North India: Ladakh #3 (Sham Area - NW Ladakh - Lamanyuru, the Dha Hanu Valley and Thiksey)

Normally we never travel to India in June. Much too warm. But this trip is a real trip to the Himalayas/Ladakh. The passes to Ladakh are often closed till late May - early June en open till September - October. So the timeslot in which you can travel by car to Ladakh is June-July-August. From Delhi and the famous Hindu pilgrimage city Haridwar on the Ganges, we will travel to the residence of the Dalai Lama (Dharamsala) and the "hippie haven" Manali. From Manali we will travel over land to Leh, Ladakh. Along the way we will cross the second highest mountain pass for cars in the world.
In Ladakh we stay some days in Leh and we make a tour in the Sham Area. We visit Lamayuru monastery, beautifully located deep in the mountains, the Dards of Dah Hanu, the three most beautiful monasteries in the Indus Valley (Thiksey, Takthok and Hermis), Tsho Moriri, a turquoise blue lake at 4530m altitude at the centre of the nomads area, Tsokar lake and Korzok.
We travel to Leh over land because it is the best way to slowly get used to the altitude, and the best way to see the ever changing landscapes.
Part 3:
Part three brings the three-day-Sham Tour. We drive from Leh to Lamayuru. It is a journey through a desolate mountain scenery. Imagine yourself on the Moon. In Lamayuru (3470 m) is the oldest monastery of Ladakh. The monastery is one of the most beautiful places we've ever visited. Breathtaking . From Lamayuru we make a trip over the Fotula pass (4100 m) and the Hanu valley waarwe a village of Dokpa 's visit. A unique population with a particular costume. The women wear a headdress with flowers. Back in Leh we visit the 14th-century monastery Tiksey (3280 m: 17 km from Leh) of the Gelukpa schoo.
lFor a written travelogue in English with a lot of photo's and more videos: see
http://www.travelbyphoto.nl/reisverslag_ladakh/reisverslag_Ladakh1_gb.html

Видео North India: Ladakh #3 (Sham Area - NW Ladakh - Lamanyuru, the Dha Hanu Valley and Thiksey) канала jan-arend van Boeijen