STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Exploring Temples and Mountain Hideaways of Ladakh and Himachal Pr adesh August 10 to 25, 2011 a program of the stanford alumni association Some of the most memorable journeys take place in undiscovered corners of the world, where mega-resorts and bustling tourist attractions are unheard of and the fulfillment of adventure is equalled by a sense of wonder and mystery. Such are the intriguing northern Indian states of Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh in the shadow of the great Himalayas, where we find windswept monasteries and temples, ancient villages and stately colonial homes. Limited to just 24 participants, this unique program sold out quickly the first time we offered it in 2008, so I encourage you to sign up soon. BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY Highlights EXPLORE Leh, capital MEET the residents of RELAX in a luxurious of Ladakh, with its Bud- Dharamsala, current home mountain retreat near dhist monasteries and of the Dalai Lama and his Shimla, built in the former mixed population of ethnic Tibetan government-in- residence of British military groups. exile. leader Lord Kitchener. Leh Delhi Bagdogra JAMMU AND LADAKH KASHMIR Darjeeling I NDIA Dharamsala CHINA Palampur PAKISTAN HIMACHAL TIBET PRADESH Shimla I NDIA UTTAR PRADESH RAJASTHAN Delhi to Bagdogra the next two days exploring TUESDAY, AUGUST 16 ALCHI / LAMAYURU / LEH the sights in and around this Itinerary Return to Leh, stopping along captivating city, the capital of the way to visit the monastery Ladakh and once a major stop WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, of Lamayuru, founded in the AUGUST 10 & 11 on the Silk Road. Observe its 11th century and today home DEPART U.S. / fascinating mix of Buddhist DELHI, INDIA to some 150 resident monks, temples and mosques set Depart from home on overnight making it the most-populated beside the crumbling edifice flights to Delhi, connecting monastery in Ladakh. With its of Leh Palace. Visit the 15th- through Europe or flying directly scenic backdrop of windswept century Thikse Monastery, to India. Arrive late Thursday high desert, Lamayuru is a perched dramatically on a night or early Friday morning stunning testament to the hilltop with a panoramic view of and transfer to our hotel. TAJ endurance of its faithful builders PALACE HOTEL the fertile Indus Valley. Continue and residents. GRAND DRAGON to the 17th-century monastery LADAKH HOTEL (B,L,D) FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 DELHI of Hemis, tucked into a mountainous valley and where WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 Take time this morning to rest LEH / DHARAMSALA / from our long flight, then join the largest thangka (Buddhist PALAMPUR an optional exploration of Delhi scroll-painting) in Ladakh is Fly from Leh (via Delhi) to in the afternoon. Possible unfurled every 12 years. GRAND Dharmasala in Himachal excursions include the Red DRAGON LADAKH HOTEL (B,L,D – Pradesh, formerly a powerful BOTH DAYS) Fort, built by the same emperor capital and famed for its who built the Taj Mahal and MONDAY, AUGUST 15 mountain scenery. Upon arrival surrounded by shops and LEH / ALCHI transfer to Palampur and enjoy Drive along the Indus Valley and colorful bazaars, or Humayun’s lunch and the afternoon at admire spectacular scenery Tomb and the Qutub Minar, one leisure in our stately hotel, still en route to the remote village of the most exquisite towers in the hands of the royal of Alchi, famous for being the of the Persian world. This family of Jammu and Kashmir. site of the oldest-surviving evening join fellow travelers for a TARAGARH PALACE (B,L,D) monastery in the Himalayas. welcome reception and dinner Visit the monastery and view THURSDAY & FRIDAY, in our hotel. TAJ PALACE HOTEL AUGUST 18 & 19 (B,L,D) its splendid murals, painted by DHARAMSALA / PALAMPUR Kashmiri artists in the 10th and Enjoy two full days in SATURDAY & SUNDAY, 11th centuries. ALCHI RESORT AUGUST 13 & 14 Dharamsala, the current (B,L,D) DELHI / LEH home of the Dalai Lama and Depart Delhi on an early- thousands of Tibetan Buddhist morning flight to Leh and spend Leh Delhi Bagdogra JAMMU AND LADAKH KASHMIR Darjeeling I NDIA Dharamsala CHINA Palampur PAKISTAN HIMACHAL TIBET PRADESH Shimla I NDIA UTTAR PRADESH RAJASTHAN Delhi to Bagdogra followers who sought refuge SUNDAY, AUGUST 21 WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, PRAGPUR / SHIMLA AUGUST 24 & 25 here in 1960 following their Depart this morning for our full- SHIMLA / DELHI / U.S. exile from Tibet. Visit Upper Following breakfast, transfer to day drive to Shimla, arriving in Dharamsala, known as the airport for our return flight the late afternoon and checking McLeod Ganj or “Little Lhasa,” to Delhi. Check in to dayrooms in to our luxury spa-hotel, once explore the Dalai Lama’s and enjoy a final, informal dinner the residence of Great Britain’s temple, Tsuglagkhang, and before returning to the airport commander of British