Have you ever wanted to be in a place where you could witness the marvel of nature? A land which will mesmerize and thrill you, a place where you will forget the busy life and embrace beauty of nature, a place where you would like to ignore your phone calls and texts and just walk with the breeze and feel cuddled in the arms of the endearing atmosphere. I have carefully used these adjective to begin my description of a land, for which even words or images wouldn’t do justice. Ladakh the mystic land has captivated all those who came here to enfold her beauty. This land has an unusual splendor, especially when you travel through the rugged terrain and on the rocky roadways; the anguish of the jeep safari vanishes, and make you feel acquainted with the terrain.
 |
| Ladakh |
Ladakh is known for its mind-boggling eco-system in the world. This land is rich in its flora and fauna, plateaus, uplands, and its distinct mountains. You can see a host of mammals and over a hundred species of birds in Ladakh, of which most of them are classified as endangered and rare species. Ladakhs eco-system is fragile and sensitive; hence through this article my humble motive is to promote eco-tourism in this pristine land, which is unhindered by the rising level of global pollution.
This rocky yet gorgeous land of Ladakh is located in the northern most part of India, Jammu and Kashmir. The aesthetic charm of this land attracts thousands of people from the world each year. My journey to this mystic land was an unplanned venture, however I was trying not to go overboard with my excitement, as I contemplated that Ladakh has many more things to explore. In Ladakh, my expectations were not just fulfilled, but this land gave a whole new perspective to my life. Ladakh is a great place for all those who seek adventure. This spell binding terrain offers a wide range of adventure activities such as Trekking, mountaineering, river rafting and jeep safari.
As Ladakh lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the great Himalayas to the south, you will witness a host of gorgeous snowcapped mountains as well as feel the magical mountain breeze.
As a famous quote by Dostoevsky states that sometimes even perfect strangers, begin to interest us at first sight, even before a word has been spoken, similarly I too found a long lost kinship with the people of Ladakh. The interactions with the locals and my attempts at comprehending the Ladakhi culture, has made my stay in Ladakh an unforgettable trip. The people here are very cheerful and vibrant. This land is deeply rooted in its culture, and stands abreast with the modern traditions as well. The neighboring state Tibet, which lies to the east of Ladakh, has a strong influence on the Ladakhi culture, as a matter of fact even the Ladakhi language is written in Tibetan Script, and also this influence can be seen in Ladakhi cuisine as well. Talking about the Ladakhi cuisine, one should never miss to taste the savories like Thukpa (noodle soup), Momos (vegetable stuffed dumplings) and Tsampa (barley bread).
Buddhism is the dominant religion in Ladakh, Hinduism and Islam are the other main religions here. Ladakh can also be called a land of colourful festivals. The people here celebrate these festivals with much gusto and pomp. Most of the festivals here occur during the winters, some of the well known festivals here are, Hemis Festival, Dosmoche Festival, Losar, Thiksey, Karsha, Spituk Gustor and Matho Nagrang, Stok Guru Tsechu, Phyang Tsedup, Yuru Kabgyat and Sindhu Darshan.
These festivals make you travel across the boundaries of time and space with the spectacular display of colour and the amazing dance dramas that are visual treat. So it’s indeed a bad idea to miss this stunning display of Ladakhi culture and art.
Hemis is one of the most significant festivals here. Hemis is celebrated in July to commemorate the birth of Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tantric Buddhism. The main highlight of the festival is the sacred dance drama performed by Lamas wearing vibrant facial masks and colourful brocades. The 3 day long festival is celebrated in the courtyard of the biggest monastery in Ladakh, the Hemis Gompa. Another major attraction of the festival is the two-storey high Thangka, a Tibetan silk painting embroidered with pearls and semi-precious stones, with the depiction of Padmasambhava.
Unlike many other places that I have visited, Ladakh is a bit different when it comes to its climate. Owing to its high altitude, Ladakh experiences extreme variations in its climate. Here the months of December and January are generally freezing below minus degree Celsius. Ladakh is a summer destination for international tourists whereas the domestic tourists flock to Ladakh to enjoy the view of the snow capped hills and frozen lake. In the months between April and October, the barren lands of Ladakh become dry and hot. Ladakh is also known as the region of scanty rainfall, as rainfall here is meagre. Drass in western Ladakh is the coldest place in India. It is considered to be the second coldest inhabited place in the world after Siberia. In winters, the temperature here drops down to about -40 degrees Celsius.
The best time to visit Ladakh is between June and September. During this time you will witness lucid stunning views and warm and sunny weather. The ideal time for trekkers is between July and August.
The main cities in Ladakh are Lamayuru, Temisgan, Ridzong, Saspol, Likir, Alchi, Leh, Stok, Phyang, Shey, Tikse, Chemre and Hemis. Leh is the largest city in the Ladakh region. The infamous war between India and Pakistan was fought in Kargil district of Ladakh in 1999.
