Leh Ladakh travel packages to experience the cultural tradition
Leh - Ladakh travel Packages offering the quaint hilly stations of the Himalayas, the magnificent monasteries and the exciting cruise on the Dal Lake. Leh - Ladakh Tour Packages bestows an opportunity to explore the cultural tradition of Leh Ladakh. Leh - Ladakh tour operators offer the breathtaking beauty and the rich flora and fauna of Leh - Ladakh region. Take adventurous trip or spend reclusive Leh Ladakh holiday from range of Leh Ladakh travel packages.
Tales of the silk route tie the history of the Far East with India. Leh—the province capital of Ladakh—is the intersection where the historical silk route meets. Dry and mountainous Ladakh is located in the Kashmir Valley and is the “land of the Gompas (monasteries), the Lamas, Yak and wild donkeys”. Leh is located 1900 feet in the Karakoram Mountains.
The seven-story, stone-hewed royal palace built during the 16th century dominates the city’s landscape. The palace looks like a smaller version of the Potala Palace in Lhasa (Tibet). It was heavily damaged at the beginning of the 19th century during attacks by the Kashmiris and since then has become dilapidated, causing the royal family to resettle in Stok.
More than 80 percent of the inhabitants of Ladakh practice Buddhism based on Tibetan Buddhism. Not only do the monasteries attract visitors for its traditional medicine of the Amchis and the "life counselling" of the oracles have their elements in the Buddhist teachings, but also for their scenic locations up in the mountains. In Leh you will also find the king palace of Shey, the museum in Stok and the main settlement zone of the Tibetan, Choglamsar.
If you would like to learn more about the everyday life of the Ladakhis, you can go to the local schools, charitable organizations (for example, the Women's Alliance, the ecological center (Ledeg), the Snow Leopard Conservancy, SECMOL (a (ex-) student’s organization for the improvement of the didactic nature) and Himalayan Homestays.
In Ladakh, there are over 400 monasteries--many are branchlets of the 13 main monasteries-- inhabited by more than 3000 monks. The monasteries belong to different Buddhist sects while the Yellow Hat sect (Gelugpa order) is the most widespread.
Monasteries, East of Leh:
| Monastery | Dist. from Leh | Description |
| Sabu | 8 km | Small monastery, looked after by the monks of Spituk |
| Thikse | 19 km | 15th century, Gelugpa Order, circa 110 Monks. Possibility to visit Morning Puja (religious ceremony) at 6.00 hours |
| Stakna | 25 km | 17th century, circa 30 Monks, Lho-Drukpa-Kargyupa Order |
| Matho | 26 km | Oracle festival in February, circa 60 Monks |
| Hemis | 45 km | circa 500 Monks, 350 years old, Drukpa Kargyupa Sect |
| Chemre | 45 km | 17th century, affiliate of Hemis, Drukpa Kargyupa Sect, circa 75 Monks |
| Trakthok | 53 km | Caves of Meditation master Padmasambava from the 8th century, Nyingmapa Sect, circa 50 Monks |
Monasteries, West of Leh:
Monastery Dist. from Leh Description
| Monastery | Dist. from Leh | Description |
| Spituk | 13 km | 15th century, Central monastery of Gelugpa Order, circa 100 Monks |
| Phiyang | 23 km | 450 years old, circa 80 Monks, Digunkpa Sect |
| Likir | 50 km | Huge Maitreya Statue of 1998, circa 900 years old, Gelugpa Order, circa 100 Monks |
| Alchi | 64 km | Museum monastery, 1000 years old, Cultural history very valuable |
| Chulichan | 70 km | Nunnery, circa 20 Nuns, b in architecture |
| Rizong | 70 km | Strictest monastery in Ladakh, circa 40 Monks, circa 150 years old, Gelugpa Order |
| Manggyu | 78 km | 12th century, Gelugpa Order, four small individual temples |
| Temisgam | 89 km | Small Monk and Nun monastery |
| Lamayuru | 124 km | 2 day excursion, 11th century, Red Hat Sect, circa 150 Monks |
Hemis Gompa
Hemis Gompa is one of the largest monasteries and the seat of the Red Hat of the north. It has mural paintings, a famous library, and preciously decorated Buddha sculptures. You can enjoy an evening visit at the Shanti Stupa with a beautiful view and Japanese drum music.
Shey
Hemis Gompa is one of the largest monasteries and the seat of the Red Hat of the north. It has mural paintings, a famous library, and preciously decorated Buddha sculptures. You can enjoy an evening visit at the Shanti Stupa with a beautiful view and Japanese drum music.
Stok
The Choglamsar suspension bridge leads to the village and palace Stok. The building has fallen into despair but there are still 80 rooms that function as a museum which includes art from the century-old Thangkas and Peraks, and jewel decorated hats. Behind it, there is a Gompa, in which masks and mural paintings can be seen. It is located about 8 miles southwest of Leh.
Thikse
Thikse was already the seat of the Gelukpa order (Yellow Hat) in the 15th century. The twelve-story main building houses mural paintings and other art treasures . Dozens of monks still live in Thikse, where they celebrate chants and hold cult activities. You will have a magnificent view of the Indus’ headwaters.
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