troops in tour the offices of the Tibetan for late-evening flights to the India in the early 1900s, Lord government-in-exile, including U.S., arriving back home on Kitchener. OBEROI WILDFLOWER the Library of Tibetan Works HALL (B,L,D) Thursday. RADISSON HOTEL DELHI – and Archives. Visit St. John’s DAYROOMS (8/24: B,L,D) Anglican Church and Tse-Chok MONDAY & TUESDAY, AUGUST 22 & 23 Ling Monastery, as well as SHIMLA Dolma Ling Nunnery and the Once an important British hill Optional Post-Trip Norbulingka Institute whose station and the summer capital Extension to mission is to preserve the of the British Raj, Shimla retains Darjeeling artistic and cultural traditions of many monuments from its ancient Tibet. TARAGARH PALACE colonial era. Spend a full day AUGUST 25 TO 29, 2011 (B,L,D – BOTH DAYS) exploring the sights of the city, (4 ADDITIONAL DAYS) including Shimla Mall Road SATURDAY, AUGUST 20 Fly from Delhi to Bagdogra PALAMPUR / ANDRETTA / with its row of English country and spend two days in PRAGPUR village-style shops; the 19th- Depart this morning for Pragpur, Darjeeling. Take an optional century Christ Church; Gorton stopping along the way in the sunrise excursion to vista Castle; and the former Viceroy small town of Andretta, home points with breathtaking Lodge on Observatory Hill. On of the famed Punjab artist views of the Himalayas, our second day, relax and enjoy Sardar Sobha Singh, and visit Buddhist monasteries the amenities of our spa-resort. admire crafts at a local market. and ride a portion of the Those with more energy can Arrive in Pragpur and explore famed Darjeeling Himalayan choose from among various the first of India’s heritage Railway, nicknamed the hikes in the hills surrounding villages with its intriguing mix of “Toy Train,” which still the hotel or a guided tour on medieval homes and Italianate utilizes steam locomotives horseback (at an additional buildings that still line Pragpur’s to transport passengers to cost). This evening gather with cobblestoned streets. JUDGES Darjeeling. Details and a fellow travelers for a festive COURT (B,L,D) reservation form will be sent farewell reception and dinner at to confirmed participants. our hotel. OBEROI WILDFLOWER HALL (B,L,D – BOTH DAYS) N OT I N C LUDED Information International and U.S. domestic airfare Passport and visa fees Immunization costs Meals and beverages other than those specified DATES as included Trip-cancellation/interruption and August 10 to 25, 2011 (16 days) baggage insurance Excess-baggage charges Personal items such as email, telephone and S IZE Limited to 24 participants fax calls, laundry and gratuities for nongroup services COST* $8,795 per person, double occupancy WHAT TO EXPECT $10,945 per person, single occupancy We consider this to be a fairly strenuous *Association nonmembers add $200 per person program that is at times demanding and busy. Travel in the Himalayas puts us at high altitudes, INC LUDED from approximately 5,000 to 12,000 feet above 13 nights of best-available hotel sea level. Daily programs involve several early- accommodations, plus use of dayrooms morning departures, and typical excursions (until 10:00 p.m.) in Delhi on August 24 involve one to three miles of walking, often 13 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 13 dinners on uneven terrain such as temples and ruins, Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions where elevators are unavailable and stairs do Bottled water on all excursions Gratuities not have handrails. During our Seminar we to porters, guides and drivers for all group travel between destinations by vans, four- activities All tours, excursions and wheel-drive Jeeps and commercial aircraft. transportation as described in the itinerary, Roads in India, particularly in the mountainous including internal flights within India Airport Himalayas, are narrow and often unpaved or transfers and baggage handling for all undergoing repair, and our journey at times participants arriving into or departing from requires long travel days (up to 6 or 7 hours on Delhi Minimal medical, accident and a few days). The hotels we use are the best- evacuation insurance Educational program available; all are clean, safe and comfortable, with lecture series and pre-departure materials, but a few are considered quite basic by Western including recommended reading list, a selected standards. The hotel in Alchi, where we spend book, map and travel information Services one night, does not provide hot water in rooms, of our professional tour manager to assist and electricity is powered by a generator. you throughout the program Participants must be physically fit and in active good health. We welcome travelers 15 years of age and older on this program. Terms & Conditions Deposit & Final Payment Acts if you postmark your insurance All such losses or expenses will have A $1,000-per-person deposit is payment within 15 days of the date to be borne by the passenger as tour required to hold space for India’s listed on the confirmation letter.