Chandra Tal

New Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India is a fusion of the ancient and the modern. Standing along the West End of Gangetic Plain, the capital city, Delhi, unwinds a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, gardens and exotic shows. Comprising of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi, the city is a travel hub of Northern India. Narrating the city's Mughal past, Old Delhi, takes you through the labyrinthine streets passing through formidable mosques, monuments and forts. The imperial city of New Delhi displays the finely curved architecture of British Raj.

Overnight at Hotel

Day 02 : Delhi - Chandigarh ( Train) - Pinjore ( Drive)
Morning after breakfast Train to Chandigarh, upon arrival at Chandigarh later drive by jeep to Pinjore. The Pinjore Gardens is situated at a distance of nearly 20 kilometers from the main city of Chandigarh. This beautiful and astounding looking place is situated on the Pinjore-Kalka Road and is also known as the Pinjore Yadvindra Gardens. This ancient garden was built in the 17th century, during the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Nawab Fidal Khan was the man who designed and constructed this garden.
The Pinjore Gardens at Chandigarh are spread across an area of 100 acres. Like other Mughal gardens, this one also has a sloping ground and is decorated with fountains and grand and beautiful pavilions. There is a channel of water in the middle of the garden. The fountains are located inside this channel of water. There are walkways located on both sides of the channel. Lined with huge trees and a stretch of green grass, these walkways add to the beauty, charm and elegance of the Pinjore Garden. If you walk straight down, you will arrive at a huge pavilion, which offers marvelous view of the entire garden. The pavilion also has a terrace with a water body located in the center. The biggest attraction of the Pinjore Gardens is the Jal Mahal. This is currently being used as a restaurant.

The beauty of this grand park will, definitely amaze visitors planning to go for excursions near by Chandigarh. Apart from the fountains, you can also check out the mango orchard and the litchi orchard housed inside this garden. The Pinjore Garden also serves as a popular picnic spot. You can come over here with your families and have great time under the boughs of the shady trees. There is also a small zoo inside this park where you can get to see some birds and animals.
The Pinjore Garden with its beauty and charm and is definitely one of the most popular tourist attractions of Punjab. One should not forget to pay a visit to this place when on a holiday to Chandigarh.
Overnight at Hotel.

Day 03 : Pinjore - Manali ( Drive)
Morning after breakfast drive by Jeep to Manali is the northern-most town of Himachal Pradesh's Kullu Valley. Situated on the national highway that leads to Leh, Manali is also the gateway to the remote and desolate valleys of Lahaul and Spiti. According to Hindu legend, it was named after the sage Manu after he steered a boat of survivors to safety here during a great flood. In present times, the town was first 'discovered' by the hippies of the 70s and 80s. Later, in the 90s, domestic tourism to Manali got a fillip owing to insurgency in Kashmir. It caught the public's imagination and was soon a legitimate boomtown, eventually growing far beyond its original village size

Upon arrival at Check in to Hotel Later visit Manali

Hadimba Temple: The Goddess Hadimba is revered in this area. She was the sister of the demon Hadimb who ruled the mountains and was feared by all. When Bhima, the Pandava brother met her, he fell instantly in love and wanted to marry her. But he had to kill her brother first. After the death of her brother, Hadimba proved to be a good queen. She was fair and loved by all. She finally went to the woods called Dhungri Van Vihar to spend her last years in mediation and it is at this spot that the Hadimba temple was built. Also known as the Dhungri temple, it is a wooden four-storey structure and is built in the pagoda style. It looks almost like something out of a Japanese painting. You won't find an idol in the temple, just a foot print on a stone. The temple was built in 1553 and is an important one in this area. An interesting but macabre story surrounds this temple. Apparently the king who commissioned this temple was so awestruck by its beauty that he ordered the artist's right hand cut so he wouldn't be able to repeat his masterpiece. The artist determined not to sacrifice his craft, trained his left hand to carve and built a bigger and more beautiful temple in Chamba. The people in Chamba were so happy with his new creation that they beheaded him, lest he build another temple. Over the years Hadimba became the patron Goddess of the Rajas and the goddess's blessings had to be taken before every coronation and a buffalo sacrificed after each one. Today, the Dussehra celebrations commence with the blessing of the ceremonial horse by the goddess in a ceremony called 'ghor pooja.'A huge fair is also held at the temple on 14th May to celebrate her birthday. Rice beer or 'longri' flows like water and both men and women drink, dance and celebrate all night.

