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Ancient Cultures of the Indian Himalayas Spiti Valley, Kinnaur, Manali, Dharamsala, Amritsar

August 24-September 9, 2018

Go where few people have gone before!

Experience ancient culture and enjoy exquisite, dramatic beauty.

Maximum Group Size is Twelve People

Precedes our Ladakh Festival tour "This is one journey that must be undertaken at least once in a lifetime by any discerning traveler” - words of many widely traveled people after having visited these awe - inspiring parts of the Indian Himalayas.

In this remarkable journey you will walk on the most inspiring mountain trails, drive over some of highest roads and bridges, visit remote wildlife reserves, witness age old temples, exquisite villages, traditional architecture and tribal lifestyles. For the solitude seeker there cannot be a better place than here to experience the sounds of silence, the pristine glory of nature as well as a window into ancient traditional cultures. This is surely the ultimate high for any traveler.

In this region of hill stations, fertile valleys, lunar landscapes and rarefied mountain air, local inhabitants have carved out a spartan existence in the pockets of habitable terrain. Kinnaur and Spiti Valley, two districts set within remote areas of the Indian Himalaya and bordering Tibet, are the highlights of this very special tour. This area has been off limits to travelers until recently. So dramatic is the land that on one side there are dense forests, fruit orchards and lush green valleys, while on the other, rugged and barren mountains and miles and miles of high-altitude desert. Spirit of India’s 17-day journey offers visits to traditional villages, ancient monasteries containing priceless collections of thankas, sculptures and wall paintings, private meetings with lamas and a chance for genuine interaction with local people.

Adventuresome, but not difficult!

Detailed Itinerary

Aug24DAY1:ArrivalinDelhi.TransfertohotelLalit.Hotelcheck-inis12noonorlater.Aug25DAY2:Delhi/HotelLalit(B,L,D)Morning:restandrecuperatefromlongflight.Thosewithenergycantakeastrollaroundtheareanearthehotelthatboastscafes,bookstores,andlocalbazaars.Conserveyourenergy—itwillbehothothot!AfternoonsightseeingofOld&NewDelhi(exactsitesTBDbasedonthegroup’spastIndiaexperiences,includingarickshawridethroughtheoldChandiChowkbazaar.Welcomedinner&orientationwithyourguide.Aug26DAY3:Delhi-Chandigarh–Shimla(125km)/HotelMarina(BLD)EarlymorningtransfertoNewDelhiTrainStationtoboardShatabdiExpresstoChandigarh.ETD0740/ETA1110.OurdriverwillmeetusonarrivalandwecontinuetoShimla.We’llstopforlunchen-routeandarriveinShimlainthelateafternoon.Thiseveningenjoyaleisurelystrollonthe“Mall.”ExplorethewonderfulcolonialpastofthisQueenofhillstations.Aug27DAY4:Shimla-Sarahan(174km/6hrs)/HotelSrikhand(BLD)Afteranearlybreakfast,wedrivetotheJhaku(Hanuman)Temple.Itisashort15minclimbuphillonwelllaidoutstepsfromthecartothetemple.DriveonwardtoSarahan,abeautifulvillagesurroundedbyappleorchardsanddominatedbyShrikhandMahadevPeak(16908Ft),whichresemblesthe"Shivling."Lunchen-route.OnarrivalinSarahan,wevisittheBhimakaliTemple,awonderfulmixtureofBuddhistandHinduarchitecture,sacredtobothcommunities.TheBhimakaligoddessidolisapproximately200yearsold.Aug28DAY5:Sarahan-Kalpa(105km/4hrs/9500ft)/KinnerVilla(BLD)DrivetoKalpa,theheadquartersofKinnaurDistrict.KalpaboaststhebestviewthatonecanhaveofthemightyKinnerKailashRangeoftheGreaterHimalaya.Risingfromitsbaseitis19848feetofsheerrock.Arriveintimeforlunchatourhotel,thelovelyKinnerVilla.AfternoonwalktheOldHindustanTibetRoadtoRoghiVillage,consideredoneamongthetoptenmountainwalksintheentireworld.OvernightatthebeautifulKinnerVilla.Aug29DAY6:Kalpa/KinnerVilla(BLD)AwonderfulfulldayreservedforwalkingtotheancientandexquisitevillagesChini,Peo,Kothi,PangiandTelangi.OvernightatKinnerVilla.Aug30DAY7:Kalpa–Nako(102km/7hrs/12250ft)/KinnerCamp(BLD)TraveltoNako--subjecttoroadconnectivity--orelsewedrivefromKalpadirecttoTabo.ThevillageofNakoliesatanaltitudeof11890ft,highabovethevaststretchofSpitiValley.ItwasonceaveryimportantcentreofBuddhismintheregion.ThereareseventemplesbelongingtodifferentperiodsofBuddhismbetween11thand12thcenturiesdistributedalloverthevillage,includingamonasticcomplexon

