The Ultimate Road Trip – Ladakh!

Tiring of walking in straight lines, I took to going off at tangents—taking sudden unfamiliar turnings, wandering down narrow alleyways, following cart tracks or paths through fields instead of the main roads, and in general making the walk as long and leisurely as possible”. - Ruskin Bond

The mountains are calling and I must go….

Living by the coast, I have always been excited to experience the mountains. We eight buddies embark on a road journey to explore and skim through the annals of the massive land of high passes known as “Ladakh”. One of the gems of our country located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the sights of the local scenery are unique. 

There have been countless reasons to visit this beautiful piece of earth. It’s a Biker’s Paradise, it’s a perfect place for Trekking enthusiasts, and a photographer’s delight. Let me take you through my camera lens….

Nature is always a treat to your soul….

Into the mountains weaving between the snow banks,

lost in the blue trailing this path to world beyond worlds,

 I know this is all there is ---Eternal Beauty!

Ladakh featured in my bucket list. Such is the beauty of this marvellous mountainous region that it has earned the sobriquet of ‘heaven on earth’, with the unparallelled beauty of its rugged terrains, clear blue skies and serene emerald lakes. 

As we landed in Leh, I could not stop admiring the mountain ranges which formed the background of the airport. How picturesque was it? Words are not enough to describe the beauty. I knew my journey was going to be a magical experience. It took us a day or two to get acclimatized to the place. With oxygen levels being low, the first day was just for resting.

We begin our trip with a visit to the Lamayuru and Alchi Village…

A peculiar but exotic landscape display that beholds near Lamayuru is the Moonland. Draped in white lights, it looks so gorgeous. The lure of Moonland has beckoned many travellers. The soft craters, orangish yellow land simply add charm to the surreal beauty of Lamayuru. The slopes appeared like a big splash of yellow butter over the otherwise dark brown mountains, which rise steeply from the base of the valley. Some look like sea of sand dunes and some looked like massive cheese blocks with many holes in them. Standing high above these magical slopes is the monastery of Lamayuru.

Magnetic Hill

Its a small stretch of road which is believed to have magnetic effect. The cars pull over and stop their engine to feel the effect as the car gets pulled uphill on its own even though its in neutral gear.

Sangam Point

This is a spectacular sight which is a confluence of the Indus and Zanskar Rivers. The colors of the two rivers can be distinctly seen. 

Your Attitude is your altitude!

I was so excited to explore the Khardungla Pass, situated at an elevation of 18380 FT, is the highest motorable road in the world. It’s a gateway to the Nubra Valley.  Where else would you find snow covered mountains co-existing with sand dunes? Beyond the sacred mountains lies the valley of Dreams…It’s amazing how nature has its creation set, where one side is snow capped mountains and on the other side as you descend to the valley there are sand dunes. And when it comes to the best places in Ladakh, Nubra Valley is right on top of the list. Known for its mesmerising and vast Hunder sand dunes that are home to Bactrian camels and the stunning Diskit monastery with a mammoth Buddha statue, Nubra Valley is an excellent attraction for travellers. Making it appear like nature’s amphitheatre, the hollowness of the valley magnified all sounds, revealing as much as it withholds…

We enjoyed the camel ride and the archery sessions. The mountains have a vivid range of colours to display. Its amazing to see the natural beauty of the these peaks with various shades.

It has been fun to capture a few moments like these...
When the shifting shadow of clouds creates a moustache on the hills! The sun smiles and shines on the valley..

En route we encounter the mountain marmot playing hide n seek while we try to click a pic!

The winding narrow roads which cut through the mountains looks so dangerous driving up the steep slopes..

We visited the famous Diskit monastery with a huge statue of Buddha

The ATV ride on the sand dunes…

The thrill of driving a quad bike over the dunes gives an adrenaline rush through your body as you dip through the steep drops in the boundless expanse. Live the adventure that promises a ride no one else can.

How about chilling on the road like a wanderer...where there is no traffic, no honking and the sky is the limit.

Breathtaking Drive through the Chang La Pass…

The adventure is not in arriving. It’s the on-the-way experience. It is not the expected; it’s the surprise! 

It keeps reminding at all times that the journey is often the destination. Endless snow peaks stretch their jagged spine across frozen horizons. Weathered wind horses snap relentlessly below bitter blasts. The exhilarating madness felt driving down the Chang La pass was an experience by itself. As our car passes through the narrow, winding roads, we slip out of our window and be seated on the window sill…what joy, what thrill for that one wild glad moment as we join hands with the wind. My first close encounter with the mountains covered with a blanket of snow left me spell bound as I touch the snow and my fingers have a tingling feeling. The drive through Chang La pass to Pangong lake is a 6 hour drive but its worth the visit.

Pangong Lake

 How often do you wonder about a place that looks like a painting straight out of the canvas? Seeing is believing …The place mesmerised me and I was awestruck. After the long journey from Leh, over some of the most terrifying, torturous, bumpy and bone-shaking terrain, the first glimpse of Pangong is of the serene, bright blue waters and rocky lake shore, which makes you forget everything else... This view is etched in our memory. The sheer beauty of this lake is that it displays multiple colours ranging from shades of blue and green. The rugged craggy Trans Himalayan mountain range in the background make for a stunning panoramic view.  There is a narrow ramp like formation of land which runs into the lake and is often crowded with travellers for a click!

