A long cold week in Delhi in January can do numerous things, one of which is revival of an old crazy promise to freeze in Ladakh in winters. I had spent about a week in summers in Leh and had wondered about the place in winters at that time. I asked the locals in the town and was told about how harsh the place becomes, and also how beautiful when winters set in. Many people from the town move to warmer areas, and almost all hotels and guest houses shut. To me it sounded like an amazing wonderland and I promised myself to return back to the place when it turns mystical in the extreme cold.
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The view from the flight just before landing! |
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Leh monastery |
So I made a plan to travel alone to Ladakh, and booked my ticket just a day before my planned travel. It was all crazy, and not just me, but also people around me were also pretty excited about the trip. I couldn't find a functional hotel (most hotels shut in winters) so decided to try out home stay in the town. I had no plans, but I knew things will fall in place and plans get made once I started on this journey. It was crazy, but to too good an opportunity to be missed.
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My humble room |
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City from top |
Setting foot in minus 20 degrees for the first time at the airport was mind boggling and it took me a while to realize that I was actually in Leh and in such extreme conditions. I was frozen and stiff, but was completely loving it! I had already set foot into the beginning of the awesome challenge and so much more was to follow here.
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Shanti stupa |
I walked in the town, climbed hills to the monasteries, chatted with locals in the few open shops and ended up meeting a bunch of trekkers who were in town for the trek of their lifetime. I was relishing it all and was already more than satisfied for having lived up to this personal challenge. I was alive :)
So what happened next? More adventures ahead in the trek? Well, that's the subject for my next post :)
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Walking through the empty streets of the town |
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Early morning from my window... |
Beautiful pics Sid...in fact quite different from the other pics i have seen on Ladakh.
ReplyDeleteThanks buddy :)
DeleteBeautiful captures of the snow clad Leh! :)
ReplyDeletewww.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in
! word I am loving it thanks for posting .......... (y)
ReplyDeleteOk. I know "to envy" is a sin, but I envy a few things here. I envy the fact that you could just pick up and go do this without receiving any backlash from anyone, and that you just decided to go somewhere and do something without a solid plan, living on the edge of spontaneity, and that you are just able to fit into a random group of people as if they were your great friends.
ReplyDelete*sigh*
Wonderful life.
Lovely pictures Sid !! After so many times in Ladakh, I am kind of getting firm on my plans coming February for it.
ReplyDelete