itswesternedge.Boastingfourtemplesandanumberofadditionalbuildings,thiscomplexpreservestheearliestartisticheritage.Theaustereandunornamentedexteriorsofthebuildingsgivelittlehintofitsimportantartisticandspirituallegacythatlieswithinthesewalls.TheKinnerCamptentsarestand-upstylewithbedsandattachedbathroomwithwesterntoiletandcoldrunningwater.Ahotwaterbucketisprovidedforwashing.http://www.kinnercamps.com/nako.htmlAug31DAY8:Nako-Tabo(70km/4hrs)/DewachenRetreatorTrozenGuestHouse(BLD)TodayweenterSpitiValley.Geographicallyandarcheologically,Spitiisalivingmuseum.Themountainsaredevoidofanyvegetationduetoerosionbywind,sunandsnowoverthousandsofyears.OurvehiclesclimbuptothevillageTabo(10000Ft.).Builtintheyear996ACE.HHTheDalaiLamaperformedtheKalachakrateachings/ceremonyherein1996,beingclosestevertoTibet.WereachTaboforlunch.TheChosKhorMonasteryatTaboisthelargestmonasteryinSpitiandoneofthefewremainingexamplesoftheGoldenPeriodofBuddhistCultureintheHimalayanRegion.ThewallfrescosofthemonasteryarecomparableintheirantiquityandqualitytothoseoftheWorldHeritageSiteoftheAjantaCaves.Taboisthusaptlycalled‘AjantaoftheHimalayas’.Ithousesmorethan100Lamas,alargenumberofscripturesandpiecesofart,wallpaintings,tankhasandstucco.ThisafternoonandeveningwevisitTaboMonasteryandvillage;andmeetsomeoftheresidentmonks.Pleasenote:Duetotheremoteregion,thisentirevillageonlyhaselectricityfrom8pmto9pm.Sometimesourhotelmaynotgetanyelectricityatall.Thishotelisthebestoptionandwithrightattitude,youwillenjoyitsauthenticityandarchitecture.Wehavelanternsprovided,whichaddstotheadventureandfun!Sep1DAY9:Tabo-Dankar-Lhalung-Kaza(74km/8hrs)/GrandDewachenRetreat(BLD)RiseearlyjointhemonksintheirmorningPuja(prayer)ceremonyatTabomonastery(5minwalkthroughthevillage).ReturntohotelforbreakfastanddrivetoDhankar,theancientcapitalofSpiti.DankarGompa(12500ft)wasbuiltinthe12thcentury.ThishilltopfortdominatesthesceneinSpitiValley.Itcontainsmorethan160scripturesofLamasandBuddhistsinBhotilanguage.AstatueofDhyanBuddhaconsistingoffourcompletefiguresseatedbacktobackisthemainattractionofthisfour-fivecenturiesoldmonastery.Thismonasterycelebratedamillenniumin2004withHHtheDalaiLama.Next,wedrivetoLhalung,amagnificentvillageofjust45houses.InthisvillagestandsthesecondmostinterestingmonasteryofSpiti.Thecompoundconsistsoffivebuildings.TogetherwiththeunusuallyrichinteriorofLhalung'smainchapelandthefactthatthebuildingofthetemplesisattributedtoRinchenZangpo,suggeststhatthetemplesiteofLhalung,likeTabo,wasdesignedasaChokhorsite,aplaceforlearninganddebateasopposedtoasimplechapelforworshipbythelocalpeople.Ourdrivecontinuesonwardtothecurrentcapitalandoncethecommercialheadquartersofthetraditionalsilkroute,‘KAZA.’Sep2DAY10:Kaza-Ki-Kibber-Gete-Kaza(70km/4hrs)/GrandDewachenRetreat(BLD)TodayisthedayweexperiencethehighestmonasterythathousestheoldestandlargestcollectionofTankhapaintingsintheworld-KiMonastery;thehighestroad-connectedpermanentlyinhabitedvillageinAsia–KibberandthehighestvehiclefueloutletintheworldatKaza.

