Manali - Chandratal Luxury Mobile Camping
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Places covered: Delhi - Manali - Dadarpul - Chandratal - Rangrik - Dhankar - Tabo
Detailed itinerary:
Day 1 Manali
On arrival at Manali, check into your hotel. Enjoy the day at leisure to acclimatize. Situated at an altitude of 1,950 m in the Beas River Valley, Manali is one of the most popular and important hill stations in the North. A neighbour to Kullu, another popular hill station, Manali is said to home of the Saptarishis.
You can go sightseeing on your leisure time. Not to be missed are the Hidimba Temple, Manu Temple, Van Vihar among others.
Overnight at Manali.
Day 2 Manali - Dadarpul
This morning carry a packed lunch and start your journey, leaving the lush green countryside of Manali towards Rohtang Pass (3,978 Mts.). Few places on the Earth can mark so dramatic a change in landscape as the Rohtang Pass. To one side, the lush green head of Kullu Valley and to the other, an awesome vista of bare, chocolate–colored mountains, hanging glaciers and snowfields that shine in the dazzlingly crisp fight.
As you cross to the other side and to a place called Gramphu, leave the main Leh - Manali Highway and enter into Chandra Valley and continue driving all along the Chandra River. Slowly the Valley opens and you get introduced to magnificent Himalayan Ranges of Chandra & Bhaga, famously called as CB Range. This area in particular is very popular for Mountain Expeditions.
The route veers to the left of the base of the immense Bara Shigri Glacier and is several kilometers wide at its widest. The Bara Shigri is the largest glacier of the Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It opens out onto the Chandra Valley and adds its waters to the River.
Arrive at the camp and settle down. Overnight at Dadarpul.
Day 3 Dadarpul - Chandratal
This morning drive from Dadarpul towards Batal and from there take a narrow track to Chandratal Lake. he first sight of this wondrous lake takes ones breaths away, with its shores ringed with meadows carpeted with hundreds of varieties of alpine flowers. Further drive along the Spiti River and pass through various villages to the base of 4551Mts. high Kunzum Pass (Takcha). From Takcha the first stretch of the drive is up to the 4551 Mts high Kunzum Pass, offering magnificent view of the CB Range of Himalayas.
Arrive at your camp and settle in. The view from your camp is awesome as the campsite is surrounded by the massive mountain tops and glaciers. Overnight at Chandratal.
Day 4 Chandratal – Rangrik
This morning depart Chandratal and drive down to Rangrik in the Spiti Valley. Arrive and settle down into your camp.
This evening drive to the famous Kye Monastery. This is one of the biggest and the oldest monasteries belonging to the Ge- Lug – Pa sect in Spiti. It dates back to around 14th Century and is famous for its murals, valuable books and fabulous collection of Thankas. The instrument here deserves mention. There are two trumpets, two or three small brass instruments, a pair of large cyabals, a big deep voiced drum, and a pair of smaller ones. The trumpet, which is about three meters in length, rests on a triangular block of wood, placed on the ground, and rises in a long sweeping curve to the mouth of the player, who remains standing and blows into it with all his might. The sound produced by this magnificent instrument is surprisingly feeble.
After that, visit the high altitude villages of Langja, Hikkim - Komik. These villages are all situated above 4000 Mts. With striking locations these house some of the most interesting monasteries in the Spiti Valley. The ancient Monastery of Hikkim, also known as the Tangyug Gompa, is of unique importance as this is one of the two Sakya Pa Monasteries in Spiti Valley second being situated at Kaza. This Monastery was responsible for the revision or propagation of Tantra teachings during the 14th Century.
Abundance of fossils, comprising of Shells etc. takes one 50 millions years back when Indian subcontinent drifting northwards across the Ocean of Tethys on its tectonic plate slammed into the stationary mass of Asia and gave birth to the mighty Himalayas.
Overnight at Rangrik.
Day 5 Rangrik - Dhankar - Tabo - Rangrik
This morning go on a day trip visiting Dhankar and Tabo. Situated at an altitude of 10,760ft/ 3,280 metres, the town of Tabo lies on the road between Rekong Peo and Kaza. It surrounds a Buddhist monastery which, according to legend, is said to be over a thousand years old. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed his desire to retire to Tabo, since he maintains that the Tabo Monastery is one of the holiest.
About 30 km from Tabo through steep hillside, a dusty road slowly winds its way up to the village Dhankar, located at a height of 3890 mts. There, situated in the middle of Ridge in a striking location, is a 6th Century Gompa. Though not well preserved it still has some magnificent original Thankas tucked away in the dark. There are some beautiful murals. Unfortunately a part of monastery was destroyed during the severe winter of 1989.
Return to Rangrik in the evening. Overnight at Rangrik.
Day 6 Rangrik - Dadarpul
Today we start our journey back. Drive down to Dadarpul today. Arrive and settle down in the camp. Overnight at Dadarpul.
Day 7 Dadarpul - Manali
Depart Dadarpul, taking the route over Rohtang Pass to Manali. Arrive Manali and check into your hotel. Depending on your arrival, you have the rest of the day free to visit those sights you had not had a chance to see earlier. Overnight in Manali.
Day 8 Manali - Departure
After breakfast depart from Manali . Drive down to Chandigarh or Delhi for your journey onwards.