Northern India 1995
The 3 month trip to Northern India that Rena and I did in the summer of 1995 is one of the best trips ever. The trip had several parts.
(1) My daughters Andi and Marla joined us for the first part to do a trek across Zanskar. We flew to Delhi, bused to Manali ,and eventually trekked for 24 days ending in Ladahk. We crossed several mountain ranges and got as high as 16,726 ft.
(2) The second stage was spent around Leh, the capital of Ladahk. In included several side trips in the area including to Nubra across the highest motor pass in the world. (18,380 feet) We also saw the Ladahk Festival which was an amazing collection of parades, dancing and costumes. My daughters returned home about halfway through this part, and my friend Armando arrived to join us for the remainder of our travels.
(3) Stage 3 was the time it took to travel to Spiti, which had just been opened to outside visitors. Spiti borders Tibet and has several monasteries with ancient paintings. However a huge unseasonal snowstorm closed all the roads in the area and what should have been a 3-4 day trip to Spite, turned out to require 3 weeks. After leaving Leh, we were snowed in for several days and had to return to Leh. We flew to Delhi, bused to Dharamsala (Home of the Dahli Lama who just happened to be in the US while we were there), and bused back to Manali. When we found that the road to Spiti was closed due to the storm, we organized a 5-day trek and walked to Spiti.
(4) Stage 4 was our visit to Spiti. We eventually ended up in Shimla and then took a train back to Delhi.
This gallery contains more images than my usual Smugmug Galleries. Some of the photos are Rena’s. Feel free to skim. A more detailed Itinerary is below if you want more detail. It is the only way that I can keep track of what we did.
DAY - DATE - PLACE- COMMENTS
1 - Jul 8 - left LA
2 - Jul 9 - Bangkok - Fortune Blue Wave Hotel
3- Jul 10 - Delhi - Cameron Hotel
4 - Jul 11 - night bus to Manali 6,300 ft - Midland GH
5 - Jul 12 - Manali - Midland GH
6 - Jul 13 - Manali - Midland GH
7 - Jul,14 - Manali - Midland GH
8 - Jul 15 - Keylong 10,000 ft - Dupchen GH
9 - Jul 16 - Keylong (acclimatization day) - Dupchen GH
10 - Jul 17 - Jispa !0,600 ft - Start of 24 day Zanskar Trek
11 - Jul 18 - Palmo 12,688 ft
12 - Jul 19 - Zanskar Sumdo 13,628 ft
13 - Jul 20 - Chuminkkpo 15,648 ft
14 - Jul 21 - Lakhong 15,000ft (cross Shinga La 16,728 ft)
15 - Jul 22 - Kargiyak 14,000 ft
16 - Jul 23 - Purne 13,000 ft
17 - Jul 24 - Prune (day hike to Phutal)
18 - Jul 25 - Pebula 12,800 ft
19 - Jul 26 - Reru 12,500 ft
20 - Jul 27 - Shila 12,000 ft
21 - Jul 28 - Shila (visit Padam and Karsha)
22 - Jul 29 - Below Karsha 11,600 ft)
23 - Jul 30 - Pishu 11,400 ft
24 - Jul 31 - Hunuma 11,200 ft
25 - Aug 1 - Snertze 12,400 ft
26 - Aug 2 - South of Lingshed 13,300 ft
27 - Aug 3 - South of Lingshed - Visit Lingshed
28 - Aug 4 - Yulchung 14,450 ft
29 - Aug 5 - Valley before Photoksar 14,100 ft
30 - Aug 6 - Photoksar 13,800 ft
31 - Aug 7 - Photoksar (rest day)
32 - Aug 8 - Hanupatta 12,700 ft
33 - Aug 9 - Wanla 10,600 ft
34 - Aug 10 - Lamayuru 11,800 ft
35 - Aug 11 - Sasoul, near Alchi
36 - Aug 12 - Leh (visit Alchi in morning) - Leh 11,483 ft- Jigmet Guest House)
37 - Aug 13 - Leh
38 - Aug 14 - Leh
39 - Aug 15 - Leh (visit Tiksey, Hemis, Shey, Stok)
40 - Aug 16 - Leh
41 - Aug 17 - Leh (raft Indus)
42 - Aug 18 - Leh (A+M leave Leh)
43 - Aug 19 - Leh
44 - Aug 20 - Leh (visit Dha Hanu)
45 - Aug 21 - Leh
46 - Aug 22 - Leh
