31 Results found for Search: desert
1. Camel Safari, Jaisalmer.
Camel, they say, is the ship of the desert. So a trip to a desert destination is pretty much incomplete if one hasn’t experienced a camel safari. And there’s no better place to experience this than Sam. Located 42 km west of Jaisalmer, Sam is a tiny village with beautiful shifting sand dunes. Most visitors find the ever changing sand dunes truly alluring. During season (Nov-Mar) folk dancers add a distinct flavor to the place. And a wide variety of camp sites offer stay options as well.
2. Bactrian Camel Ride, Nubra Valley.
Bactrian camel rides are a major form of tourist activity in the Nubra Valley today. The double-humped camels, which were once used as pack animals have now become increasingly popular among a large number of tourists who come here for this most unusual experience. This highly interesting ride is flagged off from different locations and takes tourists through various points of interest along the Silk Route. Swaying rhythmically with the movements of these twin-humped, large even-toed ungulates you can be your own Lawrence of Arabia and eye such sights as the graveyard of Hor, Diskit Monastery and The Dalai Lama’s palace.
3. Chemrey and Takthok Monasteries, Leh.
Belonging to the Drugpa order of Buddhism, the Chemrey Monastery was founded in the early 17th century by Lama Tagsang Raschen under the tutelage of King Sengge Namgyal, although a theory presented by acclaimed historian Luciano Petech declares it as a monument built in 1664 to honor the king after his death. The monastery holds, among many relics, the famed one-storey high statue of Padmasambhava who was also known as Guru Rinpoche and even regarded as the second Buddha by the Nyingma school followers.
Takthok Monastery, variably known as Thag Thog and even Thak Thak, is a mid-16th century monastery, which is the only one in Leh to follow the Nyingma school of Buddhism. Interestingly, the literal meaning of Takthok is ‘rock-roof,’ named so because of the discovery of a cave inside the monastery, which was believed to have been inhabited by Padmasambhava for three years to meditate during the 8th century.
4. Diskit Gompa, Nubra Valley.
As the largest and the oldest surviving monastery in the Nubra Valley, Diskit Monastery or Diskit Gompa occupies a special place in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and belongs to its Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect. Changzem Tserab Zangpo, the disciple of Tsong Khapa, the founder of this sect, established the monastery in the 14th century. The architecture of the monastery is typically Tibetan with various (slightly damaged but few renovated) murals inside it depicting paintings of the Guardians of the world, whose images grimly grace the second floor chamber as well. A visit to the Diskit Monastery will offer you a chance to develop a wholly fresh perspective about life, one that will only deepen your ties with spiritualism.
5. Panamik Hot Sulfur Spring, Nubra Valley.
For as long as we can remember mortals have forever been spellbound by the mysteries of the world in any form and shape, including what we know as hot water springs. Panamik is one such place that has invited the attention of a growing number of people in the recent times. Situated about 150 kilometers (93 miles) away from Leh and at an altitude of 3183 meters (10,442 feet) the village of Panamik plays host to a hot water spring in the middle of nowhere. It’s been said that the temperature of the water is really hot, with sulfur being established as the chemical that’s present here. No wonder it’s believed to be laden with healing properties, the effects of which can probably be experienced if you take a dip here.
6. Pangong Tso (Lake), Pangong.
Pangong is on the must do list of most travelers to Ladakh. Not without reason! The stark beauty and serenity of the lake has been known to touch a tender chord in even the most hardened traveler. After getting used to the parched landscape of Ladakh, Pangong comes as breathtaking sight. Often, the haunting play of light and shadow on the hills around the lake greets visitors. And when the clouds clear, sun rays play magic with the crystal clear water imparting colors from aqua to shades of orange. The effect is surreal.
Most travelers to Ladakh do a day visit to Pangong from Leh. An overnight stay is highly recommended though. Given that the two-drive is over 300 kilometers, it is advisable to stay either by the lake side or at small settlements en route. A lifetime’s experience shouldn’t be rushed through anyways!
7. Shanti Stupa, Leh.
There is a very tranquil structure that rests at an altitude of 4,267 meters (14,000 feet) on a hilltop in Changspa village, about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from Leh. The Shanti Stupa was built by the Nipponzan-Myohoji order of Japan, a religious community that has been engaged in the construction of peace pagodas and temples in various parts of the world. The architectural treatment of Shanti Stupa is really unique. You will be greeted with a highly striking dual-level structure featuring a carved relief of the Dharmachakra (Wheel of Dharma) at the centre of the first level, flanked by two deer and some Buddhist followers. Post sunset, Shanti Stupa is completely illuminated, offering visitors a unique experience.