Rahalla Falls: Beyond which is the Rohtang Pass, 51 kms from Manali. Located at a height of 3980 m, the Pass once served as a crucial trade route, and still remains the gateway to the districts of Lahaul and Spiti.The Pass is open from June to November each year, and provides wonderful views of the entire surroundings. Just beyond the Pass is the Sonapani Glacier and the twin peak of Gaypan. The Beas Kund, the source of the Beas river, a holy site for Hindus, as the sage Vyas is said to have meditated at this spot, is also accessible from the Rohtang Pass. Rani Nullah, below Rohtang Pass. Height 3700m. Rani Nullah is shortly before the Rohtang Pass into Lahaul, at about 55km from Manali. The take-off area itself is not great as there are sharp stones to snag your lines on, but even if there is no lift it offers great 'sled-ride' flying, especially for beginners. There is a vast landing field at the truckstop at Marhi about 400m below take-off, though be warned that at over 10,000ft a HUGE flare is needed on landing - you come in like an express train! If you have reasonable height above Marhi it is a 10km sled-ride down to other landing fields at Kothi at the foot of the pass.

Monasteries: Manali also houses three Tibetan monasteries that have been built recently. There are three recently built Tibetan monasteries at Manali.

Vashisht (3 kms): Three kms from Manali is the village of Vashisht, which is renowned for its hot sulphur springs. The village is also the site of some old temples, dedicated to the great sage Vashisht, and to Lord Rama. The Himachal Tourism sulphur baths are just beyond these shrines

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 04 : Manali
Morning after breakfast at Hotel later drive for excursion for Solang valley

Solang valley: Solang Nullah is in a side valley at the top of the Kullu valley. It is the site of Manali's ski school and, once the snow has gone, all the local paragliding 'schools'. Phatru is a steep, rocky face above Solang Nullah, facing roughly east. Take-off is about one hour's climb above the ski school. There is no top landing, but good bottom landing near the school or in the fields above Solang village on the opposite side of the river. From 10am until 1pm or so there are many excellent thermal sources. In the afternoon the sun is often hidden by cloud forming on the higher mountains behind and it can get rough as soon as it is out of direct sun. In a picturesque setting this has good ski sloped and picnic spots. HPTDC organises ski packages during winter. Around 14 kms from Manali, is the Solang valley that boasts of the glacier nearest to the resort.

Evening return back to Hotel

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 05: Manali - Sethan (3000 mtrs)
Trek out of Manali to the village of Sethan an isolated village in the middle of forest of pine. Villagers from Spiti settled Sethan (3000m) several generations ago. From here the trail levels out before entering a narrow pine-forested valley. The camp is a small clearing near a spring line with an adequate water supply throughout the season

Overnight at Camp

Day 06: Hampta
Trek to Hampta pass base camp. The trek ascends gradually along the Hampta stream and leads to the base of the pass (13,200 ft.) with breathtaking hanging glaciers can be enjoyed around However, experience the fantastic views of the Mulkila Range on a clear day. Peaks over (20,000 ft.) and the beautiful peaks of Indrasan (21,000 ft.) and Deo Tibba (20,100 ft.) can be seen.

Overnight at Camp

Day 07: Hampta
Rest and acclimatization day.

Overnight at Camp

Day 8: Hampta - Chatru
Trek over Hampta Pass (4270 metres) to the tiny roadside camp of Chatru. A long day. Chatru is situated in the elevation of 3560m and it is a small village in Chandra Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India which is also a resting

Overnight at Camp point for few treks in the valley.

Day 09 : Chatru - Cotta Dara ( along the highway of Spiti)
Morning we Trek along the road to Spiti to Chotta Dara. Our next stop is another
roadside settlement of Chotta Dara. There is a seasonal teashop here and an old Rest house.