47 - Aug 23 - To Nubra - Cross highest pass in world, Khardung La 18,400 ft - Sumur - Ibex GH
48 - Aug 24 - Nubra - Sumur - Ibex GH
49 - Aug 25 - Nubra - Diskut - Sand Dune GH
50 - Aug 26 - Nubra back to Leh - Jigmet GH
51 - Aug 27 - Leh
52 - Aug 28 - Leh
53 - Aug 29 - Leh
54 - Aug 30 - Armando arrives Leh
55- Aug 31 - Leh
56 - Sep 1 - Ladahk Festival - Leh
57 - Sep 2 - Monk masked dance - Leh
58 - Sep 3 - Leave Leh by bus - cross 2nd highest pass in the world - Sarcha tent camp
59 - Sep 4 - road closed - Sarcha tent camp
60 - Sep 5 - road closed - Sarcha tent camp
61 - Sep 6 - road closed - Sarcha tent camp
62 - Sep 7 - road closed - Sarcha tent camp
63 - Sep 8 - Bus to Leh - Pang
64 - Sep 9 - Leh
65 - Sep 10 - Leh
66 - Sep 11 - Fly Leh to Delhi - Janpath GH
67 - Sep 12 - Delhi tour, night bus to Dharamsala / Mcleod Ganj 6,831 ft ft - Lhasa GH
68 - Sep 13 - Mcleod Ganj - Lhasa GH
69 - Sep 14 - Mcleod Ganj - Lhasa GH
70 - Sep 15 - Mcleod Ganj - Lhasa GH
71 - Sep 16 - Mcleod Ganj - Kalsang GH
72 - Sep 17 - Kulu - Daulut GH
73 - Sep 18 - Manali - Solang GH
74 - Sep 19 - Manali - Solang GH
75 - Sep 20 - bike ride - Manali - Solang GH
76 - Sep 21 - Above Hamta Village (8,900 ft) - Start of 5 day trek to Kaza
77 - Sep 22 - Above Chhika (10,988 ft)
78 - Sep 23 - North of Hamta Pass ( 12,890 ft)
79 - Sep 24 - Chhota Dara (12,333 ft)
80 - Sep 25 - Kaza 12,467 ft - Milarepa GH
81 - Sep 26 - Kaza - Milarepa GH
82 - Sep 27 - Kaza - Milarepa GH
83 - Sep 28 - Chikim camp
84 - Sep 29 - Chikim camp
85 - Sept 30 - Dankhar Gompa
86 - Oct 1 - Shichling camp
87 - Oct 2 - Tabo Monastery - Himalayan Adjanta GH
88 - Oct 3 - Bus to Recong Peo - Fairyland GH
89 - Oct 4 - Simla - Bisant Hotel
90 - Oct 5 - Simla - Bisant Hotel
91 - Oct 6 - Bus to Delhi - Ashok Yatri Hotel
92 - Oct 7 - Delhi
93 - Oct 8 - Fly early morning to Bangkok - Fortune Blue Wave
94 - Oct 9 - Fly to LA
Read More(1) My daughters Andi and Marla joined us for the first part to do a trek across Zanskar. We flew to Delhi, bused to Manali ,and eventually trekked for 24 days ending in Ladahk. We crossed several mountain ranges and got as high as 16,726 ft.
(2) The second stage was spent around Leh, the capital of Ladahk. In included several side trips in the area including to Nubra across the highest motor pass in the world. (18,380 feet) We also saw the Ladahk Festival which was an amazing collection of parades, dancing and costumes. My daughters returned home about halfway through this part, and my friend Armando arrived to join us for the remainder of our travels.
(3) Stage 3 was the time it took to travel to Spiti, which had just been opened to outside visitors. Spiti borders Tibet and has several monasteries with ancient paintings. However a huge unseasonal snowstorm closed all the roads in the area and what should have been a 3-4 day trip to Spite, turned out to require 3 weeks. After leaving Leh, we were snowed in for several days and had to return to Leh. We flew to Delhi, bused to Dharamsala (Home of the Dahli Lama who just happened to be in the US while we were there), and bused back to Manali. When we found that the road to Spiti was closed due to the storm, we organized a 5-day trek and walked to Spiti.
(4) Stage 4 was our visit to Spiti. We eventually ended up in Shimla and then took a train back to Delhi.
This gallery contains more images than my usual Smugmug Galleries. Some of the photos are Rena’s. Feel free to skim. A more detailed Itinerary is below if you want more detail. It is the only way that I can keep track of what we did.
