LEH LADKAH CULTURE TOUR

Ladakh Culture
Ladakhis are known for their cheerful disposition and most of their festivals fall in winters, which serve as an excuse for social and convivial gatherings. In summers, archery competitions and native version of polo are quite common and especially among the Buddhists, these competitions are often a local ball where folk songs and dances add to the jovial atmosphere and 'Chang', the local barley beer is amply used. The rich collection of oral literature of the region is full of occasion-special songs and poems and includes the localized versions of the Tibetan epic, 'Kesar Saga'.

Traditions and Rituals
The folk musical instruments 'Surna' (oboe) and 'Daman' (drum) accompany the ceremonies and public events. These instruments originally introduced into the region by Muslims hailing from Baltistan but are now exclusively played by 'Mons' (Buddhist musicians). A newly born child gets a warm welcome full of festivity and merriment, with functions on his 15th day in the world, after one month of the birth of a child and his/her first birthday. The family invites all the friends, relatives and neighbors and serves them with tea, 'Tsampa' (a local delicacy), butter and sugar. Weddings in Ladakh are full of music, dance, merriment and feasting. The boys are generally promised or married at an age of 16 and girls by the age of 12. The relatives of the groom take 'Chang', tea, butter and other presents along with the ring to the bride's home. If the gifts are accepted then marriage takes place a few months later. On the first day, a grand feast ensues at the bride's house and on the second day, at the groom's place. After marriage, bride lives with her husband and her parents offer clothes, animals and land to the couple as dowry or 'Raqtqaq', depending on their economic status. The males are the head of the family and the eldest son has the right to property of his father, which automatically passes to the next brother after him. In case, there are no sons in the family, the father brings in husband of the eldest daughter and property gets transferred in the daughter's name and passes on to her first son, after her.

Lamas as Oracles
Lamas are believed to be the messengers between the physical and the spiritual world and often act as astrologers and oracles predicting the auspicious time for starting any major enterprise. However, the monk-oracles of Matho Gompa are the most popular ones. It is very interesting to witness the feats performed hby these monk-oracles. Two monks are chosen to act as oracles in every three years by a traditional procedure and they have to undergo rigorous routine of prayer and fasting (and perhaps training) to purify themselves for the cause. When they finish, deity possess their body at the opportune time ans the feats, which they perform feats that can awe anyone including cutting themselves with knives without even wincing and sprinting along the gompa's (monastery's) topmost parapet as if they are made of rubber. Whenever possessed, they are believed to answer only the truth regarding individual and public welfare, though, the deity may also react with frenzied anger to those who are skeptical and ask questions only to test the deity.

The Buddhist influence on Ladakh culture started as early as the 7th century. And now, this faith has gained dominance in this entire region. All over Ladakh, you will find ancient Buddhist rock engravings, even in the few areas dominated by Muslims. You will identify Buddhist villages by a distance, as Mani walls customarily mark the approach to these villages. These walls are long chest-high structures with engraved stones opposite them. The stones are inscribed with the mantra in mane paddle hum and by shorten, commemorative cairns, like stone pepper pots.

One of the major highlights of the culture of Leh Ladakh are the monasteries that you will find in almost every village. They may range from huge complexes consisting of a number of shrines, prayer halls, etc to a tiny hermitage housing a single image. The other dominant faith, that of Islam, finds a presence mainly in the western areas of Ladakh. The early conversion of the sub-rulers of Drass, Kargil and the Suru Valley led to the penetration of the Shia sect in Ladakh. In the areas dominated by the Muslims, you will mainly find mosques, ranging from the small unpretentious buildings to the huge Imambaras.

Rather than rest of the Indians, the Ladakhis look more like the residents of Tibet and Central Asia, be it their physique or their facial features. Even though the original population of Ladakh consisted of Dards, an Indo-Aryan race, but large-scale immigration from Tibet changed the cultural heritage of Ladakh. The only people that resemble the mainland Indians are the Muslims, residing mainly in the Leh area. Songs and poems for every occasion, as well as local versions of the Kesar Saga (the Tibetan national epic) also form a part of Ladakh culture.

ITINERARY OF LEH LADAKH CULTURAL TOUR

Delhi - Leh

Duration : 05 Nights / 06 Days
Destinations covered : Delhi - Leh

Day 01 : Delhi/Leh 

Transfer to Domestic Airport to catch flight for Leh, Arrive Leh and transfer to hotel. Day free for acclimatisation and individual activities. Dinner overnight in ‘A’ class Hotel.

Day 02 : In Leh 

Full day excursion to Shey, Thiksey and Hemis Gompas. Shey Gompa lies on the way to Hemis. It is situated on the top of a hill and houses the largest victory stupa with a golden top. The statues made of copper and glided with gold are worthseeing. Thiksey Gompa lies on the left side of this road to Hemis. One can have a beautiful view of Indus Valley from the Gompa. Wall paintings of this Gompa are very interesting. From here drive to Hemis which is the oldest, wealthiest and largest Gompa in Leh with beautiful paintings stupas. Dinner overnight in ‘A’ class Hotel.

Day 03 : Leh / Pangong Tso (154 kms/ 5hrs drive)

After very early breakfast drive upstream along the Right Bank of the Indus River. At Karu turn left towards Chemdey Gompa and continue along the steep roadside towards Chang La (17,350 ft.). Permits have to be verified at Zingrul travelling check point (TCP) (13,500 ft.), 12 kms short of the pass. There is a temple at the top of the Chang La and lots of prayer flags.

The next TCP is at Tsoltakh. The first village is Durbuk followed by Thangse, both big army stations. From here to Lukung is a 32 kms drive along a rough dirty track through spectacular Barren Mountain scenery, which takes about 2 hrs. Pass through Tak – Tak & the Chakartale TSO. Between the Muglib and Lukung there are many flat green stretches of land with clean streams ideal of compositions.

Pangong Lake (which means hollow) is very long narrow spread of water situated at an altitude of 14,500 ft. Extending from east to west through the whole length of the Ruthong region of Tibet to neighborhood of Chisul, it bends to the north west for about 25 miles and forms a boundary between Ladakh and Ruthong. Only a quarter of the Lake lies in India, the rest stretching into Ruthong. Rare black necked cranes and other migratory birds are seen here. The water of the lake is salty.

Late afternoon return back to Leh. Dinner overnight Hotel.

Day 04 : In Leh

Morning free. Afternoon visit Shanti Stupa built by Japanese, Shankar Gompa is associated with Spituk Gompa and serves as the residence of the Head Lama. The monastery has Dukar Lakhang with a Dukar figure, a most impressive representative of Avalokiteshvara complete with 1000 armes (All holding weapons), and 1000 heads. The painting of the walls is worth seeing Leh Palace is to be visited by foot as it is situated on a hillock. It was built by Sengge Namgyal it is a 9-storey Palace, A building in the grand tradition of Tibetan architecture, said to have inspired the famous Potala in Lahsa.

Day 05 : In Leh 

Excursion to Khardung-la (18,380 ft.), one of the highest motorable roads in the world. Khardung-la is gateway to Nubra Valley, enroute have a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains which includes Parcha Khangri, Stok Khangri etc. Return to Leh to Hotel for lunch. Afternoon free for personal activities. Dinner overnight hotel.

Day 06 : Leh/Delhi 

Transfer to Leh Airport to catch flight for Delhi