HIGHLIGHTS OF SUMDA CHEY TREK:
You will get to explore the interesting Leh, a city at a high altitude that is home to Buddhist stupas, hilltop forts, and vibrant market bazaars.
Take a stroll along the Chadar, one of the region's frozen rivers, marvel at the Sumda Chun Monastery, one of the oldest and most revered in the area, and learn about Ladakh's rich history in Sumda Chey, one of the region's oldest communities.
Sumda Chey is a hidden gem in the Himalayan region that’s waiting to be explored.
You’ll also have a knowledgeable guide by your side who can give you insights into the local culture and history as well as take you on some off-beat trails for an adventure like never before.
Get to witness some amazing creatures en route like blue sheep and rare birds.
The temple of Sumda's series of cosmic imagery continues to be the main draw today. The wall murals in the assembly hall are significant and uncommon specimens from the early years of Tibetan Buddhism.
OVERVIEW OF Sumda Chey Trek
Looking for an adventure of a lifetime? Look no further than the Sumda Chey Trek. This trek is one of the most beautiful and challenging in Ladakh, offering stunning views and unforgettable experiences. And with our travel package, you can explore this spectacular region without any worries.
Our travel package includes everything you need to have an amazing experience on the Sumda Chey Trek. From comfortable accommodations and delicious meals to experienced guides who know the area inside out, we've got you covered. You'll be able to focus on enjoying your adventure while we take care of all the logistics.
As you journey through the rugged landscape of Ladakh, you'll witness breathtaking vistas that will leave you speechless. You'll see snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, verdant valleys, and traditional Ladakhi villages along the way . A must-see region in the Indian Himalaya is Ladakh. The former kingdom offers wonderful trekking and tourism opportunities with its combination of stunning scenery, historic sites, and profound spirituality.
In this lonely and magnificent Himalayan region, you will find snow-capped peaks, high mountain routes, and dramatic moonscapes strewn with prayer flags and Buddhist temples.
The community of Sumda Chun, which is well-known for the temple established by Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo, is situated at an elevation of more than 12,000 feet. Being one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in the Ladakh area , the temple is a part of the Sumda Chun Monastery. It is located at a distance of 65 km(south west) from Leh in the Himalayas. The village's closest motorable road comes to an end in Sumdo.
Only after climbing an arduous river valley trail for approximately five hours can one reach the settlement of Sumda Chun. The village's isolation has aided in the preservation of the area. The route from Sumdo to Sumda Chun passes through gorges and terrain with severe hills. Trekking from Alchi village through Stakspila is another method to get to Sumda Chun, but the gradient of the slope going down is very high, making the trip very time-consuming.
A shrine made up of 37 statues made of polychrome stucco can be found in the altar niche. The main deity, Vairocana, is regarded as the temple's most notable ornamental element and exhibits an early western Himalayan temple's original sculptural embellishment right after it was built.
According to the World Monument Fund's 2006 Watch List, the Sumda Chung Monastery is among the top 100 most endangered places on earth.According to legend, Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo erected three temples in a single night over thousand years ago, including the one at Sumda Chun. Alchi and Mangyu have other temples. The significant Sumda-Mangyu-Alchi Buddhist pilgrimage, which some attempt to complete in one day, begins at Sumda Chun. This pilgrimage is performed by Ladakhi people on a day known as Tangpo Chong, which occurs annually at the end of February or the beginning of March.
The Tibetan scholar Lotsawa Ringchen Zangpo travelled to India in the eleventh century to research spirituality. He stayed here for a long time to study dharma, Sanskrit, and Buddhism. He collaborated with numerous academics, produced commentaries on a variety of significant Buddhist subjects, and translated significant literary works into Tibetan (Lotsawa is the name given to a native Tibetan translator). Lotsawa is credited for building up to 108 Buddhist temples in what is now modern-day India, Nepal, and Tibet, including three monasteries that he had erected in a single night. It is said that flying 'fairies,' constructed this trio of monasteries (Sumda Chun, Alchi and Mangyu). They built the monasteries evenly spaced apart (as the crow flies) from one another thanks to their ability to fly, which allowed them to effortlessly traverse the steep terrain in a single night.
