Ladakh & Zanskar to Kishtwar over the Umasi La Pass Trek
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Duration16 Days
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Region
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Category
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Best Time
- June - September
Introduction
Trek Grade: Difficult
A fairly demanding high altitude trek, starting with first arriving into Leh in Ladakh, driving to Zanskar, then over the Umasi La pass (5,300 meters), this trek takes you into the lesser known Sumchan valley. End the trek in the Kishtwar region located between Jammu and Kashmir after crossing the Great Himalayan Divide Ranges which separate the Himalayas from the Zanskar and further, Karakorams.
Starting with the Buddhist Lama culture of Ladakh and Zanskar with their beautiful monasteries and then crossing into the mixture of Hindu culture with their temples and Muslim culture with their mosques while in Kishtwar, gives a great cultural immersion too on this trek. With Ladakh and Zanskar being a cold high altitude desert and Kishtwar a green meadows and forests of Oak, Fir, Pine, Spruce, Deodar, Wilows and Paper Brush, makes for a great contrast. Along with the vast wilderness and natural beauty of the region makes this trek both challenging with spectacular views of the Himalayan Ranges and a kleidoscope of cultures. This trek route was also used by medieval armies to cross over from the regions of Punjab and Jammu to go on their path of conquest into Zanskar, Ladakh and Western Tibet.
After crossing the Umasi La pass and passing through the Sapphire and Emerald mines end the trek at the village Machail, pass many beautiful villages with traditional Paddari home i.e. Garh, Kundel, Chishoti, Jashail etc located in the Paddar region. Crossing Machail the Buddhist culture starts to appear which has a close links with Zanskari for centuries.
All through the trek you will get amazing views of peaks like Mounts Kishtwar Shivling (5,935 meters), Hagshu (6,515 meters), Barnaj (6,327 meters), Chiring (6,559 meters), Nun (7,135 meters), Kun (7,077 meters) and many more lesser and unnamed peaks.
Destinations Covered
Delhi
The City of GloryDelhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world, along with Jerusalem and Varanasi. It is the Capital Territory of India and a modern-day citadel that's dotted with ancient monuments.
History and Culture
Legend estimates it to be over 5,000 years old. Over the millennia, Delhi is said to have been built and destroyed 11 times. The oldest alleged incarnation of the city shows up in the Indian mythological epic Mahabharata as Indraprastha.
Leh Ladakh
A land of scenic beauty and creations
Padum
Padum is named after Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) the founder of Tibetan Buddhism and serves as the starting point for several treks in the Ladakh region. Located at the center of the tri-armed Zanskar valley, the average elevation of Padum is 3,657 meters and there are several villages to its north east leading to Karsha Monastery.
Doksa
A seasonal settlement (typically occupied in the summer) established by herders in the Himalayas
Pullo
We will continue our upstream trek towards the Umasi La base camp near the Haptal glacier. The trail is a gradual ascent after crossing a rock bridge.
We will set up camp by the stream close to the terminal moriane of the glacier looking back across the Zanskar River Valley.
Ruwa Camp
Enjoy the views while approaching and after crossing the top of the pass with the surrounding Zanskar Ranges to the West and the Kishtwar Ranges to the East. Walking over glaciers and snow fields and snow slopes, the descend towards Kishtwar is again very steep and along a glacier. It involves trekking on snow fields and negotiating a number of crevasses along the glacier which is why ice craft becomes indispensable during the descent. The trail emerges near a rock shelter known as Ruwa, a small portion of dry land surrounded by glaciers
Kach Pansar
We will need to start the trek early. Trail starts with a kilometer long steep descent from the campsite onto the glacier. A 3 kilometer traverse on the glacier will bring you to a boulder field which is about 2 kms long. From here on, it is an easy descent till Kach Pansar.
You will be able to see breath-taking views of the tree line and meadows of Paddar valley with oak and ceder trees.
Machail
Machail chandi Mata temple is a Goddess Durga shrine popularly known as Machail Mata. It is in the village Machail of Sub Division Paddar, from where it derives its name, in Kishtwar District of Jammu region in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It may be noted that Goddess Durga is also known by the name Kaali or Chandi.
Massu Village
Massu is a Village in Padder Block in Kishtwar District of Jammu & Kashmir State, India. It is located 42 KM towards East from District head quarters Kishtwar. 180 KM from State capital Srinagar, Jammu.
Massu is surrounded by Bhalessa(Gandoh) Block towards South, Drabshalla Block towards west, Kishtwar Block towards west, Dachhan Block towards west.
Jammu
Jammu is the winter capital of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is the headquarters and the largest city in the Jammu district of the union territory. Lying on the banks of the river Tawi, the city of Jammu, with an area of 240 km2 (93 sq mi),[3] is surrounded by the Himalayas in the north and the northern plains in the south. Jammu is the second most populous city of the union territory.
Detailed Itinerary
- Day 1 ARRIVE DELHI
- Day 2 FLY DELHI – LEH
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Day 3
LEH – SHEY – THIKSEY – HEMIS – LEH
Leh Ladakh
After breakfast explore some of Ladakh's ancient Monasteries. A picnic lunch is provided.
Hemis Monastery is situated west of Leh and by the Indus River, Hemis Monastery is one of the biggest in Ladakh. The monastery belongs to Dugpa Kargyutpa order and is built on a green hillside hidden in a gorge. Most of the complex is well maintained and the temples are ornately built. Some of the artwork and images inside the temples are recent.
