Sakyadhita Australia Fundraising Pilgrimage to Ladakh and Dharamsala

Welcome to incredible India! Upon your arrival at the airport in Delhi, our representative will greet you and escort you to your hotel. After checking in, spend the rest of your day at your leisure exploring the local area or relaxing in the hotel. Our friendly guide and hotel staff will be on hand should you need restaurant recommendations or general provisions.

Overnight: Aloft Hotel, Delhi Aerocity

This morning, we will fly to Leh, the spectacular capital of Ladakh. The flight is a fantastic photo opportunity as it passes over multiple Himalayan ranges.

After arriving in Leh we’ll check into our hotel. Leh is framed on all sides by the towering Himalayas, with the mighty Indus River roaring in the valley below. After a rest to acclimatise, we’ll take a walking tour of Leh, which was an important stop on trade routes dating as far back as the third century.

In the evening we’ll meet for a welcome dinner in one of Leh’s traditional restaurants.

Overnight: Ashoka Hotel, Leh

After breakfast, we’ll visit Gompa Soma, a Buddhist temple constructed in 1840 at the base of the towering Leh Palace. Afterwards, we’ll head to Moti Market for an exploration of Leh’s old bazaar, which has a rich history that can be traced back to the Asian spice trade. The afternoon is yours to rest, explore, or sip traditional Tibetan butter tea at your leisure.

Overnight: Ashoka Hotel, Leh

After an early breakfast we will travel to Hemis Monastery, the largest and richest monastery in all of Ladakh. The striking monastery is surrounded by barren mountains and houses a large collection of religious artefacts, including a copper gilded statue of Lord Buddha.

In the afternoon, we’ll return to Leh for a guided tour of the city, including a visit to Leh Palace. Constructed in the 17th century, this imposing nine-story stone palace is one of the most captivating architectural ruins in the region. Situated in the foothills of the barren landscape, the palace was built as a residence for the King and to mark the reunification of Upper and Lower Ladakh. Above the palace, on Namgyal Tsemo (Victory Peak), are the ruins of Leh’s earliest royal residence, a fortress type structure built by King Tashi Namgyal in the 16th century.

Overnight: Ashoka Hotel, Leh

After breakfast we’ll set out for a day exploring Stok Palace, Shey Palace and Thiksey Monastery. Stok Palace is the home of the present-day royal family. The palace and accompanying museum were built in 1825 by King Tespal Thondup Namgyal. At present the palace has a collection of elaborate royal dresses and crowns on display.

Shey Palace was built by Deldan Namgyal at the beginning of the 17th century AD. The main image in the monastery is a three-story statue of Buddha Shakyamuni made of copper gilt, created in the memory of Deldan Namgyal’s father Singay Namgyal. The statue is the only one of its kind in the region.

Thiksey Gompa belongs to the Gelugpa order of Buddhism, and is considered to be the most beautiful of all the monasteries in Ladakh.

After our day of sightseeing, we’ll return to Leh in the evening to rest and eat dinner.

Overnight: Ashoka Hotel, Leh

Today we’ll visit the Ladakh Nuns Association, which was founded in 1996 by Dr. Tsering Palmo with the aim of reviving and rejuvenating the tradition of nuns in Ladakh. The organisation aims to raise the education level of local nuns and to give them a way to study and practice the Dharma.

We’ll return to our hotel in the afternoon to rest and eat dinner.

Overnight: Ashoka Hotel, Leh

Today we’ll take a day trip to Alchi, an ancient Buddhist village on the banks of the Indus River. Alchi Gompa is considered one of the oldest Buddhist sites in the region, dating back to the 10th Century. We’ll spend the morning observing the comings and goings of the monastery and browsing for handicrafts. Our afternoon drive back to Leh offers a spectacular setting for final thoughts and reflection on our journey and discoveries in Ladakh.

Overnight: Ashoka Hotel, Leh

After breakfast we’ll leave Leh and fly to Jammu. On arrival in Jammu, we’ll continue our journey to Dharamsala by private vehicle (approximately 4.5 hours’ drive). When we reach Dharamsala we’ll check into our accommodation at the Norbulingka Institute. Dharamsala is rich with Tibetan Buddhist culture and the spectacular Dhauladhar mountains provide a stunning backdrop. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.

Overnight: Norling Guest House, Dharamsala

After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll explore the Norbulingka Institute, which works to preserve traditional Tibetan culture and art forms. We’ll tour the workshops, where you can meet the artisans as they work.

After that, we’ll take a walking tour of two local nunneries. At Dolma Ling Nunnery we’ll meet with the resident nuns and witness how the monastery operates at a communal level. We’ll then walk to Thosamling Nunnery, where we’ll meet with Ven. Sangmo who established the first nunnery for Westerners in India around 20 years ago.

The rest of the afternoon is free to relax and explore the local area.

Overnight: Norling Guest House, Dharamsala

After breakfast we’ll visit the Tibetan Children’s Village (opening hours permitting), a thriving educational community for Tibetan children living in exile, and/or Jamyang Choeling Nunnery, located on the outskirts of Dharamsala.

We’ll then make our way to McLeod Ganj, where we’ll absorb Tibetan culture as we explore this vibrant hill station. We’ll visit the temple of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Namgyal Monastery, where you can turn giant prayer wheels and observe the monks going about their daily activities. Following that we’ll visit the Tibetan Museum. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to stroll around the streets of McLeod Ganj for souvenir shopping in the Tibetan markets. We’ll return to our hotel late in the afternoon.

Overnight: Norling Guest House, Dharamsala

After breakfast we’ll set out for a day visiting significant monasteries and nunneries in the area. First we’ll visit the Gyoto Monastery, a secluded and peaceful haven specialising in the study of tantric meditation, tantric ritual arts and Buddhist philosophy. Following that, we’ll pay a visit to Tashi Jong, one of the oldest monasteries in the region.

After lunch we’ll head to Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery (DGL), where we’ll meet with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo (her schedule permitting). In the late afternoon we will return to our hotel.

Overnight: Norling Guest House, Dharamsala

Optional Extras, Dharamsala

Today is a free day. You may wish to take part in one of the following optional extras:

1. a) hike to the lower reaches of the Himalayan foothills,
2. b) village tour and traditional cooking class with a local family,
3. c) visit a heritage tea estate,
4. e) explore the markets for souvenir shopping

In the late afternoon we’ll return to Dolma Ling Nunnery for a lamp light ceremony and a farewell dinner.

Overnight: Norling Guest House, Dharamsala

After breakfast we will fly back to Delhi. The rest of the day is at your leisure to enjoy any last-minute sightseeing or shopping.

As an optional extra you can visit the National Museum, which houses the Sacred Relics of the Buddha (5th-4th century BC) which were discovered in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The relics are outstanding specimens of Buddhist art and are illustrated through exhibits that incorporate the three principal Buddhist branches, Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.

Overnight: Aloft Hotel, Delhi Aerocity

Our pilgrimage concludes after breakfast. We will transfer you to the airport for your onward international or domestic flight. We look forward to seeing you on another Ekno experience soon.