HIGHLIGHTS
|
Hunder Gompa, Nubra Valley, Ladakh
|
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LADAKH
Ladakh sits along the Indus river in the high Himalayas in what today is northern India. Its capital, Leh, rests at just under 12,000 feet, and Ladakh shares a border with both Pakistan and Tibet. It is a land of stark beauty––clouds move swiftly across deep blue skies creating a moving mosaic of light and shadow on ridge after ridge of multicolor stone and sand. It is a dry land; if you see green it is almost certainly because precious water has been teased out of glaciers or the rare river to irrigate crops and trees. There is evidence that Ladakh as been continuously inhabited for at least 9,000 years, and set along this ancient route between India and Asia, Ladakh has long been a confluence of culture and trade. It was in fact through Ladakh and along the Indus river that Buddhism made its way from India to Tibet and back from Tibet to India. This happened through exploration, war are and trade. Artistic evidence of this can be found at Alchi Monastery where Buddhist paintings and sculptures from many different time periods are preserved.
Ladakh and Tibet have long shared close ties. Ladakh has been its own kingdom, has been ruled by Tibet (as well as various contingents from down India, including the Moghuls, the Sikhs and the British Raj), and has been its own kingdom again, and on and on in cycles of cultural exchange and appropriation that are as old as human exploration and aggression. Though uniquely their own, Ladakhi culture is very similar to Tibetan culture. The languages are closely related and the both Ladakh and Tibet share many of the same schools of Buddhism. When China invaded Tibet in the 1950's, Ladakh was already a part of India, and while Tibet experienced a brutal campaign to all but wipe it from the face of the earth, India left Ladakh alone to do what it had been doing for centuries. Today, Ladakh one is the few places on earth where Tibetan cultural, religious and medicinal traditions are most faithfully practiced. Ladakh offers a rare and beautiful opportunity to experience centuries old, continually practiced Buddhism and medicine that exist like this nowhere else in the world. The landscape is imposing, but also magical, and the people are warm and welcoming.
Maitreya Buddha, Nubra Valley, Ladakh
|
PROVISIONAL ITINERARY
|
AMCHI MEDICINE IN LADAKH AND TIBETTibetan medicine has roots in the ancient, indigenous culture of Tibet. In the 8th century, the first Tibetan medicinal conference was held at Samye Monastery in Tibet. Physicians from India, China, Persia, and Greece attended and some even stayed in Lhasa. The Elder Yuthok Yonten Gonpo, an eminent Tibetan doctor, synthesized the best theories and medical practices into the Gyueshi, the fundamental text of Tibetan medicine. With the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950 one Tibetan Medical school, Chagpori was destroyed and the other, Men_Tse-Khang was stripped of its spiritual components before His Holiness the Dalai Lama reestablished it in Dharmsala.
Amchi Smanla practices an even more traditional form of Tibetan Medicine passed down from teacher to student who is often father or mother to son or daughter and who practice in the villages caring for everyday people. This tour will go far beyond the tourist track with an overview of Tibetan Medicine and astrology, herb gathering trips to remote meadows, over epic passes, sitting in on clinics and visiting villages, sacred caves, and ancient monasteries. There will be opportunities for seeing sacred dances, the Buddhist Sistine Chapel: Alchi Monastery, and even do a short retreat in a high altitude hermitage taught by meditation masters. |
Amchi Tsewang Smanla
|
ACCOMMODATION
Best available. In Leh we'll stay at Amchi's own boutique hotel the Smanla Guest House.
Guest House, Nubra Valley, Ladakh
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Greeting and transfer on arrival Delhi
16 nights’ accommodations (double occupancy) including
Most breakfasts, lunches and dinners
Entrance to monasteries and museums on the final itinerary
Tibetan medical consultation
Astrological reading and consultation
Multilingual staff
Support/luggage vehicle with driver and additional support crew
Domestic flight from Delhi to Leh and return flight Leh to Delhi,
Drinking water while traveling
Pre-tour information booklet
16 nights’ accommodations (double occupancy) including
Most breakfasts, lunches and dinners
Entrance to monasteries and museums on the final itinerary
Tibetan medical consultation
Astrological reading and consultation
Multilingual staff
Support/luggage vehicle with driver and additional support crew
Domestic flight from Delhi to Leh and return flight Leh to Delhi,
Drinking water while traveling
Pre-tour information booklet
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
International airfare to and from Delhi
India visa
Alcoholic beverages
Meals, snacks and beverages taken individually or on free days
Staff tips
Tips for special services
Emergency Medevac insurance (mandatory)
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (highly recommended)
Inclusions other than those specified
India visa
Alcoholic beverages
Meals, snacks and beverages taken individually or on free days
Staff tips
Tips for special services
Emergency Medevac insurance (mandatory)
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (highly recommended)
Inclusions other than those specified