The Monastery relates to the Gyalwang and Drukpa family. Drukpa is believed to be the sacred image of the Hemis Monastery. The two important elements of the Monastery are Dukhang and Tshongkhang. Many festivals are celebrated in this Monastery. The Hemis festival is related to Lord Padmasambhava’s appreciation for the dance performed at this Monastery, which showed re-embody of the Buddha. Main attractions of the festival are the striking masks and the beautiful Tantric dance performed by the Lamas.
The Monastery also has a Museum providing a rich display of artifacts.
Thiksey Monstery It belongs to the Gelukpa order. The monastery is also known as ‘Mini Pota La’ of India as it resembles the Palace of PotaLa which is in Lhasa, Tibet. In whole of Ladakh, probably the most striking statue of the Maitreya (future Buddha) is located here and covers about two floors. Secondly, it provides a spectacular view of the landscape including the Indus River. The Monastery has many temples including the protected temple, the Tara Devi with many very precious statues and artifacts.
Shey Gompa and Palace is situated south of Leh and was the seat of power of the first king of Ladakh, Lhachen Spalgigon, who constructed the hill top fortress. The ruins can be seen further above the present Shey Palace. There are hundreds of Chortens (stupas) and Dresthang Gompa built around the palace, which are under the Thiksey Monastery. King Deldan Namgyal built Shey Palace in the beginning of the 17th century AD. The main image in the monastery is the three-storey statue of Buddha Shakyamunimade of copper guilt, which was made by Deldan Namgyal in the memory of his father Singay Namgyal. The statue is the only of its kind in the region. Dresthang Gompa near the palace was built during the reign of King Singay Namgyal, with a three-storey statue of Buddha. "SheySrubla" festival is also held here at Dresthung Gompa. The Rock-carved statue of five Buddha can be seen below the palace on the roadside, which was probably carved during the reign of Singay Namgyal.
Return to the hotel.
Overnight at hotel (B, L, D)
- Day 4 LEH – MATHO – STOK – LEH
- Day 5 DRIVE FROM LEH TO PADUM (3,670M) (Approx. 150 miles | 240 Kms | 8 – 9 Hours Drives)
- Day 6 ACCLIMATISATION DAY AT PADUM (Approx. 3 Hours’ Drive)
- Day 7 DRIVE FROM PADUM TO ZONGKUL (3,859M) (Approx. 38 miles | 60 Kms | 2 Hours Drives) & TREK FROM ZONGKUL TO DOKSA (3,670M) (Trek for 10 Kms taking approx. 3 Hours)
- Day 8 TREK FROM DOKSA TO PULLO/BASE CAMP (4,482M). (Trek for 5 Kms / Approx. 4 Hours)
- Day 9 TREK FROM PULLO TO RUWA CAMP (4,537M) VIA OMASI LA (5,314M) (Trek 9 Kms taking approx. 8-9 Hours)
- Day 10 TREK FROM RUWA CAMP TO KACH PANSAR (3,981M) (Trek for 14 Kms taking approx. 7 Hours)
- Day 11 Rest Day.
- Day 12 TREK FROM KACH PANSAR TO MACHAIL (2,792M) VIA SUNCHAM (3,187M) (Trek for 21 Kms approx. 6-7 Hours)
- Day 13 TREK FROM MACHAIL TO MASSU (1,983M) (Trek for 21 Kms approx. 8 hours)
- Day 14 DRIVE FROM MASSU-GULABGARH-KISHTWAR TO JAMMU (Approx. 175 miles | 280 Kms | 9 Hours Drives)
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Day 15
FLY JAMMU TO DELHI
Delhi
After breakfast check-out from the hotel and drive to Jammu airport to board the flight for Delhi.
Depart Jammu 09:45 Hrs. Indigo Airlines # 6E-6078 Arrive Delhi 11:05 Hrs. Arrival Delhi airport, our representative will meet & assist you to transferred to the hotel.
Afternoon we set-off for sightseeing of the city.
Delhi is a dynamic city where the past coexists with the present. While historic evidence shows that the area around Delhi was first occupied around 2,500 years ago, Hindu mythology predates that by another 500 years. The British captured the city in 1803 and when they decided to make it the capital of India in 1911, they commissioned Sir Edwin Lutyens to draw up the plans. The result is slightly surprising with spacious tree-lined avenues punctuated with architecture which is among the most striking in the world.
On the tour of “Old Delhi,” you will head out to explore this exotic locale with its narrow dirt roads, myriads of people and inexpensive and colorful bazaars that keep alive the traditional workmanship for which Delhi has always been famous.
Drive past Red Fort and visit the Jama Masjid, one of the largest Muslim mosques in India. A bicycle rickshaw will take you into the heart of Chandni Chowk (the silver square - so named because of the silver merchants).
Drive past India Gate, a 42-metre archway built in memory of Indian soldiers killed during the First World War and Rashtrapati Bhawan, built in the early 20th century as the Imperial residence of the Viceroy. Today, it is the official residence of the President of India.
Conclude the day by visiting the Delhi's most striking monument, The Qutub Minar, which looms majestically across the wide plains of Delhi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was constructed in 1192 by Qutub-Ud-Din Aibak. Built in red sandstone and marble, it has a height of 72.5 meters (237.8 ft) and contains 379 stairs. A Soaring conical tower, it is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Afghan architecture and is the tallest minaret in India.
Overnight at hotel (B)
- Day 16 FLY DELHI & DEPARTURE