8. Shey, Thiksey & Hemis Monasteries, Leh.
Located in the upper Indus Valley, the Shey Palace was built by King Deldan Namgyal (aka Lhachen Palgyigon) in 1655 to serve as a summer retreat for the Ladakhi kings. He added the Shey Monastery within the palace complex in the same year to honor his departed father, Singay Namgyal. The monastery houses a 12 meters (39 feet) high gilded copper statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha in a seated posture, which is presumably the second largest in Ladakh. The Thiksey Monastery is a fort monastery that’s built in the likeness of the Potala Palace of Lhasa, Tibet and houses about 60 monks. This is the most important monastery in Ladakh and governs ten more monasteries under it. Painted in red, yellow-ochre and white, this fort monastery offers some amazing views of the Shey Palace and the Stok Palace across the Indus Valley flood plain. About 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Leh at a height of 3,657 meters (12,000 feet), the Hemis Gompa is one of the highest monasteries of the world. The rare 17th century murals and the painted stone reliefs adorning the courtyard gallery make the Hemis Gompa a true heritage site, which is why the Archaeological Survey of India submitted its name to UNESCO in 1998 to be considered in its list of World Heritage Sites.
9. Spituk, Phyang, Leh.
The very first feeling that will overcome you when you behold the Spituk Monastery is an overwhelming calmness that you had longed for all your life. And that’s because monastic life here is an example for others to follow if only to achieve spiritual enlightenment. This tri-chapel designed monastery has a huge collection of antique thangkas, masks of deities, weapons and images of Lord Buddha and Amitayus, besides a high throne for the Dalai Lama in the Dukhang (main temple). Phyang Gompa is another ancient Buddhist monastery that was once a part of several monastic structures gifted to Chosje Damma Kunga during the period of Dharmaraja Jamyang Namgyal. The most interesting thing about this monastery is a 900 year old museum within the complex, which is a vast storehouse of enormous-sized thangkas, firearms and weapons from China, Mongolia and Tibet, idols of various deities and Kashmiri bronze artifacts.
10. Alchi Gompa, Alchi.
Settled calmly on lowland terrain south of the river Indus in the village of Alchi is the oldest and the most magnificent monastic complex (Chos-'Khor) known as Alchi Gompa. The Alchi Gompa is a storehouse of some of the most impressive Indo-Tibetan murals and artwork, which clearly fuel the word that the great translator had brought several artisans from Kashmir for the construction work. Created somewhere between the 11th century and the 13th century, the ancient murals are still preserved in immaculate shape even after all these years and exhibit an artistic style that was highly popular in Kashmir at one time.
11. Baralacha La, Sarchu.
Post Rohtang Pass this is the first of the high passes that travelers encounter while driving in from the Manali side. Road condition starts to deteriorate after Darcha and the drive up to the 4,890 meter (16,040 feet) Baralacha La becomes a huge challenge. As the altitude rises sharply, many start noticing the first sign of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) in the form of nausea, loss of appetite, breathlessness etc. In addition one can also get a cold-stroke. While the thrill of reaching the summit is heady, it is advisable to take it easy and not over stretch oneself. Spend as much time here as possible to acclimatize. Do not overeat, the golden rule here is ‘eat less, drink more.’
12. Chandra tal and Kunzam Pass, Kaza.
The lake of Chandratal is at an altitude of 4,300 meters above sea level and lies in the flood plains of the river Chandra between the Kunzam and Rohtang Passes. This is perhaps the most accessible high-altitude lake in Himachal Pradesh and is about twelve kilometers north and off the Kaza – Keylong highway. The Kunzam Pass at 4551 meters above sea level is what connects the two sub-divisions of the district, Lahaul and Spiti. The pass remains closed for a substantial portion of the year.
13. Dhankar, Tabo.
Dhankar is seven kilometers from the turn off at Schichling on the Tabo-Kaza highway. Centuries old, Dhankar is an excellent example of how fort-monasteries were built in the area and speaks volumes for the building skills of its makers. Perched atop a series of outcrops along a spur, Dhankar has a formidable appearance as it rises tier by tier. The structures are connected, one to the other by passages cut along the rock face, sharp staircases and ladders and narrow corridors. For a long time, this was the old capital of Spiti and the seat of the ruler, the Nono. As Spiti was placed between relatively powerful neighbors – Ladakh, Kullu and Bushair – it was subjected to repeated attacks.
