Sunday 18 August 2013

Ladakh the final destination


After a mighty breakfast and with sheer excitement of reaching our dream destination we were back on the road. It was a pretty sight as the scenery changed a few hours down the road. The road stretched out in front of us as far as the eyes could see. The impressive mighty snow clad Himalayas on one side and barren rocks on the other. The sun playing hide n seek amongst the clouds with a little peek here and a little boo there adding charm to the already mesmerizing route. I remember going berserk trying to capture everything on my cam, which in the end I gave up as I decided to absorb it all in. My mind fluttering with excitement; acting like a sponge was absorbing the impressive landscapes one at a time. Later, we had a brief halt at-Lamayuru a land famously known as the moon land. No words could do justice to the scenery there; we hiked up a little hill just enough to get the adrenaline rushing which was worth the efforts.

Continuing on as we had to reach before nightfall our driver spotted the enchanting city of Leh nestled among the valley. I call it enchanting because when I was shown the city the sun was shining only on the city of Leh with clouds all around as if it was highlighted for us to see. We couldn’t wait to reach this paradise. On the outskirts we were shown the military base camps and the airport landing amongst the hills. Within a few minutes we reached our hotel Mandala where we were welcomed with stoles which were imprinted with ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’. It was only much later that we understood that the mantra is orally recited around the prayer wheels ( a famous identity of Leh) and is highly auspicious. One can find these wheels everywhere they go. They are impressive structures and highly alluring. We then had a filling meal followed by a rested sleep. The following day we visited the Shey palace which is not too far away from the city and were lucky to be a part of the famous Sindhu festival. Later we idled around in the market and enjoyed a little snack on the famed momos, returning back for dinner to our hotel.

During our stay at Leh we were gifted with a lovely climate enabling us to enjoy our trip to the fullest. We had taken a day trip to the much talked about Pangong Lake Tse, one can even opt for an option to camp there in tents spicing up your adventure a bit more. Be lucky to catch a glimpse of the captivating sunset which is surely to be etched on your mind forever. On the return journey one can stop at the Thikse monastery which is the largest gompa in Leh.

The following day we visited the lovely Shanti Stupa, with a little hike up the hill to reach this stupa one is sure to be gifted with an enchanting site. One can have a mesmerizing view of the entire city of Leh laid out in front of you, surrounded with the massive Himalayas as the outer boundary for as far as the eyes can see. We then visited the White Lotus school (Druk Padma Karpo) made famous by the movie 3 Idiots. We were spellbound when we were explained the architecture of the school. It was said that if one sees the layout of the school from a height it is shaped in the form of a ‘key’, which suggests that it symbolizes the key to education. Individual classrooms are smartly prepared with a single solid beam in the centre so as to hold the structure sturdy even during a natural calamity. Additionally the roofs are painted white with an intelligent venture which enhances the brightness so much so that there is no need of artificial lighting. Even the dormitories of the kids are intelligently prepared so that they remain cool in the summers and warm during the winters. The kids are given the freedom to explore and innovate which is truly amazing.

We also travelled to the famed Nubra Valley via Khardung La which happens to be the world’s highest motor-able road. One has to take care of their health cause the oxygen content here is a bit low, so avoid immediate movements and don’t have a prolonged wait at the pass. The pass itself is untouched and a winter wonderland, we had a fresh carpet of snow below our feet which made it a bit difficult to walk. The traditional colorful temple flags were well splayed and were a eye-catching sight against the white background.
Yeah..!! So my trip to Ladakh was a lovely and memorable experience and has been etched into my life forever. Our return journey was via the famous hill station of Manali. Where we stayed for the day and left by a night bus to Delhi where we were to be transferred to the airport to catch our flights back to Mumbai.

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