ITINERARY:

Down the Indus, between Khalatse and the Shayok-Indus confluence, live a people, known as Drok-pa, who are Buddhists by faith, but racially and culturally distinct from the rest of the Ladakhis. Two of the five villages inhabited by them, Da and Biama are now open to foreign tourists. The route follows the Indus river down from Khalatse, past the villages of Domkhar, Skurbuchan and Achinathang, along a fairly good road.

In the Indus gorge, where these villages are situated, the sun's heat is frequently intense which makes it possible to grow two crops every year in the fields. Fruits such as apricots, apples, walnuts and grapes are grown. Skurbuchan, Domkhar and Achina-thang are attractive villages, with an air of modest prosperity about them. But the special interest of this region is its Drok-pa inhabitants. A minuscule community of perhaps no more than a couple of thousand, their features are pure Indo-Aryan, and they appear to have preserved their racial purity downs the centuries. Their culture and religious practices are more akin to the ancient pre-Buddhist animist religion, known as Bon-chos, than to Buddhism as practiced in the rest of Ladakh. One curious feature is their abhorrence of the cow or any of its products. They have preserved their ancient traditions and way of life partly through the celebration of the triennial Bono-na festival, a celebration of the harvest, and partly through the songs and hymns.

One of these is a description of an ibex-hunt, for the ibex is especially sacred to them. Another recalls their migration from Gilgit, an event which must have occurred well before it came under the influence of Islam. Their language is said to be akin to that spoken in Gilgit, and by the immigrants from Gilgit settled in Drass.

Day 01: Leh - Phyang - Basco - Likir - Alchi. (72 Km)
Morning, after breakfast drive to Alchi with packed lunch. Enroute visit Phyang monastery, Basgo Fort and Likir Monastery. Evening visit Alchi monastery and village. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Alchi.

PHYANG GOMPA:
17 Kms from Leh on the Leh-Kargil road, it looks like a huge palace from afar, build by Tashi Namgyal in the later half of the 16th century AD, it belongs to the Red Cap sect of Buddhists. Hundreds of icon of Buddha and other gods are kept on wooden shelves.

BASGO GOMPA:
40 Kms downstream from Leh, it was the seat of power of branch of a Namgyal family. It was here in 1680 that invading Mongol and Tibetan armies were held in check over a three year old siege. Original 16th century murals and other arts at Basgo are well worth a visit.

LIKIR GOMPA:
Founded in the 11th century and rededicated to a different monastic order in the 15th century, its earlier Gompa was destroyed in a fire. The present Gompa dated back to the 18th century. Skilled craftsmen producing excellent Thankas, earthen pots and carved wooden folding stools, live here in the village. Majestically situated, Likir commands a spectacular view. A magnificent giant Jupiter tree, one of the few survivors of its species, stands in the courtyard.

ALCHI GOMPA:
70 Kms from Leh, on the banks of the Indus, is the Alchi Gompa dating a thousand years back. One of its walls features thousands of miniature sized pictures of the Buddha. Three large sized images made of clay and painted brightly are its focal attractions. No longer an active religious center, it is looked after by monks from the Liker monastery. This is the only monastery amongst 34 monasteries, which is not located on a hilltop.

Day 02: Alchi - Lamayuru - Skurbuchan. (135 Km)
Morning, after breakfast drive to Lamayuru (65km, 3 hours of car) visit of the monastery. After the visit, have packed lunch near the monastery. Later drive to Skurbuchan, which is about 70 Kms from there and it takes about 3 hours to reach there. Dinner and overnight camp near the village.

LAMAYURU GOMPA:
The oldest holy site in Ladakh, it was a bon shrine prior to the advent of Buddhism. Also known as Yung Drung (Swastika) it is sited on a high promontory overlooking the village and valley. For sheer spectacle value no other Gompa can match Lamayuru.

Day 03: Skurbuchan - Dha Hanu - Skurbuchan
Morning, after breakfast drive to Dha Hanu, at 20km of Skurbuchan Down the Indus between Khalse and the Shayok-Indus confluence lives the people known as Drokpa. After the village visit drive back to Skurbuchan village. Dinner and overnight camp near the village.

Day 04: Skurbuchan - Leh. (207 Km)
Morning, after breakfast drive back to Leh. Enroute have picnic lunch and arrive Leh in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Hotel in Leh.