Stretching like a lunar landscape high in the remote regions of the karakoram mountains, the plateau of ladakh,wild,vast and barren and one of the most forbidding regions of the world, has a compelling charm and beauty of its own that draws thousand of visitors from all over the world. here the awesome,snowcovered mountains tower above, frighteningly close, terrifying gorges descend almost vertically to snake like rivers thousands of feet below, in the primeval setting triumphant nature rules supreme-man humbled, cleansed and exhilarated.
The road to Ladakh is from the beauteous vale of Kashmir, and passing through rich rolling downs with their meadows of wild flowers, it ascends and enters the Zojila pass with walls of snow and ice, coming out Ladakh, stark and dramatic, a sea of bare mountains that change colour in the changing light-beige, earth red,slate-blue,dull mauve and a deep dark purple. Starting patches of greenery break the bleak landscape-wherever there is water at the base of the glacier.
Here in the quaint civilization sheltered from the winds of change, timelessness prevails; nestling amidst the rugged rock and towering granite surrounded by cultivated patches that look like pure jade, and ancient lamaseries carved into hillsides are heart throbbing.
There are a lot of incidents and experiences that I have carried with me from this journey and have no words to describe them.
Ladakh -- a distant land of austere beauty where people live simply and love life. A land where people coexist with one another and with nature in harmony and peace. A land where community ties are strong yet individuality flourishes, and spirituality is an inextricable part of everyday life. Perhaps it would not be sentimental or naive to suggest that such a culture, although it lacks the material and technological advances of the West, represents the ultimate flowering of our human potential, the pinnacle of what we as human beings can aspire to become -- and that in the future of Ladakh will be reflected the fate of our species as a sustainable presence on Earth.
Indeed a tour to Ladakh with an earnest will to explore honestly could be a much more rewarding experience than usual holidays one would have taken to be just free from the work-and-live busy cultural life. Only a personal visit to this land of will answer ones inquisitive mind. So, Welcome and live for your self the experience that is talked about here.
I will never forget this summer; from the moment that everybody met up at station to the time when we said our goodbyes I have had some of the best times ever. Experiencing the Ladakhi culture first hand is something that I will always remember. Going to Leh was amazing, and I had a brilliant time, and it was a great place to get to see. This really was a once in a lifetime experience.
USHMA MEHTA
03 JUNE 2007.
Showing posts with label Experiences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Experiences. Show all posts
Friday, 8 June 2007
Thursday, 7 June 2007
A Simple Introduction to Ladakh
Ladakh is a land of contrasts. On one hand you are surrounded by stark, barren mountains for miles around and on the other you are treated to colour in all its glory in the monasteries that seem to dot every few kilometers.
As a people, Ladakhis are extremely polite and hospitable, often to the point of being servile. This works to their disadvantage when it comes to the rude, arrogant tourists who swarm the place every second month. All said and done, I thought they made some wonderfully warm strangers, and I think they're like that with everyone, regardless of whether you're a tourist or a local.
What strikes you about Ladakh and the journey there is that most often you find yourself in what seems like the middle of nowhere. But there is nearly always something that is arrestingly beautiful about these vast and numerous nowheres, and chances are that you will look around you with your mouth agape and an awe-stricken look on your face.
It is easy to lose yourself in a land like Ladakh. The more you see of it, the more aware of yourself you become. To live there is a constant challenge. Everything the Ladakhis do seems foreign to us because at the best of times, we cannot imagine living in the conditions they do. To visit Ladakh is to set yourself a physical, emotional and mental challenge at the end of which you feel a strong, heady sense of accomplishment.
As a people, Ladakhis are extremely polite and hospitable, often to the point of being servile. This works to their disadvantage when it comes to the rude, arrogant tourists who swarm the place every second month. All said and done, I thought they made some wonderfully warm strangers, and I think they're like that with everyone, regardless of whether you're a tourist or a local.
What strikes you about Ladakh and the journey there is that most often you find yourself in what seems like the middle of nowhere. But there is nearly always something that is arrestingly beautiful about these vast and numerous nowheres, and chances are that you will look around you with your mouth agape and an awe-stricken look on your face.
