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| Festival Tours in Ladakh :-
Ladakh Festival 2010 Please lick over here:-
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Ladakh Festival:- |
About The Trek |
| The
Ladakh Festival is a major event organized every year by the Kashmir
and Jammu Tourism Department in collaboration with the local
communities and the district government administrations. The festival
begins with a spectacular procession in which various cultural troupes
and village contingents participate in full ceremonial costumes,
singing and performing various types of colorful dances to the tune of
the traditional orchestra. Thousands of traditionally attired men and
women line the route of the procession, adding to the carnival
atmosphere. At the polo ground, where the procession terminates, the
participants break into a variety of folk and popular dances,
presenting the best samples of the region's performing arts. Among the
regular programs, including a fortnight of musical concerts, lama
dances and folk ceremonies, the most colorful and exciting are the
archery events. Designed with an objective to revive and promote the
richness, depth and pageantry of Ladakh's centuries-old culture for
worldwide appreciation and enjoyment, the Ladakh Festival offers a
unique opportunity to witness many of Ladakh’s traditions and folk
heritage in a very short time and without having to traverse to its
often formidable outlying areas. Our tour brings you to experience the
best of it. Our tour's daily program is not finalized until Kashmir and
Jammu Tourism Department publishes the schedule of events, released
usually about two weeks before the start of the festival. |
Region : Leh |
Festival Dates: September 1 - 15 |
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Hemis Tse-chu and Lamayuru Kab-gyat Festivals |
About The Trek |
| The
focal point of the tour are the festivals at Hemis and Lamayuru,
undeniably the most famous monasteries of Ladakh. Hemis festival is the
biggest and most famous of the monastic festivals. It is dedicated to
Padmasambhava, the patron saint of Tibetan Buddhism and the one who
brought Buddhism from India to Tibet. The taming, conversion and
eventual integration of the pre-Buddhist Bon-po gods and demons into
the Buddhist pantheon as guardian divinities are reverently attributed
to him. Tse-chu refers to the 10th day of every Tibetan lunar month and
Tse-chu of the fifth month and the tenth month are celebrated as the
birth anniversary of Padmasambhava. The Hemis dance-drama depicts the
magical feats of Padmasmbhava, also known as Guru Rimpoche, in his
eight different manifestations to vanquish the enemies of Buddhism and
for its propagation. Popularly known as Hemis Tse-chu, for which Ladakh
is famous all over the world, Hemis monastery celebrates this event in
the form of a two-day festival. Lamayuru Yuru Kab-gyat festival takes
place at the Lamayuru monastery, considered to be the oldest monastery
in Ladakh and thus a major religious landmark. The two-day festival of
sacred dances and other rituals is performed by the resident lamas
wearing masks representing guardian divinities from the Dri-gung-pa
monastic order pantheon and concludes as most monastic dances with the
destruction of the sacrificial offerings. The festival is an
unforgettable event no less for its own unique character than for the
spectacular, picturesque moon-land surroundings of the remote village
high above which the Lamayuru Gompa is mounted precariously atop a
steep hill. |
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Region : Zhung (Middle Ladakh) and Sham (Lower Ladakh) |
Festival: Hemis Gompa & Yuru Kabgyat |
Duration : 15 Days |
Duration : |
Delhi,
Leh, Shanti Stupa, Sangkar, Tsemo Gompas, Hemis gompa, Matho, Stakna,
Takhtok monasteries, Hemis Tse-chu, Chemde, Thikse, Shey monasteries,
Lamayuru gompa, Likir, Alchi, Ridzong Gompa, Lamayuru Kab-gyat, Bazgo,
Phyang monasteries Day |
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Karsha Gu-stor and Phyang Tse-dup Festivals |
About The Trek |
| This
tour offers an exciting overland journey to Zanskar where the first of
the two festivals is held. A visit to this secluded Shangri-la is a
memorable experience even if no major festival were to be part of this
journey. The second festival takes place just west of Leh, the capital
of Ladakh, at Phyang. Between the two festivals, and along with visits
to other major monasteries of the region, the tour accounts for one of
the most dramatic overland festival tours spanning the regions of the
isolated Zanskar, the Suru Valley and the Indus river valley. Karsha
Gu-stor festival, commemorating the victory of good over evil, takes
place at the largest Geluk-pa, Yellow Hat, monastery in Zanskar. It is
also Zanskar's largest in terms of resident monks, counting more than
100 lamas. The monastery is built on a steep mountainside rising above
the village of Karsha, a spectacular site some 12 kilometers from
Padum, Zanskar's ancient capital. Gu-stor sacred dances or 'chhams' are
held to commemorate the birthday of Tsongkha-pa, the founder of the
Geluk-pa monastic order. The annual Tse-dup festival takes place at the
Phyang Gompa, situated on a hill overlooking the Phyang village. The
sacred dance-drama of the resident monks culminates with ritual burning
of the votive offerings. On the occasion of this auspicious event, the
huge antique thanka painting of Skyabje Jigten Gombo, the founder of
