Manali-Leh,Ladakh- Landscapes and Acquired Unshackling

It started with exasperation, from my family, having mentioned the whole idea of venturing out all by my twenty year old self. They cried, I packed. And a 15 hour nauseous ride later, there I was, breathing in my new found emancipation.

I spent a month losing myself in the Himalayas, hitchhiking with strangers, reading by the river, sitting on the roads sipping on butter tea, sleeping on the back of a truck, very uncomfortably nestled in the arms of nature at its majestic best. Yes, I was sore, all over, but who's complaining? I'd do it over and over and over again.

Well if you're heading up to the north, backpacking on a budget, you're sure to find decent accommodation for ₹300-400 for a double room. Also, Ladakh in itself is a very different culture. Until tourism boomed in Ladakh, the whole culture was the epitome of self sustenance. Please help the local community and buy products from local businesses. If you'd like to know more about the culture, you could watch 'The Economics of Happiness' and 'Ancient Futures- Learning from Ladakh' that plays at the Ecological centre in Leh.

Travel responsibly, appreciate and spread smiles. :))

I'll see you on the road. ✌