OntheleftbankofSpitiRiver,theKiGompaoriginallyactedasamonasteryandfort.Somescholarsbelieveitwasbuiltbybetween1008BCand64AD.Otherscholarsdifferbutmostagreeitwasbuiltbeforethe15thcentury.Inthe18thcenturyKiwassubjectedtoseveralattacksduringwarsbetweenprincelystatesofKulluandLadakhin1820andbyarmiesofJammuandKashmirin1841.Todayitisalooselystrungcollectionofroomsthatwererepeatedlyrebuilt.Architecturally,Kifallsinthepasadastylewhichischaracterizedbymulti-storieshigh.Kiistherepositoryofrarethangkapaintingsandseveralancientmusicalinstruments:trumpets,cymbalsanddrums.ItslibraryholdsmanuscriptsofsacredTangyurtexts.Apartfromthecellsoccupiedbythemonks,thegompahasalargedu-khang(assemblychamber)linedwithreligiouspaintingsandotherchambersforworship.Thechamberoftheincarnateabbot,thezimchung,isthehighestpointinthebuilding.KiMonasterywasthelocationoftheKalachakrateachings/ceremonyperformedbyHHtheDalaiLamain2000,anamazingexperience!Sep3DAY11:Kaza-KunzumPass(14931Ft)-RohtangPass(13051Ft)-Manali/BanonResort(BLD)Todayisalongdrive,butoffersawesomebreath-takingviews.AthrillingdriveoverthefamousKunzumPass,en-routevisitLahaulValley.Aptlycallednoman’sland,itisdominatedbyglaciersandrockymountainscutacrossbytheChandraRiver.WepasstheBarShingriGlacier,25kmslongand3kmswide,thelargestglacierinHimachalPradesh.WecontinueovertheRohtangPass,wherewewillstopforrefreshmentsandsoakupthebeauty.Anoptionalshorthorserideisavailabletogoupthesnow-cappedpeak(additionalcost/paydirectly).OnwardtoManali.Sep4DAY12:Manali/BanonResort(BLD)Arelaxedmorningtorecuperatefromthelongdayyesterday.Wewillhaveaneasydayofstrollingaroundthepicturesque“ValleyoftheGods.”VisitDhungriTemple(alsoknownasHadimbaTemplebylocals)andthequaintvillageNagarwithitsmanyancienttemplesincludingthe11th-12thcenturyTempleGauriandtheTripuraSundriDeviTemple.Sep5DAY13:Manali-Kullu-Bir-Baijnath-Taragarh(180km/7hrs)/TaragarhPalace(BLD)DrivethroughKullutoKangra,“ValleyofTemples.”WevisitthemostancientandoldestexistingShivatemplesatBaijnath.OvernightattheTaragarhPalace.Sep6DAY14:Taragarh/TaragarhPalace(BLD)AspectacularlocationwiththeDhauladharstoweringbehindwithitspeaksbetween9500Ft–16000Ftwhichareclearlyvisiblefromhere.Baijnath(5Km)isapleasantlittletownsurroundedbyteaplantations.IthousesoneoftheoldestexistingShivatemples.JustbelowthevillageistheTashijongGompathatisthefocusofasmallTibetancommunitywhohailfromKhamprovinceinTibet.WewillnextvisittheSherabLingMonastery,homeofthe2003Grammywinningchantingmonks.(BestTraditionalWorldMusicAlbum).SherabLingMonasterynestlesinthegentlepine-forestedfoothillsofnorthernIndia'sKangraValley,theseatofitsfounderHisEminenceTiSitupaXII,aleadingTibetanBuddhistteacherandpeacecampaigner.Herethemonksperformmesmerizingprayerceremonies,aspartoftheirdailylives,originatingmanycenturiesagointhegreatBuddhistsmonasteriesofTibet.ThemonksbegintheirdaywiththeLineagePrayer,offeringrespecttoalineofgreatmeditationpractitionersgoingbackasfarasthe7thcentury.TheMahakalaCeremonyispartofeachday'sclosingritualinwhichthemonksaskforpurificationanddedicatetheirblessingstoallsentientcreatures.ReturntotheTaragarhPalacefortheovernight.

