ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
Prayer flags add to the stunning visuals all across Ladakh
The Land of Gods
This high altitude desert, has some stunning landscapes of myriad varieties. Add to that the bluest skies you’ ll ever see, mighty rivers, monasteries steeped in history, rich birdlife and wildlife, and most importantly the warm and friendly Ladakhis … it’ s undoubtedly, the Land of Gods.
23rd Sept- We kicked off our local sightseeing with a visit to‘ Hall of Fame’ created by the Indian Army. Hair-raising exploits of our brave armed forces are mentioned here, along with ammunition and the snow suits that protect them from the harsh climate. The‘ Leh Palace’ was next- an imposing 9 storeyed structure, modeled on the famous Potala Palace of Tibet, built in the 17th century. Sadly, it lies in ruins today, and the restoration work appeared shoddy and myopic. Wonderful bird’ s eye view of the city from here. An hour’ s drive from Leh, the‘ Sangam Point’- a confluence of Indus and Zanskar rivers. One can clearly see the 2 rivers merging, owing to the difference in coloration. Quite a spectacle! On way back, we stopped at Magnetic Hill- a“ gravity hill”. The layout of the area creates an optical illusion such that vehicles appear to roll uphill, in defiance of gravity.
Another interesting stopover on way back was the Gurudwara‘ Baba Patthar Saheb’. An amusing
40 legend is associated with this name, which I won’ t spoil for you. We enjoyed the yummiest‘ Karah Prasad’( sacred pudding) ever tasted in any Gurudwara till date.
24th Sept- Proceeded to Nubra Valley. Crossing the Khardung La- the world’ s highest motorable pass( 18,380 ft), was the high point. It was very windy, and at 2.5 deg, bone-chilling! Still, a V-log and selfies were a given. A signboard warned visitors not to stay for more than 20 minutes, as it could lead to serious health complications. A Chukar Partridge family spotted by Vishal, on a winding sloping road, was awesome. This bird was a lifer for me.
Just before Nubra, we enjoyed an ATV ride on the sand dunes, and also captured some stunning images by a shallow roadside pool. Bactrian camel ride is fun, and we had fun doing this at Hunder.
25th Sept- The sleepy lanes of Diskit, the chirping of a hundred birds, and fluttering butterflies all have an old world charm. Off we went to the 14th century, Diskit monastery. Every monastery has it’ s own style of architecture, and a schedule of prayers that is followed strictly. We were lucky to be there at the time of morning prayers, peacefully chanted by a dozen monks. A 32 m statue of Maitreya Buddha towers over the landscape, on a hill adjoining the monastery.
Vol 1 | Issue 5-6 | Nov 16- Jan 17