Julley (means "hello" as they greet in Ladakh)!!!
After a year, its time to write again. Its been quite some time since I last wrote, rather its a consequence of a break which I eventually took up after a year. Ladakh after Ladakh - sounds foolish to few, but I was quite enthused about the trip and to my expectation it turned out to be one more memorable trip.
27th August, 2011 to 7th September, 2011 was the gap we chose this year. The intention was to be the part of "The Ladakh Festival", which takes place in the first fortnight of September every year. Once again with team Jungle Lore, along with my friends Vinit, Rima, Prashant, Kishore his wife Kavita and a bunch of 20 odd unknown but now known buddies, we were heading to the beginning of our trip - Srinagar.
Srinagar - Serene and Simple!
Its one of the places on the planet, which is at present serene, simple, silent, colourful, vibrant and beautiful. 27th noon we went from Srinagar airport to the Nagin Lake, where we were to stay overnight on the House Boats. Bijoo Khan was present to welcome all of us. Bijoo Khan is the man from Ladakh, who owns a hotel in Leh city and one personality as great, as simple and as enthusiastic which one could rarely come across.
After an early morning flight, some rest in the house boats was inevitable in the afternoon. Post break, we took the shikara ride for next 3 hours. The ride was filled with scenic beauty of the place, lake filled with green patches on all the sides, flowers, birds beautiful people of srinagar and to add to it was the mighty rain, which made the whole shikara ride all the more pleasant. Late evening dinner was called for after the soothing shikara ride. Post dinner was the time to crash as we had to leave for the real trip of Leh city early morning the next day.
After an early morning flight, some rest in the house boats was inevitable in the afternoon. Post break, we took the shikara ride for next 3 hours. The ride was filled with scenic beauty of the place, lake filled with green patches on all the sides, flowers, birds beautiful people of srinagar and to add to it was the mighty rain, which made the whole shikara ride all the more pleasant. Late evening dinner was called for after the soothing shikara ride. Post dinner was the time to crash as we had to leave for the real trip of Leh city early morning the next day.
Srinagar to Leh - Scenic ride!
The night of 27th August, was filled with rains, rains which Srinagar rarely sees as told to us by the locals. The morning was silent, fortunately, the rains had taken a halt. There was a little worry and skepticism about the journey forward, which was to be filled with rough terrain and some high passes amidst which the rains could have been a bit of trouble on the route.
The journey was amazing and filled with some heavy rains, scenic beauty on all four corners of the road, cloudy snow patches, and little close to zero visibility near the Zozilla Pass and not to forget the scrumptious lunch at Sonmarg - in a dhaba atmosphere. Lovely and scenic ride for day one.
Night we spent in the tents at small village 40 odd kms from Kargil - which is worth of an experience. One could see million stars in the sky at night - eye soothing experience. Next day we visited Lamayuru monastery, moonland (the patch that resembles the land on moon), magnetic hill (that claims to be only place on earth which defies gravity!) and Pattharsahib Gurudwara. At Gurudwara, it was almost the end of the day and we had a beautiful and magnificent sunset which filled the sky with shades of yellow and orange. Post this, we reached hotel Bijoo to camp our baggage for the rest of our trip.
The journey was amazing and filled with some heavy rains, scenic beauty on all four corners of the road, cloudy snow patches, and little close to zero visibility near the Zozilla Pass and not to forget the scrumptious lunch at Sonmarg - in a dhaba atmosphere. Lovely and scenic ride for day one.
Night we spent in the tents at small village 40 odd kms from Kargil - which is worth of an experience. One could see million stars in the sky at night - eye soothing experience. Next day we visited Lamayuru monastery, moonland (the patch that resembles the land on moon), magnetic hill (that claims to be only place on earth which defies gravity!) and Pattharsahib Gurudwara. At Gurudwara, it was almost the end of the day and we had a beautiful and magnificent sunset which filled the sky with shades of yellow and orange. Post this, we reached hotel Bijoo to camp our baggage for the rest of our trip.
Leh City, in and around, the Festival, visit to Tso-mo-riri and Nubra Valley - Baron Paradise.
The next day, 30 August, was to be spent in and around the city, visiting various monasteries, Hemis Monastery, Thikse Monastery, Shanti Stupa and the Hall of Fame Museum with rest of the day to be at leisure. 31st August was the day to visit Pangong Lake which I skipped for the festival day.
The next day, 1 September, was the day of beginning of "The Ladakh Festival". Early morning at around 10 a.m., we left to see the rally that was to leave from the main market (Bazaar). The rally, was divided and filled with various parts / region of Ladakh, vibrant colours, traditional outfits, culture of ladakh and but ofcourse people from those various parts. The rally lasted for about 1 hour and the whole cultural event was to happen at the Polo Ground in the Leh city, after an inaugural session. The inaugural session and the cultural event lasted for about 3 hours and its an indescribable event which I would not want to attempt. In the evening we saw a friendly polo match which ended up one sided in favour of the Army team who defeated the scouts team with a score of 6-0.
Next day morning, was a day to visit the Nubra Valley, and en-route is the worlds highest motorable road - Kardung-La. The journey is long and tiring and we had to be at Nubra Valley overnight in Nubra Organic Retreat tents. The camp site is a delight in itself, where every meal is an organic meal, made of the vegetables grown in the camp site and fresh apples and apricots, which we could have as many as we wanted. Later we had a good night sleep at the camp site and the next day early morning we were to return back to the Leh city. The return journey will remain as memorable one, since there was a good amount of snow fall at the Khardung-La which made the whole journey majestic, with snowy patches on both side of the road. The return journey became a visual delight.
For last destination of our trip, we were to leave early morning next day for Tso-moriri, my favourite destination and by far the best, a longest drive of about 240 kms from the City. Very few tour operators takes up this destination and the beauty still remains intact. The journey was filled with cloudy patches and sign of heavy rains at Tso-moriri. Unfortunately, the cloud covers did the trick and the lake was greyish blue instead bluish blue. Inspite of the clouds, evening and morning sun rays from the gaps kept the lake and the surrounding beautiful and magestic. Evening we went for a trek with Bijoo bhai, who encouraged the enthusiastic bunch for a trek. After every 10 steps each one of us was limping and still a handful of us did make it to the top of a smallish looking huge peak. It was a heavenly feeling for all of us who completed the expedition. The next day early morning was a planned walk around the lake for a little bit of birding and to capture the sunrise. With near zero temperature early morning at around 5, a handful of us managed for the most pleasant and memorable early morning walk. Tso-moriri - by far the best destination.The next day was a planned day for a rafting experience, which we opted to skip and rested at the hotel and did some shopping. You get lot of handicraft and artifact stuff at this place for which you need to be a good bargainer to avoid being fooled. 7th September, 2011 was the day we returned with memories of the best ever break that one could get. Just one last takeaway from the trip - Ladakh - we will be back again!!!
Link to the Pics -
Serene Srinagar
Festival and the Polo Match
Rest of the Album
Gang who made it to the Heaven
