Sham Valley [Ladakh] Trek

 

Ladakh is a union territory in India. Sham Valley trek is a short trek beginning and ending at Leh [capital of Ladakh]. I did the trek during second half of May 2024. The trek was organized by Travel Destinations [Mumbai] [9867045068]. Visits to Buddhist monasteries was an attraction of the trek.

Day 1: 22nd May 2024

The first day involved aeroplane journey from Mumbai to Leh [11,483 feet]. The night halt was at Ladakh View Guest House in Leh. I had total rest on that day.

Day 2: 23rd May 2024

Leh Palace was visible from the window of Ladakh View Guest House.

I visited polo ground at Leh in the morning; Ladakh View Guest House was located near the polo ground. However there was no Buddha Pournima celebration at the polo ground.

I visited Leh market in the evening to shop a small [40 litres] backpack for the guide.

At Leh market, Buddha Pournima was being celebrated by putting a painting of Buddha and playing Buddhist prayers / hymns at low volume on lone loudspeaker.

My guest house was near Leh market. While walking back from Leh market to Ladakh View Guest House, I had a glimpse of Leh Palace.

The night halt was at Ladakh View Guest House at Leh.

Day 3: 24th May 2024

Around 08-15 am, driver [Gyurmet] and guide [Gyaltsan] came to pick me up. The driver was the same who picked me up from Leh airport to Ladakh View Guest House on first day. We carried two backpacks: one with guide and another one with me.

In route, Gyaltsan did some last minute shopping at Leh Market. Around 09-30 am, we reached Likir Monastery. Likir Monastery is aroud 52 km from Leh.

Most of the Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh were perched atop hill; Likir Monastery was no exception.

An impressive [road] entrance and a giant prayer wheels were characteristics of many Ladakhi Buddhist monasteries.

A stream was flowing by a prayer wheel.

Accommodation was available at Likir village.

A notice was put up reminding [vehicle] permit required to visit the monastery.

Likir Village proudly displayed its war hero.

History of Likir Monastery was displayed on a board. The Monastery was nearly a thousand years old.

Signboards were in place at the Monastery.

There were other boards displaying Monastery history.

The Monastery belonged to Gelukpa Sect.

Guidelines for tourists were displayed on a board.

Monks' residential quarters looked impressive.

On the door to the temples, CCTV surveilance message was visible.

Monastery museum key was not available with the resident monk; hence, the museum could not be visited.

I photographed the temples and premises wherever photography was permitted.

Thangka is a Buddhist painting on cloth.

Religious manuscripts were stored in the Monastery.

Visitors could exit the Monastery by visiting the giant Maitreya statue.

The foundation stone of the museum was laid on 1st August 2023.

There was a modern Buddhist temple which we viewed from outside without entry.

The Maitreya Buddha statue was magnificent.

The Monastery school was offering black tea; however, I had coffee at a restaurant near the Monastery.

There was a giant juniper tree near the restaurant.

With coffee break, nearly an hour Monastery visit came to an end around 10-30 am. We drove further towards the place where trek started.

Around 10-50 am, our trek started at Phobe La [11,745 feet].

La is a local word for pass [high altitude road].

After a customary photosession, we started the trek.

The following photograph is of Gyaltsan [guide] and I.

We left the motor road and hit the trekking route.

The trekking path had a bit descend.

The typical Ladakhi landscape was soothing the eyes.

It was pretty hot in the afternoon.

Sometimes, Buddhist stone inscriptions were visible.

In route, we saw a board directing to a homestay.

We reached motor road and again joined the trekking route.

We crossed a pedestrian wooden bridge for further trek.

We had packed lunch at the following spot on the banks of the stream / river.

Buddhist chortens were found in the wilderness.

There was a mini forest of willow trees.

Overall, it was a Himalayan desert.

Around 01-43 pm, we reached Chagatse La [11,909 feet].

The surrounding rocks / soil had different colours.

We reached Yangthang [11,909 feet] around 02-30 pm.

Yangthang had a motorable road from Leh.

Even though Lok Sabha elections were over, posters were visible.

Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust and All Ladakh Tour Operators Association had put up a board regarding conservation of nature.

Yangthang was a Buddhist village.

Yangthang had a few homestays.

We stayed at a homestay in Yangthang. Yangthang was colder than Leh.

Day 4: 25th May 2024

We left Yangthang homestay after 8 am.

We revisited the mural behind the prayer wheel.

Throughout the trek, we found poles carrying electric cables.

