The Monastic Traverse 16 Days(Delhi-Pargapur-Dharamshala-Macledogunj-Bir-Rewalsar-Manali-Khardang-Shesur-Kibber-Kye-Tabo-Nako-Sangla-Shimla)

The first lap of the drive is through the plains of Punjab and then into the Himalayan Shivalik foothills. The upper regions of Kangra district have definite second century archeological evidence of institutional Buddhism. Our first stop is in Paragpur where we stay overnight in a stately nobleman's residence now a hotel. The next day we drive up to Macleodgunj the capital in exile of his holiness the Dalai Lama. The monastery here is relatively new and you have the opportunity to interact with numerous monks who study and reside here. Our next visit is to the ornate monastery in Bir heading west towards the Kullu Valley. From here the next days drive takes us to the enchanting Rewalsar Lake skirted by thick forests located just 20 Km southwest of Mandi town. A large monastery in the pagoda architectural style rests majestically on the lake shore and is home to a gigantic stucco image of Guru Padmasambhava, intricate murals and other religious artifacts. Our next stop is the resort town of Manali where there are two small newer monasteries with gilded statues of the Buddha and beautiful thankas and statuettes. After a couple of days acclimatizing here we proceed further north into the barren hi-altitude desert region of Lahaul and Spiti. In Lahaul we visit the ancient Guru Ghantal monastery, the 17th century Sheshur Gompa famous for its vertical architectural style and ritual plays and Khardung Monastery with its large prayer wheels. A bit further west of Keylong near Udaipur town is the popular and ancient Trilokinath temple which has an image of the Boddhisatava Avolikiteshawara a venerated symbol of Buddhism.
Heading east towards the Spiti region we visit the Kye and Kibber monasteries both of which have breathtaking views of the entire Spiti basin. Turning south we turn right ahead of Kaza into the Pin Valley where we visit one of the oldest Buddhist establishments in Spiti, the Kungri Monastery. Later that day we stop over at the precariously perched Dhankar Monastery which was once a prison. We halt for the night at the 1000 year old Tabo Monastery with its fine stuccos images and magnificent murals. The next day we head on to the Lotsaba temple at the Nako Lake with its fantastic murals and stucco images and the footprints of Padmasambhava. Close by there's another monastery and village -Kanum which means the place of Kangyur which was a well known seat of learning in the 11th century and also home to the Hungarian scholar Alexander Csoma de Koros. Leaving the Satluj valley and the enchantment of Buddhist territory behind we head towards Shimla - the erstwhile capital of British India from where after a days rest we take the historic small train to Kalka and then change to the luxurious Shatabdi Express to Delhi and home.