14. Fotu La, Lamayuru.
Located 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) west of Lamayuru, is the highest mountain pass on the Srinagar-Leh Highway. Fotu La (Pass) stands at an imposing height of 4,108 meters (13,478 feet). A visit to the Pass marks the high point of a beautiful drive from Leh to Lamayuru. Most travelers doing a day trip to Lamayuru ought to touch this high mountain pass just to get a feel of the rarified air and grand views. Having said that, the impact of visiting Fotu La is just as enthralling when approached from the Kashmir Valley side.
15. Hikim, Kaza.
One of the most remarkable of Spiti’s monasteries is located in the village of Hikim. This is one of the two Buddhist monasteries of Spiti under the Sa-kya-pa order. Unlike the second, which is of relatively recent origin and is located in Kaza, the one at Hikim is believed to date back to at least the fourteenth century. This is also known as the Tangyud Gompa or as the Sa-kya-gong-mig Gompa and is believed to have been the place where sacred texts, the eighty-seven volumes that form a part of the Tangyur texts were revised by a team of scholars under the venerable Sa-kya lama, Ch’os –Kyi-O’d-zer in c. 1310. An interesting sidelight to this scholarly enterprise was the fear the lamas generated in wrongdoers and robbers as they were supposed to be past-masters in tantra. This castle like monastery is located at an edge of a narrow and deep valley at a strategic height and overlooks the town of Kaza – the altitude is 4,587 meters above sea level. Its immense mud walls of this monastic keep have been visually accentuated by the simple but effective device of ochre and white stripes that make the walls seem higher than they actually are. As a castle of defense, there are minimal openings at the back and the main gate opens into a courtyard. This was also one the monasteries supposedly patronized and used by the Nono, the tutelary ruler of Spiti who expectedly, had his own cell – which was located to the right of the courtyard. The little village of Hikim lies at the foot of the monastery.
16. Ki, Kaza.
Backed by a high mountain and placed on a rise that juts out of its sheer face, is the setting of the Ki (Key, Kye) gompa, in Spiti. On the left bank of the river Spiti, the Ki gompa, is regarded as the largest in the sub-division. It is a collection of rooms and a labyrinth of corridors that do not follow any defined plan, but seem to have grown over the years. Portions of the structure are three stories high, while others are lower. No definite date can be ascribed to the construction of the gompa - that acted both as a monastery and as a fort. Some scholars believe this to have been built by Dromton (1008 - 64 CE). Others differ and place its origins in later centuries, but by and large, most concur that it was built before the fifteenth century.
17. Kibber, Kaza.
Past the base of the Ki monastery the road climbs up to Kibber, which at 4,205 meters above sea level was, till recently, the highest permanently inhabited village in the area accessible by road; this position has been taken by the village of Komic that is somewhat higher. The road distance between Kibber and Kaza is sixteen kilometers. The village is a small one and has less than a hundred houses. This lies on top of a bare outcrop of limestone with terraced fields on the sides. There is one main street and narrow paths access the other houses as well as the couple of small basic home-stay places and hotels.
18. Komic, Kaza.
One of the highest villages in world and the highest permanently inhabited one in the region now to be connected by a vehicular road, the tiny hamlet of Komic is situated at an altitude of 4,275 meters above sea level. Temperatures in summer touch the high twenties (Celsius) and plummet to the minus twenties (Celsius) in winter. With a dozen or so families and little over a hundred residents, this village comes in the periphery of the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sanctuary has animals like the ibex, blue sheep, red fox, Tibetan woolly hare, Tibetan wolf, lynx, the pika and the Tibetan wild ass; this sanctuary is also home to the rare and elusive snow leopard. Despite the altitude and the adverse climate, the villagers grow peas, some vegetables and barley in their fields and rear livestock.
Komic has a double storied Buddhist monastery dedicated to Gyawa Jampa or Matreya Buddha, the Buddha of the Future.
19. Korzok Gompa, Tso Moriri.
The nearest airport from Tso Moriri is about 220 kilometers (136.70 miles) away at Leh and goes by the name of Leh Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport.
20. Kungri, Tabo.
It is a combination of a few very rare things that give Kungri a distinctive identity. There is, of course, the remarkable ‘high-desert and narrow-valley’ terrain that is the hallmark of Spiti. Add to this a monastery that is one of the oldest in the area, the location in valley of the river Pin (which is a part of the Pin Valley National Park) and that this valley is the home of the wandering monks, the ‘Buzhen’ whose feats of breaking rocks with their bare hands and impaling themselves on sword points without even a nick to show for it, are legendary. The monastery at Kungri was built in the fourteenth century and is under the Nyingma-pa order of Vajrayana Buddhism (the Nyingma-pa is considered to be the oldest of the four original orders).
