Ladakh Diaries Story of some evenings when I am just awestruck by life: That life exists on the other side of my world too. That life exists in those tiny houses over the cliffs, near ferocious rivers, near dawdling streams. That life exists in a dense thick forest. That life exists in the traditional dances, in the authentic food. That life exists in the colorful clothes & extraordinary jewelry. That life exists in hilly areas, amidst vast mountains & barren deserts. It’s fascinating to even think there exists a place called ‘Ladakh’..!!!
– Gauri Argade
My adrenalin levels were way up while I was planning this Ladakh trip. There was so much of anxiety, how would we cope in the high passes, in the harsh climate, would our health be okay, on top of that will our avenger 220cc support the strenuous roads. There were just too many thoughts before starting. They say active nerves before travel are quite normal, but the pre travel jitters made it difficult to concentrate on our day to day activities. The final day of leaving home came that’s when it hit me; yes we are going to Ladakh!!! My fingers were crossed and my heart was praying to the universe. The trip went through lot of phases, it had twists and turns. It ended up in a different unplanned way. I still wonder which one would have been more adventurous- the one that happened or the one that was planned. The political & climate conditions didn’t support us at the end of the journey. The thing that sets our story apart from other Ladakh stories is our strong will and undying spirit to complete the circuit. From typical city roads of Chandigarh, to pine trees, valleys, rivers on Jammu Srinagar highway, to first sight of snow peaked mountains at Sonmarg, to rocky muddy barren land of Ladakh, to riding on dirt road alongside of snow, the transition from cityscape to landscape was worth the money worth the efforts. There was a point in Leh, when almost all roads were closed due to landslides, rainfall and we were stuck in Leh for almost 2 days. So we had no option but travel from manali to leh in a single day. It’s quite normal for the manali drivers, but for us it was going to be a long and adventurous ride of almost 20 hours.
We crossed the deadly Baralacha pass at 8:00 pm, Rohtang pass at 2:00 am to find dense fog before Manali. After 26 hours of anxiety, tiredness, we finally reached Manali at 4:00 am, then Chandigarh and at last Mumbai by flight. Barren Land, High passes, crossing freezing streams, battling high altitude sickness, riding along fierce rivers and snow clad mountains, scary rains, meeting maratha batalion at kargil, hearing their stories, eating delicious parathas in Punjab, trying local Ladakhi food, saluting each and every army men passing by, acknowledging every passing rider, happy Tears at Khardungla pass (world’s highest motorable road in the world), a visit to Hall of fame, driving through crazy fog at Rohtang pass at 2 am, crossing Baralacha pass in dark, our ride through Tso kar lake, the word ‘landslide’ and the hatred associated with it, eating Maggi at Pang, attending a Ladakhi Birthday party and so much more. It was one of the best journeys of life. Someone has rightly said – “Travelling, it leaves you speechless and turns you into story teller”. The story telling is still on. Every time the audience is left spellbound! “Organised by Isha tour Atmaram Parab, every query, every worry was answered. Duration of the trip- 11July-25July 2015 The route: Chandigarh – Jammu-Srinagar-Kargil-Leh-Nubra-Pangong-leh-sarchu-Keylong-Manali-Chandigarh
Out of the many special moments, the best time was experiencing ‘The Pangong Lake’ for the first time: To the vastness I surrender, I sit in the core of something seemed like a universe. Calmness, peace, serenity, I felt composed. Enchanting prayers & conversing with god I could feel the irrefutable aura. Tears welled in my eyes, as I got all the answers. The mystifying feel was indefinable. Could I just once feel nirvana as I plea to the mighty power. When will I …feel a state of complete bliss???? As I walked away, I could see people, but I lost myself. In the greatness of the nature as I ceded, his power broke me into pieces. – Gauri Argade
‘The happiness when your bike touches the Ladakh soil’_ Canon shot Photo courtesy – Gauri Argade
‘In those 14 days I left pieces of soul in the deep portions of valleys, clear blue sky and colorful fluttering flags”_GoPro shot Photo courtesy – Gauri Argade
‘You lose sight of things when you are here…Your life and everything back home..It’s magical!_ Canon shot Photo courtesy – Gauri Argade
As Shakespeare says “To be or not to be that is the question..Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings & arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles” _Canon shot – Photo courtesy – Gauri Argade
Sky becomes the curtain to this amazing monastery and we mere spectators!_ Canon shot Photo courtesy – Gauri Argade
“Abode of clouds” _ Canon shot – Photo courtesy – Gauri Argade
‘I am here somewhere” _Canon shot – Photo courtesy – Gauri Argade‘Beliefs” _ Canon shot – Photo courtesy – Gauri Argade
‘Blue sky merging with blue lake’ _ GoPro shot – Photo courtesy – Gauri Argade
‘Waiting for the school bus’… With mountains in the background and river flowing around, it must be difficult to concentrate. _ Canon shot Photo courtesy – Gauri Argade
Our Little Ladakhi Hosts_Canon shot Photo courtesy: Gauri Argade