the Dri-gung-pa monastic order, is exhibited for the public every 3rd
year. Phyang Gompa is one of the best maintained gompas in Ladakh and
lies only 17 kilometers west of Leh. |
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Region : Zhung (Middle Ladakh) and Zanskar |
Festival: Karsha Gompa & Phyang Gompa |
Duration : 15 days |
Duration : |
Delhi,
Leh, Shanti Stupa, Karsha, Kargil, Tsemo gompa. Rangdum Gompa, Sangkar,
Tsemo Gompas, Hemis gompa, Takhtok monasteries, Chemde, Thikse, Shey
monasteries, Lamayuru gompa, Likir, Alchi, Phyang |
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Korzok Gu-stor and Tak Thok Tse-chu Festivals |
About The Trek |
| A
journey to Korzok from Leh is unlike any other in Ladakh. The Leh –
Manali road first brings us over one of the highest passes in the
region, over the Taklang-la (5260m). From here it strikes off east on a
rough track across the basin of the twin lakes, Startsapuk-Tso (fresh
water) and the Tso-kar (salt water), then over a roller-coaster track
to the head of Tso Moriri, a magnificent lake, and on to Korzok, a
quarter of the way along the lake's 20km length. Containing the
drainage basin of these trans-Himalayan lakes and known as Rupshu, this
is a landscape of open, windswept high-altitude valleys. Korzok,
situated at 15,000 feet (4,572 m) with its dozen or so houses and its
gompa appearing like a mirage among the barren hills, is the only
permanent settlement in Rupshu, and the stage for the region’s only
monastic festival. The Korzok Gu-stor attracts scores of Chang-pa, the
Tibetan plateau nomadic herdsmen, for whom this even constitutes the
sole event of its kind and magnitude. Tse-chu at Tak Thok Gompa is
unique in the fact that this is the only Nyingma-pa, Red Hat, monastery
in Ladakh thus closely devoted to its patron-saint Padmasambhava.
Mystic dances are performed by the lamas in the guise of various
divinities and legendary characters. They perform the mystic dances as
prescribes the protocol, consecrating and destroying the votive
offerings 'Stor-ma' in closing of the propitious performance. Trip to
Tak Thok promises another unique glimpse of the Ladakh landscape of
trans-Himalaya. Located in the village of Sakti, about 46 km east of
Leh, below Chang-la (5320m), Tak Thok is on the way to the Pangong Lake
in the far eastern end of Ladakh. |
Region : Zhung (Middle Ladakh) and Korzok |
Duration : 15 Days |
Duration : |
Delhi,
Leh, Shanti Stupa, Sangkar, Tsemo Gompas, Korzok, Matho, Hemis
monasteries, Tso Moriri, Korzok Gu-stor , Shey monastery, Likir, Alchi
monasteries, Tak Thok, Thikse, Chemde monasteries |
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SINDHU DARSHAN FESTIVAL |
About The Trek |
The
"Sindhu Darshan" or Sindhu festival aims at projecting the Indus as a
symbol of India's unity and communal harmony. While promoting tourism
in this area, Sindhu darshan is also a symbolic salute to the brave
soldiers of India. This festival holds religious significance even
while promoting tourism in that area. Sindhu stands for peaceful
coexistence and communal harmony and is a symbol of our country's
identity and civilization. The 'Sindhu Yatra' helps forge a bond of
unity with those who live in far-flung corners of the country; thus
providing them an opportunity to visit the beautiful region of Ladakh.
This festival begins usually on the full moon day in July, which is
also termed "Guru Purnima". On the first day, the participants of this
festival are welcomed and there is a reception on the banks of Sindhu
at Shey, about14 km from Leh on Leh-Hemis Gompa Road. Being a truly
National Integration Programme, the reception is jointly conducted by
the Ladakh Buddhist Association, Shia majlis, Sunni Anjuman, Christian
Moravian Church, Hindu Trust and Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee. A
ritual prayer is performed by 50 senior Lamas on the banks of the
Sindhu. A host of cultural programmes are performed by the
representatives of various states. The celebrations on the banks end
with lunch for all the participants.
Later, the participants are taken around for a sight-seeing trip. The
day concludes with a campfire and get-together at night. On the third
Day Sindhu Pujan takes place followed by cultural programmes and
sightseeing. Then on the fourth day, the participants get ready for
departure.
Sightseeing includes Buddhist monasteries and other cultural/heritage
sites, which are the principal tourist attractions of Central Ladakh
and Zanskar. These sites, most within easy reach from Leh, may be
visited by a bus or taxi. Many of the region's major gompas are open
throughout the day and a caretaker Lama is available to show visitors
around. Some of the less visited establishments have special opening
hours, as in the case of Namgyal Tsemo, Shey Palace and the Stok Palace
Museum. Hall of Fame, near Leh, is a tribute to our valiant soldiers.
About 30 km from Leh, a Sikh Gurudwara is also a place worth visiting.
It is maintained by the Indian Army.
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Trek Route |
| Chilling - Sku – Markha – Langtang Chu – South Camp –Charchar La - North Camp – Zangla Sumdo – Zangla – Karcha – Padam – Sani. |
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Duration: 20 days (10 days trekking ) |
Season: September |
Average temperature: Day (20 – 25 c) Night (07-11 c) | |
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