Showing posts with label Nubra Valley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nubra Valley. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

snowed-in near Khardung La...

To reach Nubra Valley, Ladakh one has to drive all the way up to Khardung La pass (the highest motorable road in the region) and then slide down to the valley.

When we set out in the morning from Leh, the sun was shining bright and we had clear blue skies, but as we started our climb to Khardung La, we were welcomed by a huge expanse of beautiful white snow-covered brown mountains!

Yes, the excitement on Mallika's face clearly reflected on mine and my husband's too.
After pushing our faces outside the vehicle and enjoying the light cold snow, we were told by our driver that we would have to wait. Wait for what?

Apparently when it snows, the vehicles on the narrow mountain roads take their own time to drive up. Some are prepared for the slippery roads with iron chains draped over the tyres, while others slip, wait, stop, wait and wait...

So while we waited...
We compared notes on our turquoise stone ornaments that we picked up from the Leh market.
( It's tough to identity an original turquoise stone, but there are various varieties for various price ranges so do bargain hard:-)
...and marveled at the fact that how man and nature live so harmoniously in a remote corner of the world.

When nature says stop. Man stops.

Nothing was lost, we moved at a slow pace and finally reached our beautiful destination~Nubra Valley.
The journey was as interesting as the destination;-)

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Apple blossoms and Nubra Valley...

Nubra Valley has been described as a little piece of heaven nestled in the harsh landscape of Ladakh. We had to cross Khardung La Pass,(more on that later) the highest motorable road in Ladakh region to reach the quiet valley of Nubra filled with lush Poplar trees, grazing yaks and traditional Ladakhi houses.We chose a guesthouse called Snow Leopard, Hunder which could easily pass of as any traditional Ladakhi house with narrow gurgling streams, freshly sowed radish patches and apple trees...

The slow pace of life, the subtle fragrance of apple blossoms, the chirping sparrows, that hopping fat red-breasted robin and sipping hot masala chai in the company of interesting people, puts things back in perspective on life.

I believe that travel is an extremely important part of one's life and everyone needs to undertake a journey for themselves.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Ladakh~ Nature's mega blockbuster...

We have just returned from our trip to Ladakh, where nature completely cast a spell on us.

Will need sometime to unwind before I can share all those little stories from this land so rugged, so stark, so magical!