Sep7DAY15:Taragarh-Norbulingka-Dharamsala(40km/3hrs)/HotelPrideSuryaMountainResort(BD)OnwaytoDharamsala(McLeodGanj),theofficialresidenceofHHTheDalaiLamaandseatoftheTibetanGovernmentinexilewewillvisittheinstituteofTibetanArtsandHandicraftsNorbulinka.UponarrivalinMcCleodGanj,wevisitthecenterofTibetanMedicineandAstrology,theTibetanGovtSecretariat.EveningyouarefreetoexploretheTibetanMarkets.Sep8DAY16:Dharamsala-Amritsar(175km/5hrs)/HotelRamada(BLD)Afterbreakfast,wedrivetoAmritsar,inthestateofPunjab,intheHimalayanfoothillscalledtheShivaliks.Amritsar,homeoftheGoldenTemple,isoneofthemostancientandfascinatingcitiesinIndia.ItisanimportantseatofSikhhistoryandculture.BeingthegatewayfortravelerscomingtoIndiaontheoverlandroutefromCentralAsia,itsoonbecamethecenterofvariouscommercialactivities.TheGoldenTemplewasfoundedbythefourthGuruoftheSikhs,GuruRamdas,andcompletedbyhissuccessorGuruArjanDev.Itisfamousforitsfullgoldendome,oneofthemostsacredpilgrimsitesforSikhs.TheMandirisbuiltona67-footsquareofmarbleandisatwo-storiedstructure.MaharajaRanjitSinghhadtheupperhalfofthebuildingbuiltwithapproximately400kgofgoldleaf.TheGoldenTempleissurroundedbyanumberofothertemples,suchastheDurgianaTemple.AfterlunchwevisittheGoldenTempleoftheSikhs.Wewillcircumambulatethetemple,stoppingperiodicallyformomentsofquietreflection.Thetemplecomplexislikeasmallcommunity,filledwithmanydifferentactivities.Wewillvisitthekitchenwherevolunteersthroughoutthedaypreparefreemeals;thetemplewheretheholybook,AadGuruSahib,isreadaloudfrom4amto10pmdaily;andobservedevotionalrituals.Inthelateafternoondrive32km(20miles)toWagah,thebordertownbetweenIndiaandPakistan,toarrivejustbeforesunsettowitnesstheflagceremonybetweenthesetwocountriesthatwereonceone.WewillsitontheIndiasidewiththelocalsforanexcitinghigh-kicking,toe-stepping,quick-marchingceremonywhereintheIndianandPakistaniflagsareloweredoneithersideoftheonlyborderthatremainsopenbetweenthetwocountries.Anumberofofficersfromeachteamputonaperformancetothesatisfactionofthecheering,chantingcrowds,seatedonconcretegrandstandsoneitherside.Theexerciseendswiththeslammingofthebordergates,atwhichtimeeachside'sflagisurgentlycarriedtoaroomforovernightsafekeeping.TheFlagCeremonyisatouching,memorableexperience.Weenjoyourfarewelldinnerataspecialrestaurantandcanreturnafterdinnertoseethetemplecomplexalllitup.Sep9DAY17:Amritsar–Delhi(B)Morningatleisure.Transfertoairportforflight9W373dep.1430/arr.1555.Onarrival,transfertohotelbytheairport-roomsforwash,changetil9pm.Latenighttransfertoairportforflighthome.Price:$4270perpersonbasedonminimum4people,SingleRoomSupplement$920PlusAirfare:(estimate/exactpriceTBDwhenbooked)Amritsar-Delhi$110OptionalArrive1dayearly,DelhiHotel:$68perpersontwinshare;singleroom$125PlusArrivalTransferifnotarrivingDay1:$45percarIncludes:AccommodationwithmealsaslistedTwonightsDelhiatLalitHotel5*http://www.thelalit.com/the-lalit-new-delhi/(B,1L,1D)OnenightShimlaatHotelMarina,deluxeroomhttp://www.marinashimla.com/B,L,D)

