The mystical and lunar-like landscape of Lamayuru is located about 100 km west of Leh. This Drikung-school temple with its red and white buildings is home to around 150 monks. It is perched high above its village and the oldest part of the monastery dates from the 11th century. Legend has it that at the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, the monastery used to be situated under a big lake, home to many nagas. The Arhart Madhyantika made water offerings to the nagas and with his walking staff, made a leak for the water which trickled out leaving the moon-like craters. Preserved in the monastery is the cave where Naropa (1016 – 1100) underwent strict retreat, as well as five temples built by the great translator Rinchen Zangpa (985 – 1055), one which is in perfect condition. We spend another night in Temisgam.

The setting for Temisgam Gompa is quite spectacular and atmospheric. It houses a special shrine room for Padmasambhava and consorts, with fine paintings on the walls.
The Rizomg monastery was established in 1831 by Lama Tsultim Nima. The monastery is also called “the paradise for meditation” and is noted for its extremely strict rules and standards. There is an attached nunnery, located about 2 km from the monastery, called the Jelichun Nunnery or Chulichan (Chomoling), where, at present, 20 nuns reside.Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated in the caves around Rizong, years before the monasteries were built. In the small caves in the vicinity, lamas used to meditate for years in isolation from the rest of the villages. They subsisted on one meal a day, which was provided to them by local people through a small square window opening in the cave. Over the years, the hermitage became a place of worship and pilgrimage to all Buddhists from Ladakh. It is reported that the king of Ladakh gave rich donations to convert the Hermitage into a retreat center and the queen of Ladakh even visited this place on a pilgrimage.
The small village of Mangu is adjacent to Alchi, and has the same landscape of poplars and apricot trees. The Mangu monastery consists of similar architechure to the Alchi Monastery complex and was also founded by Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo. It is situated on a flat landscape rather than on the top of a hill like other monasteries monasteries who did so to guard against marauders. Mangu monastery consists mainly of four temples.

Known for its orchards, scenic vistas, Bactrian camels and monasteries, Nubra Valley is the northernmost part of Jammu and Kashmir. Situated about 150 km from Leh, Nubra Valley is known as the Orchard of Ladakh and was originally called Ldumra which meant the valley of flowers. Nubra Valley is also renowned for its sacred mountains, lakes and waterfalls (and an ancient juniper tree) which have been places of pilgrimage for centuries.To reach Nubra valley, we cross the awe-inspiring Khardung La, the highest motorable pass in the world at an altitude of 18,380 ft/5,602 m. Winding channels of the Shyok and Nubra Rivers criss-cross the wide and flat Nubra valley. Nubra lies at average altitude about 10,000 ft/3,050m above sea level. The steep walls of the head of the valley are dissected by desert and the milky green waters of the Shyok River, only giving way to the green oasis of an occasional settlement.
If we are lucky we will see the famous double-humped Bactrian camels. Diskit Monastery has 33m statue of Maitreya Buddha facing down the Shayok river.

Turtuk is the last northernmost out-post of India at Thang after which Pakistan-controlled Gilgit-Baltistan begins. It was part of the Silk Road trading route and is home to around 4,000 people of mainly Muslim ethnicity. The village was once a part of Pakistan and was only opened to tourists in 2010. As such, it has retained its originality and authenticity. The road to Turtuk Village has scenic landscapes and crosses the Shyok River. The region is renowned for its apricot orchards, terraced fields and ancient monasteries. Turtuk is surrounded by stunning landscapes.