Overnight at Camp

Day 10 : Chotta Dara - Batal (Kunzam La)
We continue to the base of Kunzam La at Batal reaching the confluence of the paths to Chantertal and the Kunzam-La pass into the Spiti Valley. Breath-taking glimpses of the majestic Bara Shigri glacier and White Sail Peak are a photographers' reverie. We reach Batal (3990m) after a steady six hours' walking and relax in the camp.

Overnight at Camp

Day 11 : Batal - Chandra tal
Morning we trek up a lush green valley to Chandra tal. Pleasant route along the alpine meadows that embrace the Chandra River. The path then leads over the rocky plateau, crossing a small stream and traversing the incline. From here, the track is a series of gentle ups and downs until we reach Chandratal Lake, or Moon Lake (4270m). This high altitude lake is a majestic sight, surrounded as it is by the mighty Himalayan peaks. A vast meadow of flowers is the location of the camp site, positioned on the banks of the lake.

Overnight at Camp

Day 12 : Chandra tal
Free for the day at Chandra tal. There are tremendous mountain views here, and some of the more adventurous may wish to go for a swim in the crystal clear water. Simply enjoying the unrivalled beauty and peace of the surroundings, complete in their remoteness and splendour

Overnight at Camp

Day 13 : Chandra Tral - Tokpo Yogma
Morning leaving the lake behind, we trek up the increasingly barren valley to Tokpo Yogma. An icy mountain stream which can become dangerously high later in the day. Our expert mountain guide leads the way and after crossing the torrent we walk foe about an hour before setting up camp.

Overnight at Camp

Day 14 : Tokpo Yogma - Tokpo Gongma
We continue upwards to Tokpo Gongma, our base camp for tomorrow's pass crossing. Another icy torrent which we cross early and then walk up the barren valley. There are numerous mountain streams flowing down these barren hillsides

Overnight at Camp

Day 15 : Tokpo Gongma - Baralacha La
Trek to Baralacha La (4950 metres), where we meet the military road that extends to Ladakh. Travel by jeep to the village of Jispa and camp there. Baralacha-La (4891m) after five hours challenging walking. In times gone by, the twin passes of Baralacha-La were an important spot on the trade route, as roads from Spiti, Ladakh, Zanskar and Lahul all meet here. On the north-west side lies the Bhaga River, while the Chandra flows to the south-east. Nearby to our campsite at Baralacha-La is the beautiful emerald lake, Suraj Tal, and the source of the Bhaga River. We stop here for our last night in the mountains

Overnight at Camp

Day 16 : Baralacha La - Keylong
Morning travel by jeep to Keylong, the capital and administrative center of Lahaul. Situated at an altitude of 3340 mtrs Keylong is the head quarters of Lahaul and Spiti district in the state of Himachal Pradesh lying on Indo-Tebetan Border. Keylong in Himachal Pradesh is on the main road to Leh over Rohtang Pass. Keylong is an oasis of lush green fields and willow trees, water streams surrounded with beautiful brown hills and snow dressed peaks. There are hotels, tourist bungalows and rest houses for the convenience of the tourists. The landscape of Keylong is exciting, primitive, abound with mountains and delightful ambience.

Overnight at camp

Day 17: Keylong to Manali
Morning we dive to Manali over Rohtang Pass (3978 metres).

Rohtang Pass: Rohtang Pass, 51 kms from Manali. Located at a height of 3980 m, the Pass once served as a crucial trade route, and still remains the gateway to the districts of Lahaul and Spiti.The Pass is open from June to November each year, and provides wonderful views of the entire surroundings. Just beyond the Pass is the Sonapani Glacier and the twin peak of Gaypan. The Beas Kund, the source of the Beas river, a holy site for Hindus, as the sage Vyas is said to have meditated at this spot, is also accessible from the Rohtang Pass.

Overningt at Hotel

Day 18 : Manali - Kullu ( Drive)- Delhi ( Flight)
Morning we drive by jeep to Kullu to board flight for Delhi, upon arrival at Delhi check in at Hotel. Stay overnight at Hotel.

Day 19 : Delhi Depart
Morning after breakfast drive to airport to board flight for onwards journey.