining mountains. Spangmik village is next to Pangong Lake, where the inhabitants are now finding additional income from tourist inflow. You need nothing to enjoy yourself, the lake and the mountain make sure you are kept happy contented. The lake spread so long that I can’t see the other end.

Change of shade in Lake can be observed as the day progresses. It has deepest hues of blue when the sum I high and deeper hues in the middle of the lake. It looses colour later in the day and turns dull as the sun moves towards the west. At times when the is no wind, the clear surface of lake becomes mirror, so it reflects the brown mountains surrounding it. The water near the shore looks black when there are strong waves.

The mountains are in various shades of brown, their colours doubled by the scorching sunlight and shades come due to small patches of clouds blocking the sun. Waterways on the stopes formed by melting snow have made long thin lines.

The lake is an ideal site for bird lovers as well various migratory birds including the black- naked Siberian Crane and Brahmini ducks can be seen in the cool colourful water of the lake.  The best time to visit thin lake is between June to September. An inner permit is required to visit the lake as it lies on the line of Actual Control. Indian can get individual permit. Others must have group permits (minimum of 3 persons) accompanied by an affiliated guide. You can get permit from the tourist office of Leh. India government does not permit boating due to security reason.