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Tribals of Ladakh

Like the land itself, the people of Ladakh are generally quite different from those of the rest of India. The faces and physique of the Ladakhis, and the clothes they wear, are more akin to those of Tibet and Central Asia than of India. The original population may have been Dards, an Indo-Aryan race down from the Indus and the Gilgit area. But immigration from Tibet, perhaps a millennium or so ago, largely overwhelmed the culture of the Dards and obliterated their racial characteristics.

In eastern and central Ladakh, today's population seems to be mostly of Tibetan origin. Further west, in and around Kargil, the people's appearance suggests a mixed origin. The exception to this generalisation is the Arghons, a community of Muslims in Leh, originated as a result of marriages between local women and Kashmiri or Central Asian merchants.

Ladakh was the conduit through which Buddhism reached Tibet from India and in the process it got deeply entrenched in the region from the very beginning. There are ancient Buddhist rock engravings all over the region, even in the areas like Dras and the lower Suru Valley which today are inhabited by an exclusively Muslim population. The divide between Muslim and Buddhist Ladakh passes through Mulbekh (on the Kargil-Leh road) and between the villages of Parkachik and Rangdum in the Suru Valley, though there are pockets of Muslim population further east, in Padum (Zanskar), in Nubra Valley and in and around Leh. The approach to a Buddhist village is invariably marked by many walls which are long, chest-high structures faced with engraved stones bearing Buddhist mantra, and by chorten (commemorative cairns) Many villages are crowned with a Gompa or monastery, which may be anything from an imposing complex of temples, prayer halls and monks' dwellings, to a tiny heritage housing a single image and home to a solitary lama.


Duration - 7 Nights / 8 Days
Places to See - Leh - Tso Moriri - Leh

Day 1 : Arrive Leh
On arrival at the airport you are transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure to acclimatize. Evening enjoy a short walk around the Leh bazaar to enjoy the nature life of the people. Overnight at hotel.

Day 2 : In Leh
Morning a half-day visit to the Stok Palace and Museum and on the way back visit the Tibetan Refugee Camp at Choglamasar. Afternoon visit the King's Palace and Tsemo Gompa. Overnight at hotel.

Day 3 : In Leh
Early morning visit the Thiksey Monastery to witness the praying ceremony. Thereupon visit Hemis Monastery and the Shey Palace. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at hotel.

Day 4 : Leh / Chumathang / Tso Moriri Lake
Morning drive to Chumathang halting en route at Upshi for passport checking. Chumathang is famous for its medical hot spring and people visit here for medical bath. Visit the Chumathang Monastery. Drive on to Maha Bridge the main checking point to enter into this new area. From here the road is rough. Visit the Sumdah village. Drive on another 55kms and you reach Tso Moriri. Check into Camp. Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at Camp.

Day 5 : In Tso Moriri
Morning visit Korzok village and its Gompa that appears like a mirage. Afternoon a visit around the Lake. Overnight at Camp.

Day 6 : Tso Moriri / Leh
Morning drive towards the Puga Valley and visit Mahe village. The village is an unforgettable scene of shooting fountain and white clouds hanging upon. This is Butane gas for which Puga valley is famous. Drive on to Tsokar via Polokongka Pass (13500feet) and visit Tsokar (the Small Lake) and the Thugke Gompa. The place is famous for wild asses. From here a short drive brings you on the National Highway route (Leh - Manali). Continue drive towards Leh via the Tanglangla Pass (5350m), which is the second highest motorable pass in the world. Arrive Leh in the evening and check into your hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 7 : In Leh
Morning a half-day excursion to Spituk and Phyang Monastery. Afternoon visit the Shanker Gompa. Overnight at hotel.

Day 8 : Depart Leh
Today you are transferred to the airport to board your flight for onward journey.