As the dew drop slip in to the shining sea the teachings of the Buddha, The Enlightened One, sought for the individual to merge with the Universal life. He could thus attain nirvana and end the cycle of birth and re birth. Tabo in Spiti is the oldest Buddhist monastery in Himachal and dates back to 996 AD. Many others are just a little younger. Then there are others which are barely a few decades old and came into being after 1959 when his Holiness the Dalai Lama left Tibet along with several of his followers and came to reside in India.
This circuit is planned as a two week itinerary which can be altered to time and interest. The two ends of the circuits Shimla and Dharmshala are well served by air, rail and road. The circuit itself is by road.
Duration : 15 Nights / 16 Days.
Destination : Delhi – Shimla – Sangla – Recong Peo – Nako – Tabo – Kaza – Keylong – Manali – Riwalsar – Mc leodganj – Delhi.
Day 01 :- Arrival at Delhi
On arrival at Delhi airport you will be pickup by our tour representative and transfer to hotel. Check in to hotel. Night stay at Delhi.
Day 02 :- Delhi – Shimla
Morning checkout from hotel and transfer to Shimla. On arrival check in to hotel. There are two recently built monasteries. The Geluk-pa sect at Sanjauli and the Nyingma-pa, at Kasumpti. Night stay at Shimla.
Day 03 :- Shimla – Sangla
Morning check out from hotel and leave for the Baspa valley in Kinnaur. 229km from Shimla. There are 33 Buddhist monasteries and temples in Kinnaur district and the Nyingma-pa Drug-pa and Geluk-pa sects are well represented. En route visit the small nineteenth century Buddha temple at Rampur 130 km from Shimla. Night stay at Sangla.
Day 04 :- Sangla – Recong Peo- Kalpa
Morning check out from hotel and leave for Recong Peo (2290 m) 38 km from Sangla village. En route visit some of the four small temples in the picturesque village of Sapni, Baru, Sangla and Batseri. Recong Peo is Kinnaur district headquarters and has a recently built gompa where his Holiness the Dalai Lama conducted a Kalchakra ceremony in 1992. The ancient settlement of Kalpa with spectacular views lies just above Recong Peo. Here is the Hu-Bu-lan-kar gompa said to have been founded by Rinchensang-po. Night stay at Recong Peo.
Day 05 :- Recong Peo / Kalpa – Nako
Morning checkout from hotel and leave for Nako. At 2950m, 107 km from Recong Peo, 7 km on a side road bifurcating near Yangthang the village of Nako is built around a lake. On its northern side are four Buddhist temples that house large prayer wheels. Near Nako is a rock where a footprint like impression is ascribed to Padmasambhava. Lippa: 14 km from Jangi. The gompa has three temples. Two house the sacred Kangyur and Tangyur texts and the third is the ‘Goldang Chakodar’ Kanum. Access from Spillo. This is a complete monastic village and dates back to the time of Rinchensang-po Pooh. On the highway. This has a Drug-pa monastery. Night stay at Nako.
Day 06 :- Nako – Tabo
Morning check out from hotel and leave for Tabo. At 3050m, 65 km from Nako. Tabo is in arid Spiti where there are thirty monasteries spread over its rugged terrain. Tabo is the largest monastic complex in Spiti and has nine temples, twenty three chortens, a monks’ chamber and a nuns’ chamber. The Tabo monastery was founded in 996 AD by the great teacher Rinchensang-po and is renowned for its breathtaking murals and stucco statues. This has been declared a ‘World Heritage Site’ by UNESCO. Night stay at Tabo.
Day 07 :- Tabo – Kaza
Morning check out from hotel and leave for Kaza. At 3660 m, 47 km from Tabo. Kaza is Spiti sub-divisional headquarter and has a gompa. En route visit Dhankar gompa. This rests high over the valley and is a stupendous example of local architecture. It is regarded to have once been a fort and was also the residence of the ruler of Spiti – the Nono. Dhankar is a repository of Buddhist scriptures in the Bhoti script. Night stay at Kaza.
Day 08 :- Kaza – Sightseen
Morning visit the Ki (Kye) monastery – 4116 m, 12 km from Kaza. This labyrinth of rooms and corridors once acted as a fort. It houses valuable thangkas and offers a panoramic view of the area. Also visit the small gompa at Kibber – 4205m, 9 km from Ki gompa. Kibber is the highest permanently inhabited village of the region connected by a motorable road. More time at Kaza will enable you to visit the Hikim, Komic and Langja monasteries. Night stay at Kaza.
Day 09 :- Kaza – Keylong
Morning check out from hotel and leave early for Keylong (3350 m), 188 km. Lahaul has twenty nine Buddhist monasteries. Almost all are affiliated to the Drug-pa sect. The rugged route from Kaza to Keylong is over Kunzam Pass (4551 m). En route, there are gompas at Damphug, Chokur, Jagdang, Shashin, Khangsar, Gondhla, Teling, Dalang and Gajang. Night stay at Keylong.
Day 10 :- Kaza – Sightseen
Morning based at Keylong visit the following monasteries – Guru Ghantal (8km), associated with both Padmasambhava and Reinchensang-po. This is regarded to be the oldest one in Lahaul. Kardang (5 km), is one of the most revered places of the Drug-pa sect. Tayul (6 km) and Gemur (18 km) may also be visited. Night stay at Keylong.
Day 11 :- Keylong – Manali
Morning check out from hotel and leave for Manali. At 2050m, 115 km. The route is over the Rohtang Pass. Manali has four recently-built monasteries. The main one is located in the city centre. Night stay at Manali.
Day 12 :- Manali – Riwalsar
Morning check out from hotel and leave for Riwalsar. 132 km. Legend has it that this was the place from where Padmasambhava left to spread the word of the Buddha in the eighth century. This has three monasteries built around a lake. Now rebuilt, the oldest one belongs to the Nyingma-pa order. Adorned with tiny prayer flags the lake has tiny island of floating reed supposedly embodying the spirit of Padmasambhava. Night stay at Riwalsar.
Day 13 :- Riwalsar – Mc Leodganj.
Morning check out from hotel and leave for McLeodganj. 1830 m, 160km. This is the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The impressive Namgyal monastery houses larger than life images of the Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avalokteshwara. En route visit the recently built monasteries at Bir and Tashijong. Night stay at Mc Leodganj.
Day 14 :- Mc Leodganj Sightseen
Today Spend more time at the monastery and visit the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. Night stay at Mc Leodganj.
Day 15 :- Mc Leodganj – Delhi
Morning checkout from hotel and proceed to Delhi 550Kms. On arrival check in to hotel. Night stay at Delhi.
Day 16 :- Airport Drop
Morning checkout from hotel as per your flight timing and you will be dropped at Int. airport to catch your flight for your onward journey.
