A Mountain
Adventure
Ladakh
needs no introduction. It is said that even the Gods stop and wonder in awe at
its beauty. Then, how as an enthusiast travel photographer, could I resist its
charm? And that’s exactly where I was headed last summer. While it was not a
trekking-clicking holiday, it was also not going be an ‘eat-drink-shop’ break
either.
Ladakh is a land like no other. It is mountainous, dry and cold and lies
between the ranges of Ladakh and Zanskar.
Maybe I did not choose the right season to visit; March still has the sharp
nip of winter. The air was cool but the
sun was sharp. It is said that in Ladakh, sitting in the sun with your feet in
the shade, one can actually get sunstroke and frostbite at the same time!
The aridity of the area is immediately apparent to the visitor.
Ladakh's long vistas of mountains without any vegetation and valleys with only
a few oasis of green are a challenge to the eye. The landscape looks dry
and brown and the mountain tops, white with snow. Green is a rare colour in
Ladakh. You can drive for long stretches and might not come across any living
creature. Yet this rugged state looks awe-inspiring and beautiful. The
clear blue skies with playful clouds chasing one another and the snow-capped
mountains make a stark contrast to the otherwise barren land offering one of
the most spectacular panoramas and mountain view which literally has one
gasping in amazement! I have travelled to many places across the world, but
none can hold a candle to what my eyes were feasting on at that moment. It is
like stepping straight into a picture postcard!
Though I was handed a long list of ‘places to visit
while in Ladakh’, I simply trusted my driver-cum-guide, Joginder, to take me
the most picturesque spots. One of this was the Sangam - meaning Union. The confluence of the Indus
and Zanskar Rivers is very scenic and should not be given a miss! The two
rivers flow together without a care that their destiny will take them to a
different country.
Of course, being at a high altitude had its flip
side too.....I was running a constant cold. But that did not keep me away from
getting out. I even spent an entire night outside my room for some night
photography. Was it worth it? When I looked at what my camera had captured, I
would say, definitely yes!
Every day brought with it a new
adventure. But my unplanned visit to the Gurudwara Shri Pathar Sahib en route
to my hotel was what remains etched in my memory. It was way past our lunch
hour, but I could not resist having a peep inside. It was a quiet Thursday
afternoon and I didn’t expect to see anyone. An army jawaan (the gurudwara is maintained by the Indian army) warmly
welcomed me inside. After explaining its history and showing me the best spots
to click from, I was invited to langar – a
meal which is generally reserved for Sundays. It was ages since I’d eaten; the
simple meal seemed heaven-sent! As we sat down to a simple meal, the jawaan who had fought in the Kargil War,
narrated his tales to us. I was overwhelmed just to be in his company.
Finally it was time to head back home. One
trip to Ladakh gave me plenty of memories for keeps. But this definitely wasn't
a goodbye; it was “see you again soon” to paradise, also known as Ladakh!
About
author and photographer Pallavi Chanda: A career as an international flight
attendant is what introduced me to the joys of traveling to different parts of
the world. Armed with love for discovering the new, I enjoy capturing my travel
stories in frame and words alike, but the best role I like is playing mom to
two energetic boys. When not traveling or clicking, I enjoy classical dance
(Kathak), listening to Sufi music and reading.
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