Apart from the scenic terrains and beautiful mountains, I witnessed the most charming lakes in the country. And by most charming I mean the stunning Pangong Lake, it will surely captivate you with its serenity. If you don’t know, the Pangong Lake is bisected by the international border between India and China.
Ladakh –The land of high passes
 |
| Ladakh Roadways |
Imagine being on the top of the world. In Ladakh, you feel like being on the pinnacle of the earth, your desire to explore bliss and beauty are rekindled here. To make you feel on top of the world there are many passes in this region. The well known passes are, Khardung La, Tanglang La, and Bara-lacha la. Khardung La lies to the north of Leh and is known to be the gateway to Shyok and Nubra valleys, and is believed to be the highest motorable pass in the world. An adventurous motor bike expedition is the best way to explore this region. Moreover, motor biking is also the best way to meet people from different cultures, and this adds to the learning you receive from Ladakh. The encounters with the locals will surely add to the pleasurable journey.
Land of Monasteries
In Ladakh, one will get an opportunity to get rejuvenated and experience spiritual bliss. The mention of spiritual bliss here is directly associated to the beautiful monasteries in this region. The monasteries here add to the elegance and grace of Ladakh. Alchi Gompa, which is situated on the banks of the Indus River, is considered to be one of the most impressive monasteries in Ladakh. It is popular for its unique architecture and beautiful paintings. Thikse Gompa is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery, located on top of a hill, approximately 19 kms east of Leh. It is noted for its Stupas, statues, Thangkas, wall paintings and swords. Other major monasteries here are Phyang Gompa, Korzok Gompa, Likir Gompa, and Spituk Gompa.
Ladakh is the haven for adventure sports lovers. People from across the globe flock to this rugged terrain to experience the adrenalin rushing adventure sports lie trekking, mountaineering, river rafting and jeep safari. Jeep safari through the rugged terrain is the best way to explore the captivating rustic beauty of Ladakh. River rafting is also a much sought after sporting event in Ladakh. River rafting from Phey village to Nimo renders a picturesque view of the gorgeous mountains and breathtaking landscapes of Ladakh. Also, cycling is a great adventure sport to be experienced in Ladakh. It is the best way to explore the exotic locales and the snow capped Himalayan range. Stok Kangri is the highest mountain in the Stok Range of the Himalayas in the Ladakh. This site is a popular trekking peak
Other major attractions to look forward in Ladakh
· The Baily Bridge located in the Ladakh valley between the Dras and Suru Rivers in the Himalayan range. It was built by the Indian Army in August 1982 · Shanti Stupa in Ladakh was built by Japanese Buddhist Bhikshu Gyomyo Nakamura, who is also a rock musician, in 1991. The relics of Buddha are placed in the base of this Stupa. Shanti Stupa is located on a hilltop in Chanspa, Leh.
· Buddhist Mani stones with the mantra of Avalokiteshvara inscribed on them. In Zanskar these uniquely carved Buddhist Mani stones are kept along the roadsides and rivers as an offering to the spirits of place (Genius loci).
· The Ladakhi Yak - It weighs about a ton, and is 6 feet hig, and is known for its curved horn with tips that can be wide apart as much as 90 cm. The Yak safari here is also a one of kind experience.
· Brown bears - In Ladakh, brown bears (drenmo/tret) can be spotted in the Suru valley and the area around Dras. Brown bears are believed to be one of the largest land-based predators.
· There are around 225 species of birds in this region, which makes Ladakh the haven for exotic birdwatchers. Pashmina shawls, stoles, woollen garments, handmade woollen socks, gloves, caps, sweaters, hand-woven rugs and handicrafts are the most shopped items in Ladakh.
In Ladakh, you feel like being on the pinnacle of the earth, your desire to explore bliss and beauty are rekindled here. It is the pilgrimage for all those who seek redemption from their monotonous jobs. This land of beautiful horizons will ensure unforgettable and colorful memories. In 1800 words it is really difficult to describe the charm and enigma of this land, however this journey has a positively influenced, and I will continue to write more about this inexplicably beautiful land.
I assume that I have succeeded in my attempt to describe the ethereal land Ladakh. The reason I say “attempt to describe” is because as I mentioned earlier words and color landscape mode pictures barely do justice to the grandeur of this magnificent land. Since black and white pictures will spoil the fun, I have deliberately chosen not to include any images of Ladakh here.
India. Mr Dutta was the regional manager of Vadodara for Jet Air till May 2011. Mr Dutta is a graduate of the prestigious Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied
Nutrition (IHM), Bhopal. He has been part of travel industry for over 10 years. Mr Dutta can be
