Incredible Northern India - Day 10

Day 10 from Srinagar to Delhi

We visit the floating market in the morning before proceeding to the airport to take a flight back to Delhi. Too bad that there is a little rain in this morning.







Arriving in Delhi, I feel so exhausted and not in a mood to do the last minutes shopping which is not normal in my case. Anyway, we have burger at Mc Donalds for lunch, before crossing the street to “Janpath” the market. Where there are lots for scarf, shawls, books, cloths to choose by.
The last place that we visit before heading to the airport is India gate which is renovated right now. So I decide not to go and take a closer picture, just one picture around the circle.



And that should be all for my first time in India which has more to offer to travellers.

Incredible Northern India - Day 9

Day 9 from Kargil to Sonomarg and Srinagar

Driving from Kargil to Sonomarg, the landscape has changed a lot from dry and no green mountain to green forest and pine tree.

We stop at Drass Village, the second coldness inhabitat in the world. There was a record that the temperature in one year dropped below 60 degree celcious. Children are happy to be our models.

We then stop at Sonomarg for a horse riding up to the mountain. And here I start to feel very upset with the local people trying to grab a tourist. They are all over us selling their horse-riding services to us. And when finally we can haggler and agree for the price, and I had already ride a horse. They still argue over whose customer I am and tell me to get down from a horse and ride another one. Too much headache for me, so I finally decide that walking up the hill and taking a picture are enough. No more riding horse at this place.






About an hour and a half later we then proceed to Srinagar, a capital of Kashmier.

Dal lake at night is very beautiful but sorry there is no picture ka.

Stay overnight at a boat house.

Incredible Northern India - Day 8

Day 8 From Liker – Alchi – Lamayulu – Kargil


This morning we visit Liker Gompa.






Likir Gompa found in the 11th century and rededicated to a different monastic order in the 15th century, its earlier Gompa was destroyed in a fire. The present Gompa dated back to the 18th century. Skilled craftmen producing excellent Thankas, earthen pots and carved wooden folding stools, live here in the village. Majestically situated, Likir commands a spectacular view. A magnificence giant Jupiter tree, one of the few survivors of its species, stands in the courtyard.

Then we visit Alchi Gompa and have lunch at a looking-good restaurant hopefully providing good and delicious food. But it turns out that the food tastes so lousy that we all can't finish the dishes except the Tuna Salad.

We proceed further to Lamayuru, but the road is twisted and turned at every corner. Finally someone is flaged down to tell us to stop the car since rocks are now falling down. Not sure whether from the road construction above or by natural.
Stop by to take pictures at “Moon Land”.

Lamayuru Gompa.
The oldest holy site in Ladakh, it was a bon shrine prior to the advent of Buddhism. Also known as Yung Drung (Swastika) it is sited on a high promontory overlooking the village and valley. For sheer spectacle value no other Gompa can match Lamayuru.

Another late night to the hotel at Kargil.

Incredible Northern India - Day 7

Day 7 from Nubra Valley back to Leh


Goba Guest House at Nubra Valley.





We take a camel safari at Hunder village.



Leh Panorama from Leh Palace.

The Leh Palace is a smaller version of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Built in the 17th century for King Singge Namgyal, the Leh Palace was the residence of the Ladkhi royal family till they were sent into exile in Stok in 1830s.



Back to Leh for a late lunch and then take off to Basgo Gompa

40 kilometers downstream from Leh, it was the seat of power of branch of a Namgyal family. It was here in 1680 that invading Mongol and Tibetan armies was held in check over a three year old siege. Original 16th century murals and arts at Basgo are well worth a visit.







Our driver spots a Fox on the opposite hill.


Stay overnight at Liker village.

Incredible Northern India - Day 6

Day 6 from Leh to Nubra Valley

Our latest plan before this trip starts is to visit Sumur village where the Dalailama would be there for a few days.






We stop at Khardungla Pass, the highest motorable road in the world : 5,359 meters. We all take very good care of ourselves heeding all the warning received before taking a trip of altitude sickness that we should take things slowly.




A caravan of motorcycle and bicycle gangs also visit this route.



Road from Khadungla to Sumur village.



Welcome signs for the Dalailama along the road at Sumur village.

Dalailama at Samstangling Gompa, Sumur village.

















Staying at Goba guest house at Nubra Valley.

Incredible Northern India - Day 5

Day 5 from Pangong Lake back to Leh

Since the color of the lake changes during the day. We stay and take pictures longer than we fist planned, just so that all would be able to see the “blue” lake.



Hotel Lumbini where we stayed last night.










Green valley on the way back to town




Stop by at Hemis Gompa, just half an hour before it closes.
Hemis Gompa was built in the 17th century by Chapgon Gyalshas and eversince has enjoyed the patronage of the royal family. It is the biggest monastery in Ladakh. Hemis is the the headquarter of the Drukpa order and all the monasteries throughout Ladakh are administered by it. It also trains Lamas for the royal monasteries at leh, Shey and Bazgo. The Monastery contains gold statues and stupas decorated with precious stones and many priceless old Thankas.

Stay overnight in Leh.

Incredible Northern India - Day 4

Route Trip in Ladahk.



Day 4 from leh to Pangong Lake (approximately 251 kilometers)

Our first stop is at Shey Palace, once the summer palace of the Royal family. The prince of Ladakh installed the 12m tall gold-plated copper statue of Sakyamuni Buddha.
This palace is also known as Khar Chung built by Senge Namgyal in the beginning of the 17th century. It was erected on the ruins of an already existing castle. Shey monastery belongs to red hat order.

Then we visit Thiksey Gompa. This monastery belongs to Gelukpa order (yellow hat). The layout of the monastery complex resembles the Potala palace of Lhasa, Tibet.

Ladakh has many historic monasteries called Gompas, where Buddhist monks and nuns live, study and practice their religion. The monasteries of Ladakh are situated in scenic locations, on hills and mountains and have rich collections of Buddhist Thangka paintings, art and artifacts.



Waiting for the Inner Line Permit, we have small lunch in the car ending it with an apple. Seem like we all listen to the quote that “An apple a day, keep a doctor away”.



In the middle of nowhere, our car stops working. Some part is broken, so we will have to wait for the travel agency to send a new car from town. Since we have 2 cars, all girls are plied up in the good one and leaves all the guys behind. We stay at the Spangmix village.



Yak is a long-haired bovine found throughout the Himalayan region of south central Asia, the tibetan plateau and as far north as Mongolia and Russia. They have long shaggy hair to insulate them from the cold. Yak may live to more than 20 years.

The marmots are a genus of squirrels. There are 14 species in this genus.
Marmots are generally large ground squirrels. Those most often referred to as marmots tend to live in mountainous areas such as the Alps, Eurasian stepps, Pyrenees in Europe, the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada in North America, Deosai plateau in Pakistan and Ladakh in India. Marmots typically live in burrows (often within rockpiles, particularly in the case of the Yellow-bellied Marmot), and hibernate there through the winter. Most marmots are highly social, and use loud whistles to communicate with one another, especially when alarmed. Marmots mainly eats greens and many types of grasses, berries, lichens, mosses, roots and flowers.

Pangong Tso (or Pangong lake; Tso: Ladakhi for lake) is an endorheic lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4,350 m. It is 134 km long and extends from India to China. 60% of the length of the lake lies in China. The lake is 5 km wide at its broadest point. During winter the lake freezes completely, despite being saline water.