DAY - DATE - PLACE- COMMENTS
1 - Jul 8 - left LA
2 - Jul 9 - Bangkok - Fortune Blue Wave Hotel
3- Jul 10 - Delhi - Cameron Hotel
4 - Jul 11 - night bus to Manali 6,300 ft - Midland GH
5 - Jul 12 - Manali - Midland GH
6 - Jul 13 - Manali - Midland GH
7 - Jul,14 - Manali - Midland GH
8 - Jul 15 - Keylong 10,000 ft - Dupchen GH
9 - Jul 16 - Keylong (acclimatization day) - Dupchen GH
10 - Jul 17 - Jispa !0,600 ft - Start of 24 day Zanskar Trek
11 - Jul 18 - Palmo 12,688 ft
12 - Jul 19 - Zanskar Sumdo 13,628 ft
13 - Jul 20 - Chuminkkpo 15,648 ft
14 - Jul 21 - Lakhong 15,000ft (cross Shinga La 16,728 ft)
15 - Jul 22 - Kargiyak 14,000 ft
16 - Jul 23 - Purne 13,000 ft
17 - Jul 24 - Prune (day hike to Phutal)
18 - Jul 25 - Pebula 12,800 ft
19 - Jul 26 - Reru 12,500 ft
20 - Jul 27 - Shila 12,000 ft
21 - Jul 28 - Shila (visit Padam and Karsha)
22 - Jul 29 - Below Karsha 11,600 ft)
23 - Jul 30 - Pishu 11,400 ft
24 - Jul 31 - Hunuma 11,200 ft
25 - Aug 1 - Snertze 12,400 ft
26 - Aug 2 - South of Lingshed 13,300 ft
27 - Aug 3 - South of Lingshed - Visit Lingshed
28 - Aug 4 - Yulchung 14,450 ft
29 - Aug 5 - Valley before Photoksar 14,100 ft
30 - Aug 6 - Photoksar 13,800 ft
31 - Aug 7 - Photoksar (rest day)
32 - Aug 8 - Hanupatta 12,700 ft
33 - Aug 9 - Wanla 10,600 ft
34 - Aug 10 - Lamayuru 11,800 ft
35 - Aug 11 - Sasoul, near Alchi
36 - Aug 12 - Leh (visit Alchi in morning) - Leh 11,483 ft- Jigmet Guest House)
37 - Aug 13 - Leh
38 - Aug 14 - Leh
39 - Aug 15 - Leh (visit Tiksey, Hemis, Shey, Stok)
40 - Aug 16 - Leh
41 - Aug 17 - Leh (raft Indus)
42 - Aug 18 - Leh (A+M leave Leh)
43 - Aug 19 - Leh
44 - Aug 20 - Leh (visit Dha Hanu)
45 - Aug 21 - Leh
46 - Aug 22 - Leh
47 - Aug 23 - To Nubra - Cross highest pass in world, Khardung La 18,400 ft - Sumur - Ibex GH
48 - Aug 24 - Nubra - Sumur - Ibex GH
49 - Aug 25 - Nubra - Diskut - Sand Dune GH
50 - Aug 26 - Nubra back to Leh - Jigmet GH
51 - Aug 27 - Leh
52 - Aug 28 - Leh
53 - Aug 29 - Leh
54 - Aug 30 - Armando arrives Leh
55- Aug 31 - Leh
56 - Sep 1 - Ladahk Festival - Leh
57 - Sep 2 - Monk masked dance - Leh
58 - Sep 3 - Leave Leh by bus - cross 2nd highest pass in the world - Sarcha tent camp
59 - Sep 4 - road closed - Sarcha tent camp
60 - Sep 5 - road closed - Sarcha tent camp
61 - Sep 6 - road closed - Sarcha tent camp
62 - Sep 7 - road closed - Sarcha tent camp
63 - Sep 8 - Bus to Leh - Pang
64 - Sep 9 - Leh
65 - Sep 10 - Leh
66 - Sep 11 - Fly Leh to Delhi - Janpath GH
67 - Sep 12 - Delhi tour, night bus to Dharamsala / Mcleod Ganj 6,831 ft ft - Lhasa GH
68 - Sep 13 - Mcleod Ganj - Lhasa GH
69 - Sep 14 - Mcleod Ganj - Lhasa GH
70 - Sep 15 - Mcleod Ganj - Lhasa GH
71 - Sep 16 - Mcleod Ganj - Kalsang GH
72 - Sep 17 - Kulu - Daulut GH
73 - Sep 18 - Manali - Solang GH
74 - Sep 19 - Manali - Solang GH
75 - Sep 20 - bike ride - Manali - Solang GH
76 - Sep 21 - Above Hamta Village (8,900 ft) - Start of 5 day trek to Kaza
77 - Sep 22 - Above Chhika (10,988 ft)
78 - Sep 23 - North of Hamta Pass ( 12,890 ft)
79 - Sep 24 - Chhota Dara (12,333 ft)
80 - Sep 25 - Kaza 12,467 ft - Milarepa GH
81 - Sep 26 - Kaza - Milarepa GH
82 - Sep 27 - Kaza - Milarepa GH
83 - Sep 28 - Chikim camp
84 - Sep 29 - Chikim camp
85 - Sept 30 - Dankhar Gompa
86 - Oct 1 - Shichling camp
87 - Oct 2 - Tabo Monastery - Himalayan Adjanta GH
88 - Oct 3 - Bus to Recong Peo - Fairyland GH
89 - Oct 4 - Simla - Bisant Hotel
90 - Oct 5 - Simla - Bisant Hotel
91 - Oct 6 - Bus to Delhi - Ashok Yatri Hotel
92 - Oct 7 - Delhi
93 - Oct 8 - Fly early morning to Bangkok - Fortune Blue Wave
94 - Oct 9 - Fly to LA
