Journey to Ladakh in the Western Himalayas
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The Winter Festivals at Stok & Matho Monasteries
12th – 23rd February 2008
JOURNEY TO LADAKH
in the Western Himalayas
in the heart of winter, when the high passes are closed
and the flight across the snow clad mountains an awesome
sight. Only
the local inhabitants,
dressed in their finest clothes and a few
visitors find their way to the sheltered Indus Valley
to celebrate the winter festivals.
Ladakh is situated on the edge of the Tibetan plateau
and its peoples are related to the Tibetans and follow
similar cultural and religious practices as well its
being home to many Tibetan refugees. Rock carvings
scattered around the countryside illustrate that the
region has been used for thousands of years by nomadic
tribes, a blend of the Mons from north India,
the Dards of Baltistan and the Mongols of central
Asia. In Leh it is possible to find families
whose members are Muslims, Christians and Buddhists
illustrating Ladakhi's religious tolerance. Leh is on
the Silk Route, being a
staging post enroute to Kashgar in western China.
We shall be able to participate in two of the festivals,
the Stok Palace
and Monastery Festival of Oracles
– when even blind laymen can predict the future! … and
toward the end of our stay witness the colourful
festival of the blindfold acrobatic oracle monks from
Matho Monastery.
A two day festival where the two oracles, who
meditate in complete isolation for a month in
preparation for entering a state of trance and invoking
the spirit of the deities, make a public appearance in
their full spiritual form.
They run over the high ramparts of the monastery,
jumping from one balcony to another with a variety of
acrobatic feats, and all while blindfolded!
People come to hear the oracles predict key
future events and to seek answers about their own
future.
Some of the famous monasteries in the
Indus
Valley will be included in
our itinerary:
Hemis, Thiksey and Shey as well as Aichi, built
in the 11th century, and famous for its
collection of paintings, and painted wooden statues.
FLIGHTS
(London / Delhi return):
£550
LANDPRICE
inclusive of Delhi – Leh flight:
£1,700
Single Room Supp:
£326
mail@christineannrichards.co.uk
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