21. Lamayuru Monastery, Lamayuru.
Located 130 kilometers (81 miles) west of Leh, Lamayuru enjoys an important position in the pecking order of monasteries in Ladakh. While most important monasteries in Ladakh are part of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat order), Lamayuru belongs to the Drikung Kagyu sub-sect of the Kagyu (Red Hat) order of Tibetan Buddhism.
Lamayuru significance stems from the fact that it is the oldest surviving monastery of Ladakh. It was founded by Naropa, a Buddhist scholar from Nalanda University who came looking for his guru Tilopa, a master of Tantra. After a twelve year stint with his guru, Naropa established this monastery in the 11th century. He scripted the famous treatise, The Six Yogas of Naropa. Among Naropa’s followers was Marpa, who is regarded as one of the founders of the Kagyu order.
22. Langza, Kaza.
Langja is at an altitude of 4,400 meters above sea level and, in a manner of speaking, this provides a window to the evolution of the entire Himalayan chain. Millions of years ago the Earth's land mass consisted of two giant continents. There was Gondwanaland in the south and Laurasia in the north. A huge chunk of land severed itself from upper Gondwanaland and swept right across the mighty Sea of Tethys that separated them. Again, after millions of years, this giant engine crashed into the Asian continent. The force of the impact created the Himalaya mountains and the land that had pushed it ahead, is now India. Scattered all around Langja are ammonite fossils – that date back to the time when all this land was under the sea.
23. Lha-lun (Lalung), Tabo.
Lha-lun or Lalung lies in Spiti’s marginally explored Lingti Valley and is at an altitude of 3,658 meters above sea level. This is fourteen kilometers from the main road and is the largest village in the valley carved by the Lingti stream. The place name, Lha-lun is a derivative of two words and means 'land or area of the gods'; this is from ‘Lha’ = deities or gods and ‘Lung’ or ‘Lun’, land or area. The mountain of Tangmar that towers over the village is said to be the residence of the primary deity and that the mountain changes color with the moods of the deity – it has a reddish hue when he is angry and a yellowish one when he is pleased. The picturesque village has around fifty houses.
24. Likir Monastery, Alchi.
Situated about 52 kilometers (32.31 miles) from Leh and 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) north of the Srinagar-Leh highway, Likir Monastery or Klu-Kkhyil (Water Spirits) Gompa as it is known was built in the 11th century by Lama Duwang Chosje. Literally meaning “The Naga – Encircled,” Likir stands enclosed by the bodies of the two great serpent spirits, the Naga rajas, Nanda and Taksako. The architecture of the monastery is quite unique with thangkas of the guardian deities and a Bhavacakra mandala held by Yama himself gracing the verandah. An unusual sight that will catch your attention is a 25 feet statue of a sitting Sakyamuni dominating the roof at the entrance of the monastery. Interestingly, there’s also a small museum inside the monastery, which contains valuable artefacts that are 300-400 years old, including Tibetan thangkas, manuscripts, robes and even earthenware.
25. More Plains, Sarchu.
The More (also pronounced as ‘Moray’ and ‘Moreh’) Plains are one of the highlights of the Manali-Leh highway. Soon after Sarchu one leaves the Himachal Pradesh border and enters Jammu and Kashmir. 70 odd kilometers from Sarchu is Pang, the next settlement in the region. Soon after Pang the narrow road rises to open up to a high altitude plateau. The 45 kilometer long stretch of seemingly endless landscape is referred to as More Plains. At an average attitude at 15000 feet, the panoramic vistas that travelers encounter are exhilarating. It very often sweeps most travelers off their feet. Encountering the More Plains forces travelers to redefine their idea of the plains! Flanked by distant mountains on either side, the enormity of these Plains in front comes as a pleasant surprise.
26. Pin Valley, Tabo.
In 1987, the Pin Valley was declared as a National Park. This now has a core area of 675 square kilometers and a buffer zone of another 1,150 square kilometers. This is home to over twenty species of animals and birds. The highly endangered snow leopard is one – whose population is estimated at a bare dozen. Other species include the Ibex, Bharal, Red Fox, Maarten, Weasel, Snow Cock, Bearded Vulture, Chukor, Golden Eagle, Griffon and Himalayan Chough.
