Tourism

                                                     Trekking

This trek leads to Leh, the headquaters of Ladakh region of J&K state. In remote past this trek was frequented by traders from Punjab on their way to Tibet and Yarkand for barter trade.

Keylong-Darcha, 28 kms By bus.

Darcha is the last inhabited village of Lahaul on this route. It serves as base camp for hiking, trekking and mountaineering expeditions. Campsite is available on the left bank of Barsi river. Mules/pack animals can be arranged at this place. Lot of bargaining.

Darcha-Patseo, 14 kms On foot.

Trek along Manali- Leh highway. Scenery becomes desotaete. PWD rest house at Patseo.

Patseo-Zingzingbar, 12 kms On foot.

One may follow the road or take short cuts. The sceneary resembles monoscape.

Raoli-Purthi, 15 kms on foot.

Upto Shaur the road is metalled. From there follow the unmetalled road on the right bank upto Purthi. Forest rest house is available there. The trek becomes greener from Udaipur onwards. Good patches of conifer forests and alpine meadows can be seen on way.

Purthi-Cherri/Sach Khas, 16 kms on foot.

Just for a km or so follow the right bank of the river till you reach the bridge across Chenab or Chandrabhaga. Now onwards the track is along the left bank. Just short of Sach Khas there is a bridge across the river. If you plan to stay in the rest house at Cherri, cross it to reach the right bank. Otherwise continue journey.

ZingZingbar (4150m)-Kinlung Sarai (4460m), 16 kms On foot.

Follow the highway to cross Baralacha La. Baralacha La is a double pass to the east and south. The lower pass at 4891 m in twice as high as the highest mountain in Australia and more than Mont Blanc--the highest mountain in Europe. Just below 16000 feet is a blue water tarn, the Suraj Taal. From top follow the left bank of the Yunam river. Lingo Plain starts from Kinlung. Kinlung offers good campsite with pastures and a brook.

Kinlung-Serchue, 16 kms On foot.

Follow the bridle path. Cross the river by a bridge and follow the right bank till you reach Serchue, the last place in Lahaul. At Serchue keep your documents ready for check by security personnel.

Serchue-Gyam, 13 kms On foot.

Camp at the foot of Lachh Lung La. Till Gyam follow the right bank of Yunam river. On the left bank lots of springs can be seen. The place is called Chhumik Gyarso, Chhumik means spring and gyarso means 108.

Gyam-Batsalung, 22 kms On foot.

Cross the pass. Ascent is stiff. Climb to the top is above 15 Kms. Descent is gentle. No grass or meadows in the area. Horses/mules have to be fed from reserve stocks.

Batsalung-Pang, 8 kms On foot.

From Batsalung follow river Pang. Camp site is in a pasture. At Pang a number of interesting earth pillars can be seen.

Pang-Morey Plains, 18 kms On foot.

From Pang follow the bridle path along the Manali- Leh road, 3 kms climb will bring you to a plateau which is part of the southern tip of Tibetan plateau. Camp near the water source. Morey plains is also known as Kyangchhu Thang. Black tents of nomads may be seen here. These waterproof tents are made from Yak's hair and resemble the budoin's tents.

Morey Plains-Ngor-Chhen, 14 kms On foot.

From Morey plain a bifurcating bridle path on the right hand leads to Lhasa. Leave that bifurcation and continue on the bridle path along the highway till you reach Ngor-Chhen camping site. Wild ass (kyang) may be seen here for the first time on this route.

Ngor-Chhen-Gya, 10 kms On foot.

Campsite in the first village of Ladakh is reached by crossing Tanglingla. Climb to the pass is stiff and the descent is equally steep. On way to Gya, at village Rumtse you may like to see small huts for pashmina goats. Just Short of Rumtse there is an Army check-post.

Gya-Miru, 16 kms On foot.

Follow the right bank of the Gya river. Camp on the outskirts of the village. The valley is known as Gya valley.

Miru-Upshi, 16 kms On foot.

Follow Gya river upto Upshi. Upshi is a small village with a Pashmina centre. Upshi is the main checking centre for tax, police etc. Good campsite available.

Upshi-Hemis, 18 kms On foot.

Follo river Indus. At Karu cross the bridge to follow the bridle path to Hemis. Hemis is the biggest monastery with about 300 monks.

Hemis-Tagna Gompa, 14 kms On foot.

Tagna Gompa lies on a, sugar leaf mountain in the Indus valley. From Tagna you may like to go to another gompa called Matho lying 5 kms in a southern side valley. The gompa was founded in the 16th C. by Tungpa Doric. Matho is famous among Ladakhis because of its oracle who is a priest and runs blindfolded on special days.

Tagna-Leh, 20 kms On foot.

On way visit Stok palace about 200 yrs. old and is the only Ladakhi royal palace which is still in use. The palace has 80 rooms, only 12 of which are now inhabited by the royal descendents. Apart from the palace, Stok's only other attraction is the archery competition organised in July.
From stok come to the Choglamsar bridge to follow the road to Leh, (alti--3105 m) the capital city of Ladakh. At one time Leh was an important halting point on the Asian Silk route, but more recently it is fast becoming a tourist centre. There are a number of interesting places to visit in and around this fascinating town. These include-- Leh Palace, Leh Fort, Sankar gompa (3kms), Spitok gompa (10 kms), Phyang (16 kms towards Srinagar).

ROUTE----B

Hemis-Thikse, 21 kms On foot

From Hemis come back to Karu and follow the road to reach Thikse gompa perched on a hill above the Indus. This gompa has the largest contingent of monks in Ladakh. The monks belong to the Yellow Hat sect.
The Thikse oracle is the most important oracle in Ladakh. An old villager is supposed to have Supernatural powers of sucking diseases from the bodies of the ill with the help of a small tube.
Thikse gompa has a very rich library with precious hand written or printed books.

Thikse-Leh, 17 kms On foot.

Just 5 km from Thikse is Shey. The old summer palace of the kings of Ladakh stands next to the ruins of a large construction. This palace has the largest golden Buddha statue in Ladakh. The statue is 12 m high and was erected by king Dalden Namgyal in the middle of 17th C.
In July, the Metukba festival is held in the gompa for the well being of all life in the world.
From Shey follow the road to reach Leh. On way is Choglamsar, the Tibetan refugee camp. One may like to go to Stok by crossing Indus at Choglamsar. This takes an additional day.

Trekking Routes