Canon EOS 700D 35mm F/9 1/125s ISO100
Trip To The Aryan Valley - A BROKPAS Experience
Purvi Kamaliya
fter leaving her job of an educationist in
Mumbai, Purvi is now a full-time traveler
and freelance writer exploring India. She is
a travel enthusiast and a culture vulture who ventures
around the unexplored places in her quest to meet new
people and be amazed by their interesting customs
A
W
arm golden sun rays caressed my
mildly shrivelled skin as I opened the
window of a bus while traveling from Leh to
the Aryan Valley of Ladakh. I tried to beat
the ruthless cold wind, blowing hard, making
it difficult for me to see the panoramic view
of the ferociously flowing Indus. Living my
dream moment, I let go of all the negative
emotions out of my mind. I couldn’t contain
my happiness as my thoughts transported me
to an inexplicably euphoric state. I had started
on a journey without any predetermined
destination.
I had come to know about the habitat of an
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and traditions. Ancient architecture also marvels her
with its artistic beauty. Her love for mountains lures
her to the Himalayas almost every summer and she
ends up trekking in the wilderness for months. She
has extensively covered around eleven states of the
country till now.
ancient tribe who are called Brokpa or Dard in
the dry hills of Ladakh. I have heard and read
much about their appearance resembling the
Europeans, their unique costumes, culture
and the language. Sonam Rigzin was the
first Brokpa man that I met at Hanu Thang.
With immense avidity, he arranged for my
journey to the highest pasture land of their
village, Hanu Gongma. The Brokpa villages
are supposed to have invincible settlements
in between the deep gorges and on the peaks
that were inaccessible by the enemies. A
Brokpa song describes that their villages are
like a serpent’s head that looks nothing like a
village when seen from the trail, but once you
reach at a height it is spread far and wide just
like an angry cobra’s hood.
I was specifically enchanted by the sense of
fashion of the Brokpa women, the ebullient,
chirpy kids and their picturesque landscape
adorned by the pink blossoms of apricots.
Have a glimpse of this beautiful valley
through my lens.
1. As you enter a Brokpa house, you would
be welcomed with a broad smile and a plate
full of delicious organic apricots. Most of
the Brokpa ladies are the expert in selling
the farm products. And you can see them
traveling miles away to the town of Leh