Visit the pristine and beautiful hamlet Marling, a hidden gem of Zanskar valley of Ladakh.
Visit the pristine and beautiful hamlet Marling, a hidden gem of Zanskar valley of Ladakh.
Take yourself somewhere in the mountains – where water flows freely, where the birds sing the songs of freedom and caged around mountains doesn’t advertise captivity. Smelling the wild dandelions connecting to the earth, find yourself close to the nature. Meet the home away from home, families unknown yet seemingly known.
Marling a Hamlet of some 8 families, is one of the many small hamlets scattered over the diverse valley of Lungnak region of Zanskar. this small village standout from the rest, as this village is the first village which makes it literally the oldest village of Zanskar. The first inhabitants of Zanskar are believed to have settled here, The place which the nomads choose to settle.
Leh Airport (Google Map)
You will be picked up at the airport to take you to the hotel, where you can just relax and take it slow for a better high altitude acclimatization. No activities for today as this is absolutely necessary for the adjustment to the thin air. Take a stroll to the local market in the evening if you like to. Overnight stay at your hotel in Leh.
Today we will explore some of the monasteries around Leh. After breakfast, after a drive of 15 km take a visit to the monastery and palace of Shey. Gilded copper statue of Shakyamuni Buddha here is a must see. Later we’ll visit the Potala palace resembling monastery of Thiksey and then the Hemis Monastery, the largest monastery of Ladakh. The museum here walks you through the history of Ladakh’s Buddhism.
After a relaxed breakfast, drive to Kargil via Lamayuru. On the way, you can visit the 10th century built Alchi Monastery to see the ancient Gandhara arts statues and wall paintings. On the way, you can visit the dramatically located Lamayuru monastery and the adjoining “Moonland” hills. After a drive of 5-6 hours, we’ll reach Kargil city. Stay overnight at the Hotel.
Today we embark our journey to the Zanskar valley. We ride through the roads which only leaves one speechless. Suru valley very well symbolises the beauty of the mountains. We pass by Penzi La, the gateway to Zanskar. In the middle the Drang Drung Glacier greets us to the eastern flank of Penzi La. Padum town holds a good amount population in so much seclusion too.
Padum, named after the Great Odiyana Padmasambhava is the only town and administrative centre in Zanskar. Several notable Buddhist monasteries are located near Padum including Bardan Monastery and Karsha Monastery and the newly built Dalai Lama Photang. The best way out is to soak in the beauty of nature by reclining and soothing oneself in the laps of Great Himalayas.
From Padum we’ll drive alongside Tsarap River to reach village Anmu. We’ll halt at Barden monastery by the road to take a visit and watch some beautiful Tibetan arts. After a good freshly cooked Lunch, go for a stroll around the village to watch the different activities performed by the villagers. In the evening return back to the homestays you are provided for a delicious dinner.
After having a healthy breakfast we will drive towards Cha village, which is a half hour drive from the village of Anmu. From Cha, we have to walk for 3 to 4 hours to reach the oldest village of Marling. Here you will be welcomed by the villagers in the homestays. Take a good rest and after having tea we’ll go outside to explore the village. You can try activities like making butter and dry cheese.
With footprints left and memories to cherish start walking back towards Cha village. Continue on the road until Purne and then cross the bridge to start climbing towards Cha. The pickup taxi would be waiting at Cha as the trekking comes to an end. Another 3 to 4hr ride through the dusty road and you will be at Padum. Stay overnight at the Hotel in Padum.
After morning breakfast proceed to Rangdum monastery. A few hours of drive from Padum you will be climbing the Penzila pass(4200m). This area is very scenic and you will find many shepherd huts here. Rangdum monastery is an important temple of Zanskar. Built in the 18th century, the monastery belongs to the Gelugpa order of Buddhism and home to some 40 monks.
Today we will drive towards Kargil. After a few hours of drive from Rangdum, we enter into the Suru valley, where you will enjoy the view of massive Nun and Kun peaks and the Parkachik glacier. There are many other unnamed Glaciered peaks on the way. By noon you will be at Kargil the second largest town in Ladakh after Leh. In Kargil stay overnight at Hotel.
Today is the last day of the journey. After breakfast, riding some half an hour en-route visit the monastery and the nine meters tall statue of Maitreya, the Future Buddha at Mulbekh. Ride for 3 hours to reach Likir monastery the splendid three storeys Dharma wheel Gompa. Our 7-day journey finally comes to an end as we reach back to the hustle bustle of Leh town.