The weather gets harsh after dusk. Camping is the only option if one chooses to stay back on the shores of the lake.

Pangong Tso is a photographer's ultimate delight.  I headed towards the lake. I sat on a rock and gazed at the lake - as far as my eyes could take me. I have never seen something so magical and beautiful. It put me in a trance like state. It churned up so much emotions inside me that I didn’t feel like leaving the place.

As I get up and go close to the edge of lake, I dip my feet in it….my feet are numb. The chilled water sends an adrenal rush through the nerves into the spine. I splash my hand; listen to the break of tiny wavelets on the downwind side of the lake, where the ripples come ashore.

Watching the sunrise from the lake's shore is a whole different spectacle. The different colours that the dazzling lake takes on as the glowing ball of heat climbs higher into the sky with each passing minute, paints picture beyond that words fail to do justice to.

Even from a distance Pangong Tso seems vast as it shimmers in the bright rays of the sun beaming down from the blue skies. By the time we reached its shores however, the sun was much nearer the horizon, its slanting rays throwing brilliant hues off the lake into the heavens.

The moon has not yet risen. Lanterns swing in the dark. The lanterns flit silently and go out one by one. The day slips quietly into the silence of the mountains. I stretch myself out on my tent. Outside the sky is brilliant with stars. Its fun to gaze at the stars which we don’t get to see in our busy concrete cities as the sky is engulfed with smog. As I close my eyes, and take a deep breath, the majestic silent atmosphere with the brilliant pure breeze makes the moment memorable for all time.

Turtuk Village

This is the last village on the Indo- Pak border lying on the banks of river Shyok. It’s a secluded small town dominated by the military and is a sensitive area. I was determined to see this place as just a few miles away is the LOC between India and Pakistan.

I was enamoured by the picturesque village. The mountain ranges that hovered over the stone houses were as surreal as a painted backdrop. Mustard yellow barley fields glowed in the afternoon sun. The glacial waterfalls that irrigate the land and the massive foliage around gives this village a quaint look. This place boasts of a lot of greenery and flora which cannot be found anywhere else in this region. Apricots and walnuts grow in abundance here. The dark-eyed, fair-skinned people here are like a metaphor for the innocence of life in the hills. This is a place fairly less travelled.

“The slender maidenhair fur grows on a rock

While all around her the water swirls and chatters

And then disappears in a rush

Down the bottom of the hill

When I am surrounded by troubled waters, Lord

Let me find within a rock to cling to

And give me the quiet patience of the maidenhair

Who has learnt to live with the rock.”

Nothing beats the feeling of lying on a bed of rocks, staring at the sky in the afternoon, surrounded by a gurgling river and daunting mountains. As the waterfall besides glides by jumpy streams cascading down the rain-sodden slopes embroidered on the sides by blooming beds like blushing bridesmaids, the rocks that stand still are an epitome of strength. While the birds chirp merry songs sitting on the long and sturdy branches of a disciplined army of tall, handsome trees with the breeze blowing in through their shivering leaves, the whole atmosphere makes you feel in oneness with the nature.



Visit to the Druk White Lotus School, Shey

Going to Ladakh and not visiting the school or sites where the famous "3 Idiots" movie was shot was out of question.  We had a day trip to the Druk School and enjoyed a cup of coffee at the Rancho's Cafe.

After all the thrill en route this journey, one experience which was due was a ride on the Beast – Royal Enfield…There is something about it - riding a Royal Enfield on the mountainous roads, it is hard to describe but you feel it in your hands gripping the handlebar, in your legs changing the gears, on your face when the wind teases you, it is hard to describe like I said, but those who have felt it, know exactly what I am talking about. On the last day we chose to hire a bike and move around Leh.

Hall of Fame

Last but not the least we visited the Hall of Fame. This glorified museum has been built in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives during the Indo- Pak wars. It showcases the valour, achievements and sacrifice of the Indian Army. As I pass through the walls that portray the photographs of how the various wars were fought, there is a sense of pride. There was a short video of the Kargil war also. My heart was filled reading the last letters written by the soldiers to their family. It also reminds that we civilians are safe today due to the hard and undying efforts of these soldiers at the border. I salute the Indian Army and am proud to be an Indian.

The Shanti Stupa

A white domed stupa lies on the hilltop of Chamspa. It’s an iconic structure and a remarkable symbol of Buddhist religion, peace and tranquillity. One can get a panoramic view of the entire region from this place. The ambience is so peaceful.  

As we bid adieu to this mystical place, we leave behind our wishes in form of a stack of stones. Locals suggest that they are known to bring good luck to the travellers.

There were times when we wanted to sit down and soak in the surroundings. We were so taken by the enchanting places that we often forgot the time. That is the beauty of Ladakh! Back from just nine days in Ladakh, we couldn’t get enough of it.

The connection to the place, to the land, the wind, the sun, the stars, the moon...it sounds all romantic, but its true....