Don't know why after a span of 3 years, today I got an adrenaline rush to share my travel story. Not just a travel story but an honest impression of reality.
It was in July 2023, when I abruptly decided to sail myself to Ladakh. Having a hairline fracture :D, yet loaded with bundle of joy and excitement helped me to sail smoothly.
Day 1- Leh
After landing Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport, we headed towards Le Mentok Wellness Resort. Conveniently situated away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city, Le Mentok lies on the banks of the calm and sparkling Indus River with the picturesque Himalayas surrounding it.
Somewhere in hustle bustle of city
I never get thrilled of touristic locations that are known to people, I rather explore the unexplored.
We decided to go to Leh Market just before the ravenous hordes descend on the cafes. The alleys are full of vegetable vendors against the background of beautiful carpets and a few scattered shoppers. Even the vegetables are laid out on beautiful carpets.
On the way there were two beautiful mosques in two different styles. One of them was the exotic plaster and wood texture: all white and light glaze. I had to look twice to see that it was a mosque. The architecture was adapted from the original Ladakh style: the large gate was made of intricately carved wood. The other was a structure that was instantly recognizable, turrets and doors, a green and white color scheme, similar to the mosques you see around the world. About half of the native Ladakhis are Muslims, the other half are Buddhists. That is ancient history. Ladakh was on the old Silk Road and cultures and religions traveled along it for well over a thousand years.
And the jewelry here? I'm glad you asked. They are jade and coral, set in silver. The silver work was fascinating. I saw three pieces, one was antique, the second was a large old silver piece with new jade and coral pieces, and the third was an old coral set with new silver rings. In this last one, the silver takes on a bit of a patina as it ages.
Holy Place- Gurudwara Pathar Sahib!
Gurdwara Shri Pathar Sahib is located on the Srinagar-Leh road, 25 km before Leh. It is very beautiful and was created in memory of the founder of the Sikh religion and the first guru, Guru Nanak Dev ji. The Gurudwara is maintained and operated by the Indian Army.
Day 2- Tso Moriri
Located in the Rupshu Valley, Tso Moriri is a breathtakingly beautiful high alpine lake.
I was so impressed with the rave reviews from friends that I decided to leave Leh quite early in the morning. As we were leaving it started to rain. Following the Indus and its upstream course, it was my first encounter with the rains in the mountains and suddenly the Ladakh I knew – the cold turned more into a dry desert.
Day 3- Dead road to Kaksang La
Kaksang La is a high mountain pass at an altitude of 5,436 m (17,834 ft) above sea level, located in the Leh district of Ladakh, India. It is one of the highest roads in the country. This completely isolated road is rarely used and cut into mountain ranges. The pass is not as famous as other mountain passes because it does not serve as a passage to any major tourist attraction in the area.
Day 4- Pangong Blues
Blue sky, blue lake and us…. Pangong Lake had a calm and relaxing effect on us like a blue topaz and also inspired us. The vast and azure waters of Pangong were enough to enchant us and renew our love for each other. Well, blue has always been my favorite color…
Go Green- Puga Valley
Located in the south-eastern part of Ladakh in the breathtaking Changthang Valley, the Puga Valley is one of the greatest natural wonders of the region. Apart from its rich reserves of sulphur, borax and other minerals, the Puga Valley is one of the places to visit in Ladakh for its numerous hot springs and mud pools. These mud pools and springs are believed to have healing properties and can cure skin problems and even rheumatism.
Day 5- Nubra Valley
It is one of the unconventional places to explore in Ladakh, with many places still unexplored by tourists. The remote villages around the Nubra Valley are every photographer's dream come true. The landscape is so vivid and special that every picture you take will end up on your photo profile. The locals are so friendly and welcoming that they wouldn't hesitate to get their photos clicked. They would actually pose for you and be happy to see their amazing photos.
It is known for its scenic beauty and greenery inside the cold desert.. You can visit the Nubra sand dunes just a few km from the village. We stayed here for the night in the Namgyal Vill and night came with a spectacular view of billions of stars and our home galaxy, the milky way.
Gratitude Amidst Majestic Landscapes- Siachen Base Camp
This picture captures the breathtaking beauty of Ladakh, a land that echoes with the bravery and sacrifices of our Siachen warriors. In the backdrop of awe-inspiring mountains, | stand humbled and grateful for the unwavering dedication and selflessness of our soldiers.
Day 6- Off Beat Trekking- Yarab Tso Leh
Nubra Valley is a magical place. While people are quick to admire its surreal skies, magical mountains and stunning orchards, there are also a number of lakes in this alpine heaven. Getting to Yarab Tso Lake is not difficult. It is near the villages of Panamik and Sumur and can be reached from both sides, but cars cannot go all the way to the edge of the lake. Instead, one has to pull off the road, drive as close as possible, and then make a short trek of about 15 minutes up and down a small mountain.
Day 7- End of Ladakh (end of India too- Thang Village)
The actual village is generally off-limits to tourists unless you have some official reason to visit (or are extremely picky). Fortunately, today this region is generally peaceful despite the presence of bunkers, and that is why tourism is picking up here. The road from Turtuk to Thang runs along Shyok.
When you drive from Hunder towards Thang, you will first reach the village of Turtuk. From there, Thang is another 11 kilometers and the journey ends there. Tyakshi village falls on the way. This entire area, where the villages of Turtuk and Thang are located, was claimed by Pakistan after the end of British rule in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. It became part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and remained so for the next 24 years. Due to its proximity to the border, the region remained closed to visitors for the next 39 years, from 1971 to 2010. However, with the increase in tourism in the last decade, things slowly began to change and we got a chance to witness it.
I know I just wrote a very brief description of my trip because Ladakh cannot be described in 50 thousand words. If anyone is planning Ladakh this summer, drop me a line for tips if you need any. Keep traveling!
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