It is easy to lose yourself in a land like Ladakh. The more you see of it, the more aware of yourself you become. To live there is a constant challenge. Everything the Ladakhis do seems foreign to us because at the best of times, we cannot imagine living in the conditions they do. To visit Ladakh is to set yourself a physical, emotional and mental challenge at the end of which you feel a strong, heady sense of accomplishment.
Wednesday, 6 June 2007
LEH-LADAKH EXPERIENCE
I had been hoping that this would be a journey of a lifetime for me...and now i can proudly proclaim to all those who had any doubts about me being a part of this trip that this has been one of the most unforgettable and breathtaking experiences of my life...an experience that I will treasure forever...
The heavenly glimpses began right from the time we were approaching Drass and the battlefield at Kargil...the first glimpse of snow filled me with elation and childlike exitement...I was totally mesmerised by the expanse of the Great Himalayas...our stay was equally pleasurable what with the breathtaking view of the snow-capped mountains from our hotel rooms and the wonderful people at the hotel who made sure that no stone was left unturned in giving us the best of services...every single day was delightful, courtesy all the beautiful places thet we visited, be it the ageold monasteries or gompas and the palaces or all the passes we went through - Chang-la pass (our first snowing experience) and Khandurg-la pass - or the shokingly diverse variety that we encountered in a few hundred kilometres- Pangong lake, the rivers Nubra and Shyok, sand dunes - everything was so diverse but at the same time blended so beautifully and seamlessly with each other...all this and the view of the snow-capped mountains kept me safe from any sort of altitude sickness...guess my mind, body and spirit were too mesmerised by this place to bother falling sick...
And I could go on and on and on about this place and my experiences...all I could say to sum it all up is that this place is a world in itself and it makes me proud that this heavenly abode is in my backyard, in India, a place that I call home...
The heavenly glimpses began right from the time we were approaching Drass and the battlefield at Kargil...the first glimpse of snow filled me with elation and childlike exitement...I was totally mesmerised by the expanse of the Great Himalayas...our stay was equally pleasurable what with the breathtaking view of the snow-capped mountains from our hotel rooms and the wonderful people at the hotel who made sure that no stone was left unturned in giving us the best of services...every single day was delightful, courtesy all the beautiful places thet we visited, be it the ageold monasteries or gompas and the palaces or all the passes we went through - Chang-la pass (our first snowing experience) and Khandurg-la pass - or the shokingly diverse variety that we encountered in a few hundred kilometres- Pangong lake, the rivers Nubra and Shyok, sand dunes - everything was so diverse but at the same time blended so beautifully and seamlessly with each other...all this and the view of the snow-capped mountains kept me safe from any sort of altitude sickness...guess my mind, body and spirit were too mesmerised by this place to bother falling sick...
And I could go on and on and on about this place and my experiences...all I could say to sum it all up is that this place is a world in itself and it makes me proud that this heavenly abode is in my backyard, in India, a place that I call home...
The Leh -Manali route (experiences)
I honestly thought this was going to be one of the most unforgettable trips of my life and now I can safely assure everyone that. The spectacular road journey from Leh to Manali would forever be the most outstanding road journey of my life until I find my Shangri-la. From beautiful mountain vistas ,the mineral splashed green and ochre valleys to springfed lakes, this place has it all.Even a bout of altitude sickness is eclipsed by the scenery.The sky at sunset looks a cloudy bowl of molten gold. Civilisations here seem to be miles apart.The journey seems like an eternity.The roads normally got bad to worse, sometimes non-existent thanks to our adventurous driver. Occasionally one could see some sort of life on this otherwise barren landscape. Occasionally there was the sight of army camps with armymen who were more than happy at seeing some new Indian faces which otherwise is a rare site.It was very humbling for me to see the people there and to see the kind of lives they have to lead in comparision to ours in terms of weather conditions and isolation. Even the life the armymen have to undergo so that we may lead safe lives. All the adjectives in the English language cannot do this place justice. Nothing really prepares one for the raw power of this region. The vistas, the never ending winding roads and an average elevation of 10,000 feet throughout was a great experience.
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