There was uninterrupted power supply during my stay at all the homestays.

The Ladakhi landscape was captivating to the eyes.

Due to small wooden bridges, we did not have to cross streams / rivers on foot.

Buddhist religious texts were engraved on stones.

Shrubs were seen growing during early summer.

At 09-45 am, we reached Tsermangchan La [12,303 feet].

Tsermangchan La was approachable by road from Leh.

Gyaltsan was visible in the following photograph.

My photograph was taken by Gyaltsan.

After 10-15 am, we could see our next destination: Hemis Shukpachan [11,811 feet].

Buddhist chortens and stones with inscriptions signalled proximity to human settlement.

Hemis Shukpachan was approachable from Leh by motorable road.

Around 10-30 am, we reached our guesthouse. After having coffee and biscuits at the guest house, we went out to explore the village.

We went to visit giant Buddha statue in the village.

Unfortunately, some old structures were in ruins.

The giant Buddha statue was located behind a Buddhist temple.

The ruins might have been of a big building.

The path to the statue was lined with Buddhist prayer wheels.

The snow capped mountains were far away. During the entire trek, we could not touch the snow.

We returned to the guest house before 11-45 am. The rest of the day was spent at the guest house. The night halt was at Hemis Shukpachan.

Day 5: 26th May 2024

We left guesthouse at Hemis Shukpachan around 07-45 am.

We started our vehicular journey towards Ang village.

Dakmar was an ancient Buddhist cave.

We did not visit Dakmar Buddhist cave [visible in the following photograph]. A white spot a little below of the middle mountain peak was the cave. You may download the photograph and zoom it.

Mebtak La [12,303 feet] was the last pass [high altitude road] of Sham Valley trek.

My photographs at the magnificent place!

Gyaltsan [guide] was without jacket at the windy place!

Gyaltsan [guide] and Gyurmet [driver] enjoied the nature's beauty.

Around 08-30 am while going ahead in a vehicle, the road was blocked by big stones. Hence, Gyurmet [driver] has to go back to join us at Ang. Gyaltsan [guide] and I walked till Ang.

The motorable road was good thereafter.

However we had no option but to walk.

After walking for nearly forty five minutes, we reached Ang village. After waiting for more than ten minutes, our vehicle arrived and we marched ahead to visit Temisgam Monastery.

We reached Temisgam Monastery within fifteen minutes of vehicular journey.

The village was at lower level than the monastery.

A common notice for all tourists was also found at Temisgam Monastery.

A giant prayer wheel was a common sight at major Buddhist monasteries.

Some sections of the Temisgam Monastery appeared modern.

A section of Monastery had traditional Ladakhi roof.

The Monastery courtyard had traditional Ladakhi prayer flag.

This was the entrance to the prayer room.

The Monastery was a treassure trove of Buddhist art.

Manuscripts were preserved meticulously.

The Monastery was a mixture of traditional and modern architecture.

The view of Ladakhi mountains from the Monastery was spectacular.

We proceeded towards the temple where a giant Maitreya Buddha statue was kept.

The Maitreya Buddha statue was magnificent!

Thangkas [Buddhist paintings on cotton or silk] adorned the walls of temple.

As in case of all other old Buddhist monasteries, Temisgam Monastery had a rich collection of manuscripts.

We exited the prayer hall of the temple.

Temisgam was also former capital of Ladakh. We could see ruins of a palace.

Some [Buddhist] stupas were visible downside.

We started our return journey from Temisgam to Leh [89 km]. In route, we visited Nimmu [confluence of Zanskar and Sindhu rivers].

We also visited Gurudwara Patthar Sahib. However as I had already photographed it during earlier visit, no photographs were taken by me.

After reaching Leh, the rest of the day was spent in taking rest, and packing for the next day's flight.
In the evening, I visited Leh market and shopped for dryfruits. I stayed at the same guest house at Leh.

                                Day 6: 27th May 2024

It was time to say goodbye to Leh Palace.

I could photograph Leh Palace from the window of guest house.

I reached home by a direct flight from Leh to Mumbai.

As all places in Sham Valley [villages, high altitude passes, monasteries] are approachable by road from Leh, those not capable of trekking can hire a vehicle and visit them. In order to make the Sham Valley programme of three days [from Leh to Leh by vehicle], following places [en route] can be included: Gurudwara Patthar Sahib, Nimmu [confluence of Zanskar and Sindhu rivers], Magnetic Hill, etc.