OnenightSarahanatHotelSrikhandhttp://hotel-srikhand-sarahan-shimla.hotelsgds.com/(B,L,D)TwonightsKalpaatKinnerVilla(B,L,D)http://www.kinnervilla.com/(B,L,D)OnenightNakoatKinnerCamp(B,L,D)http://www.kinnercamps.com/nako.html(B,L,D)OnenightTaboatDewachenRetreathttp://www.dewachenretreats.com/orTrozenGuestHouse(B,L,D)TwonightsKazaatGrandDewachenRetreathttp://www.dewachenretreats.com/(B,L,D)TwonightsManaliatHotelBanonResortsdeluxeroomhttp://www.banonresortmanali.com/(B,L,D)TwonightsTaragarhatTaragarhPalacehttp://www.taragrah.com(B,L,D)OnenightDharamsalaatChonorHouse,http://www.norbulingka.org/chonor-house.html(B,L,D)http://www.pridehotel.com/dharamshala/pride-hotel-dharamshala/overview/(B,L,D)OnenightAmritsaratHotelRamadahttp://ramadaamritsar.com/(B,L,D)RoomsforWash/ChangeatPridePlazaHotel(B)TransportasperitineraryinacToyotaInnovainDelhi&NonA/CInnova4wd(3peoplepervehicle)inHimalayasasperitinerary.AllarrivalanddeparturetransfersonthearrivalanddeparturedatesofthetourDelhisightseeingwithProfessionalLocalGuideAccompanyingEscort/GuidethroughoutthejourneyMonuments,TemplesandMonasteriesentrancefeesTrainticketACExecutiveClassCarDelhitoChandigarhAllmealsstartingday2;exceptnodinnerlastnightaseveryonehasadifferentdeparturetimeOnebeveragewithlunch&dinner”softdrink,juice,water,coffee,tea.2bottlesofmineralwaterperday/perpersoninthevehicleduringdrives.Portertipsathotels,railwaystationanddomesticairports.InnerLinePermitsIndiaGovServiceTax5%Doesnotinclude:InternationalAirfare,VisaFee,VisaServices,Tripcancellation/travelinsurance,Mealsotherthanmentionedabove,Cameraandvideofees(ifany),Tipstodriversandguide,Anyexpenditureofpersonalnaturesuchasdrinks,telephonecalls,laundry.NOTES

Inthisregion,thedaysbeginearly,7am,andendearly5-6pm.

Alldrivetimesareapproximate.Drivescanbelongerduetounpredictablesituations,roadconditionsandlocaleventsthatmayslowtrafficaswellashowlongwestopinvariousplacesalongtheway.

Thedayswillbeapleasant62-68degrees;thenightscanbechilly,45-55degreesinafewareas.Twoorthreenightstherewillnotbeinroomheaters,butgoodheavyblankets.Bringyourlongjohns!

Wehaveplannedthedatestakingintoconsiderationtheonslaughtofmonsoons,usuallyhappeningbetweenendofJulyandfirstweekofAugustintheNorthernHimalayas.Howeverbecauseofchangeinweatherconditionsworldwide,especiallyinecofragileareasliketheIndianHimalayas,ithasbecomeunpredictable.Bringarainponcho!

Sequenceofactivitiessubjecttochangeduetoanynumberofunpredictablecircumstances.Pleasetrustthatyourguide,Sanjay,theutmostexpertinthisregion,ismakingthebestjudgmentcallsandallyourdesiresforthistripwillbefulfilledplussome.

JoinourLadakhFestivalTourfollowingAncientCultures:

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Discount:$200perpersonforbookingthetwotoursconsecutively.Anadditionalcreditof$135twinshareor$235singleroomisgivenontheLadakhtourforhotelsinDelhinotneededSep11&12.