Summer vacation is always a time to travel. It was easier to decide on the places to go when we were in Manila or Bangkok since there was plenty of nice places to go with easy access. India doesnt have decent infrastructure, places are crowded, hygeine and safety is a concern. Also given the polulation, most of the tourist d
estinations are crowded.
We also wanted it to be not so well trodden place.
Considrering the above, we decided to go to Ladakh.
We decided on the place, booked the hotel and flight tickets. As the day of travel neared, we did lot of research and increasing got worried. It was good that we had made the travel arrangments before the research else we might not have gone there.
It was one of the best trip we have even made. One of the toughtest too.
Its on a mountain range at a height of 11500 ft. We live in places closer to the sea level and not used to high altitude. High altitude cuauses ailemnts and disconftures associated with lack of oxygen. It can be fatal too and its not a place for people who arent fit. It takes time to get used to that environment. However, if you are reasonably fit and give time to get acclimatized, it is a place worth visiting. There is no place like Ladakh on earth!
We survived and came back with a wealth of great memories and with a lingering wish at heart to go there again.
We travelled to Delhi from Mumbai and stayed at Lemon Tree hotel at Aerocity. This is a zone where a cluster of hotels are there and at the price of about Rs. 5000/Night the stay at Lemon Chity wa a great one. It is a lovely new Luxury hotel oozing og clss, stryle and elegance. It was bonus that it was close to the metro station. Being close to Gurgaon, we spent a plesant evening at Ambiane Mall there sampling he Delhi chat and great kebabs.
Nextday, early morning we took the flight to Leh. It could be a better idea, we realised later to drive down from Srinagar or Manali since the road is piturique and it also helps to get acclimatised to the high altitude. The plane had a group of sixtyish wester group. It always makes me sad looking at them and realising how differently the aged in India live their life. In India, given the frugality of what life offers, we get old thinking about our tommrrow and that tommrrow never comes. Money is a great enabler and unfortunately we arent taught about its important when we are young. We learn the hard way and often it is late.
As we approached Leh, the view of the snow clad mountain mesmerised us.
We stayed at Manasarovar hotel, near the market and it offered a panoramic view of the snow cpaped muntain and swaying pine trees. The tempered wether of temperature of about 22oC at mid day, nip in the air, cool quite unhurred way of people calmed our souls. We had to take rst for the day to acclimatise us. Leh if open for 5months and the manager from Nepal informed us that rest of the time he spent in distant Nepal doing another job for their arent paid when the hotel is closed for business.
Next day, we were up early to begining exploring the monastries in and around Ladakh. The Hemis monastry took our breadth away. The morning ritual was in full swing when we arrived and we pertook in the ceremony. The chanting in the cave like ambiance, the solemniyu of the environment, the play of sunlight coming through an opening in the roof was enchanting. I felt at home and someday might cal Hemis our home. Joing the monastry to live a simple life of meditation is a thought I hold close to my heart now. The landscape of Ladakh is barren but never though that there can be so much beauty and variations in landsape without much green and that appear grey from a distant.
We left early for Khardungla pass early next morning. This is the world's highest motorable road at a height of 18500 Ft and mearly 120km away from Ladakh. However, it took us nearly 5hros to reach the peak and we were fortunate that it was a sunny day and there was no rain. The road is extremely narrow and appear to be treacherous and there are seglents which are not properly maintained. It is natural for many to feel sick from the high altitude and one must carry oxygen cylinder. It just needs some oxygen for one to feel natural and it is highly advisable. There is an army camp there and one much have is the masal chai and the speaming hot noddle at the near zero temperature. We touch the snow in the mountain there for the first time and the scenery is something to behold. We stayed there a little and understood the great role Indian Army is playing in upkeeping and running Leh in a great way.
The thiksay Monastry and many other monastries in Ladakh are something one who is searching for meaning, peace and perspective must visit.
Anotherday, it was time to visit Nubra valley. It goes through the Chagla Pass. The sites and scenes of Numbra valley is something work cannt explain or descrive, one must visit it. The sand dunes, the camel ride and the stay in the tent at night was an experience of life time.
The road to famed Pangong Lake was equally narrow. It was made famous my the Amir khan movie (3 Diots), this the lake at the hightest height. The view is mind boglling and one can spend hours and hours just staring at the ocene blue water, the white ducks surrounded by the ice capped mountains.
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There are many trecking trails but one needs to be fit to explore and experience these.
The local market is rich of colour and many uniquie local products. Its a pity that one cannt buy and carry all the cheap and colourful handicrafts in planes.
We had a wonderful experience in Ladakh.
One need to go there well prepared and you are welcome to ask us if you plan to go the LAdakh-an experience of a lifetime and one done from our bucketlist.
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