The daily rituals and other significant events in the temple of Sumda Chun are overseen by monks who are appointed by the abbot of the Hemis Monastery. There are 16 residents in the village as a whole, and they actively participate in the ceremonies and activities of the temple. Only the assembly hall, main shrine, two Bodhisattva chapels, a prayer wall, and a few stupas are still standing from the Sumda Chun Monastery, which formerly encompassed the entire hill.
The Sumda Chun Monastery and the temple in Sumda Chun's architecture, sculptures, paintings, and other works of art are now the subject of conservation programmes. In the monastery's main hall, magnificent statues and paintings may be found. The complex of the monastery and temple, which dates back to the 12th century, was initially constructed for an arid region, but over time, unanticipated rainfall has severely damaged the buildings and the artwork. Sumda Chun Monastery is most accessible from May through September.
Unlike the unfriendly cold of the winter months, the weather is pleasant during these months. During these months, adjacent areas are accessible for trekking and hiking. Because of November's significant snowfall, trails are closed or blocked. The monastery offers simple lodging. Leh provides a wider selection of affordable and moderately priced lodging options to accommodate practically any need. It is a good idea to have food and water with you when you travel to Sumda Chun village.
ITINERARY
Day 1 :LEH ARRIVAL (11,400 feet)
Since most roads are closed during the winter, the only way to get to Ladakh is by air. Take your heavy clothing for the flight to protect yourself from the frigid landing and descent since it's likely to be below zero. Have your wool cap and gloves handy. You will fly over large areas of snow-covered Himalayan ranges, which will help you understand why it is difficult to reach Ladakh by road in the winter.
Leh is entirely blanketed in snow, and on occasion there will be a thick layer of ice covering the roadways as well. As a result, the city will only be partially functional. The air will be cool and crisp when you first arrive in Leh. Ensure to stay hydrated and rest sufficiently to allow your body to acclimatise to the local climate. Overnight in Leh.
DAY 2: Acclimatization Day
You should stay at least two days in Leh to completely acclimatise your bodies to the local weather conditions, per the new regulations adopted by the Ladakh Government Agencies. This is due to the health problems hikers are having (Acute Mountain Sickness).
It is essential that every trekker strictly follow it.
because it cannot be undone. You can spend all day buying at the Leh market.
It is recommended that you avoid areas with greater altitudes. Before turning in for the night, it is advised that you double-check all of the necessities.
Day 3: Drive to Rongdo (near Chilling) from Leh and hike to Labarpa
Take a brief detour en route to Rongdo to appreciate the meeting of frozen rivers: Indus and Zanskar. We descend down the road and enter the Sumda Valley from Rangdo. The valley is extremely narrow at this point, and in a few seconds we will be crossing the frozen river.We will take a two-hour walk down the ice river to get to Labarpa, our first campground.
DAY 4: Labarpa to Lazgoo
We resume our four to five-hour riverside stroll. reach Lazgoo's campsite. We can spot several Blue Sheep and some beautiful birds.
DAY 5: LAZGOO TO SUMDA CHEY
After a long walk of three to four hours we will reach the destination: Sumda Chey. Now we are going to camp here for three nights. Today a few beautiful creatures can again be spotted.
DAY 6: SUMDA WATERFALL AND AN ANCIENT CAVE
Today we will enjoy walking over a frozen river after travelling to Sumda waterfall. Later after visiting the cave we return to Sumda campsite.
Day 7:REACHING A HEIGHT OF 14900( View point 1) AND BACK to Sumda
Today, we will climb hills to reach a height of 14900 feet in 4-5 hours. We'll have fantastic
views of the mountains blanketed in snow from the top including prominent ones like Stok Kangri and Kang Yatse. Hike back to the campground in Sumda Chey village.
Day 8: Sumda Chey to Rangdo, Sumda Chun monastery, and then back to Leh
We hike all the way back to Rangdo, where the hike originally began. We get in our cars and drive the short (15–20 minutes) distance to Sumda Chun monastery. A new road link has connected the monastery of Sumda Chun.
From Sumda Chun, we return to Leh.
Day 9: BIDDING FAREWELL
The journey comes to a close. Head towards Leh airport for your return.
Eligibility:
One must have prior experience hiking at elevations greater than 2500 metres in order for the trek to reach at least 3500 metres.
At least one Moderate Plus Category trek ought to have been completed.
INSTRUCTION:
You should have at least 7–10 days set out for Himalayan trekking.