jan-arend van Boeijen's video: North India: Exploring Ladakh 4: Hemis Monastery TshoMoriri lake tour sout-east Ladakh

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 4: Stage 4 brings us a meeting with the dancing monks of the beautifully situated Hemis monastery. The 17th-century Hemis monastery (3650 m, 45 km from Leh) is the largest and richest monastery in Ladakh. Furthermore, with a three-day excursion to the Tsh Moriri lake. The 4530 m high turquoise-blue lake is located in the heart of the nomadic area Korzok. We meet different nomad communities. The trip to the lake leads through the Indus valley, through stunning gorges, across high passes and plains. Many beautiful lakes in an indescribable beautiful landscape. 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