Stok Palace Heritage Hotel
is a 36-course meal, featuring between fifteen and thirty different
preparations of meat, meant to be shared among four people and is a
central part of celebrations and weddings.
Kashmir is known for its high-quality hand embroideries which
are found on a wide variety of garments, accessories and home
furnishings. Additionally, the name cashmere has come from this
region, where fine goat hairs are woven together to make the softest
shawls. The word pashmina is used interchangeably with cashmere in
India so don’t get confused and come ready to bargain.
LEH, LADAKH
Two to three days will be enough time spent in Srinagar before
you are ready for the final destination, Leh. Travel by road spans
422 kilometers and can take up to twelve hours depending on
unpredictable traffic, which at any moment can be halted by a
passing bullock cart or passing animal herd. There is one flight a week
from Srinagar to Leh, but by flying you would miss the spectacular
sights the road weaving through the Himalayas offers. Instead, take
either a bus or a private taxi, both of which stop overnight in Kargil. A
private taxi will cost around $360 one way.
There are a variety of day trips that can be organized from Leh to
experience the vastness and majesty of this incredible land. Many
places require foreign nationals to obtain an Inner Line Permit (ILP)
before visiting protected areas or sights near the Tibet border.
Permits are granted the same day and can either be arranged
through most hotels for a commission or by visiting the Deputy
Commissioner’s office in Leh.
The fearless can rent a Royal Einfield motorcycle to explore the areas
around Leh and drive on the some of the highest motorable roads in
the world. This is the best way to experience the splendor of Ladakh
— the sense of freedom on open roads cutting through mountainous
terrain at 17,000 feet above sea level is something that has the power
to change your life.
Whether by car or motorcycle, the Pangong-Tso Lake on the border
with Tibet is a top choice for travelers, often described as a Heaven
on Earth with its clear blue waters reflecting a panorama of the
surrounding mountains. A four-hour drive from Leh, it is advised to
camp overnight, falling asleep to the whispers of the Himalayas.
Soaring high in the Himalayas at an elevation of 11,562 feet
above sea level, Leh was once the capital of the Kingdom
of Ladakh and shares a similar culture with its neighbor
to the East, Tibet. To this day, Buddhism is the major
religion in the region with prayer flags and monasteries a
ubiquitous sight amid the backdrop of glacial mountains.
To live like Ladakhi royalty once lived, book one of the
6 rooms in the Stok Palace Heritage Hotel, built in 1820
and opened to the public in 1980 with the blessings of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Rooms retain their original
craftsmanship and the royal suite is decorated in the
hand-painted motifs that the Namgyal King once gazed
upon from his four-poster canopied bed.
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 34 SUMMER 2017
Stok Palace Heritage Hotel