27. Rizong Monastery, Alchi.
Driving down about 73 kilometers (45 miles) from the town of Leh you will come across one of the most structurally intriguing monuments that is the Rizong Monastery, which is also known as the Yuma Changchubling locally. Founded in the year 1831 by Lama Tsultim Nima and following the Yellow Hat or Gelugpa order of Buddhism, the monastic complex is famed as a “paradise for meditation” with highly firm regulations of celibacy set for the followers. There is a firm belief attached to the monastery, which reveals that the great Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the sanctums of the caves around the monastery long before it was constructed. About 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) or a pleasant 45 minutes walk away from the Rizong Monastery is the Jelichun Nunnery, also known as Chulichan (Chomoling), the spiritual sanctuary of more than 20 nuns. Fascinatingly, even the nuns lead a life of celibate monasticism here, lending a great hand to the success of the monastery, their only compensation being the opportunity to inch closer to higher spiritual learning.
28. Sarchu, Sarchu.
An otherwise high altitude, barren patch of land on the Manali-Leh highway, Sarchu comes into sharp focus from June to September every year when heavy snow on the highway begins to thaw. Adventure buffs (mostly on motorbikes) from the world over make a beeline to traverse this spectacular route. Sandwiched between two high mountain passes – Baralacha La and Nakee La – Sarchu is one of the two important night halts on the Manali-Leh highway along with Keylong. It becomes a transit camp site on one of the highest highways in the world that traverses five very high mountain passes. Travelers are advised to go slow and acclimatize at important points en route. The terrain both before and after Sarchu rises to dizzying heights and it becomes imperative for travelers to break journey here! Sarchu is generally the second night halt while driving from Manali, and the first while coming in from Leh.
29. Tabo Monastery Complex, Tabo.
The primary complex at Tabo has the following temples – 1. The Temple of Enlightened Gods (gTsug Lha-khang). This is also known as the Assembly Hall (du-khang) and is the core of the complex. This has a vestibule, an assembly hall and a sanctum. The central figure in the assembly hall is the four-fold Vairocana. In Vajrayana Buddhism, he is regarded as one of the five spiritual sons of the Adhibuddha – who was the self creative primordial Buddha. 2. The Golden Temple (gSer-Khang). Once said to have been layered with gold, this temple was exhaustively renovated in the sixteenth century by Senge Namgyal, ruler of Ladakh. 3. The Mystic Mandala Temple or Temple of Initiation (dKhil-hKhor-khang). This is where the initiation of monks takes place. The wall facing the door has a huge painting of Vairocana who is surrounded by the eight Bodhisattvas. 4. The Bodhisattva Maitreya Temple (Byams-Pa Chen-po Lha-khang). This has an image of the Bodhisattva Maitreya that is over six meters high. The temple has a hall, vestibule and sanctum. The array of murals within depicts the monastery of Tashi-Chunpo and Lhasa’s Potala Palace. 5. The Temple of Dromton (Brom-ston Lha-khang). A small portico and a long passage lead to its hall. The doorway is intricately carved and the inner walls are covered with murals. This lies on the northern edge of the complex and is regarded to have been founded by Dromton (1008-1064 CE) an important disciple of Atisha.
These five temples are accepted as the oldest ones at Tabo and the following are later additions. The Chamber of Picture Treasures (Z’al-ma), The Large Temple of Dromton (Brom-ston Lha-khang), The Mahakala Vajra-bhairava Temple (Gon-khang), and The White Temple (dKar-abyum Lha-khang) came onto being in the next phase.
30. Tanglang La, Sarchu.
Tanglang La is one of the highest motorable passes in the world. While the veracity of highest pass is in a constant state of flux with newer passes opening up without the world at large getting to know of them, what remains untenable is that it is the highest pass on the Manali-Leh highway. At about 17,582 feet (5,359 meters), Tanglang La is beautiful in its serenity. Travelers enthusiastically take pictures with the happy thought that post Tanglang La Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) will begin to peter out. The thought of reaching the relative comfort of Leh adds to the heady feeling of scaling such a high pass.
31. Tso Moriri, Tso Moriri.
When you feast your eyes on as beautiful a creation as Tso Moriri, you do not have to be a science scholar to understand what a remnant lake is, but merely be thankful that it is there for the world to behold. Tso Moriri or Lake Moriri, which has donned the mantle of Tsomoriri Wetland Conservation Reserve, owing to the efforts of the conscious locals and WWF-India, is a high altitude lake in the Changthang sub-division of Leh. Tso Moriri is known to be the only breeding ground of the bar-headed goose in India and the black-necked crane outside China, besides attracting other species like the great crested grebe, brown-headed gull, lynx, the Himalayan marmot, the Tibetan sand fox, Tibetan ass and the Himalayan blue sheep. An interesting aspect of a visit to this amazing lake is the four/five-day trek from Tso Kar, which is the toast of most adventure travelers-streaked travelers today.