Blogs

The Illusion of Eden and Paradise In the languid days of my youth, I boarded a plane in the throbbing heart of New York City, bound for a distant corner of the globe. When the aircraft finally touched down in Bali, the world outside was cloaked in darkness. Yet, as the sun crested the horizon the next morning, I was greeted by a young man with a radiant smile, offering me ripe mangoes and strong tea on the sun-drenched terrace of my bungalow. Surrounding me were little girls with angelic faces, frolicking amidst a riot of colors. The dreary chill of midwinter had given way, almost as if by enchantment, […]

Embarking on the Ultimate Journey with the Ultimate Travelling Camp Arriving in Leh, the plane’s descent unveils a spectacle of snow-kissed Himalayan peaks towering over a desolate yet captivating Martian expanse. This grand introduction sets the tone for the journey ahead in Ladakh, a realm defined by its high-altitude passes, shimmering rivers, and the profound cultural tapestry woven into the very fabric of this remote land. The initial breathlessness upon leaving the small, bustling airport serves as a stark reminder of Ladakh’s lofty perch. As a high-altitude desert, it offers a unique climate where summer reigns supreme from June to October. My early June arrival, at the cusp of the […]

Tso Moriri: A Lake Among the Clouds In the shadow of the towering peaks, Tso Moriri stands as a testament to the raw, unyielding beauty of the Himalayas. The name is unassuming, yet the stories that surround it are anything but. They speak of the lake’s origins, where a Buddhist nun, in her search for a lost yak, called out “ri, ri” across the ice. The beast and its pursuer met a tragic fate, swallowed by the freezing waters—a tale woven with the threads of myth and harsh reality, much like the landscape itself. My journey to Tso Moriri in August was a marathon of endurance, a ten-hour drive that […]

After eight hours on what was promised as a mere six-hour trek through the secluded Sko Valley of Ladakh, our base camp remained elusive. Each time my resolve faltered, the wilderness seemed determined to mesmerize me further. We meandered past three stunning lakes, their waters undisturbed by human presence, while rugged, unclimbed peaks loomed protectively over glaciers that nourished the Ku Lungpa River. And the crossing of that river? Just another adventure in our tale! The sun flirted endlessly with the clouds, casting me alternately as a roast potato and a frostbitten icicle. The wind hummed a ceaseless melody, as if nature itself were urging me onward, “Persevere, you fool!” […]

Embarking on the Markha Valley Expedition Having previously ventured through the Sham Valley, I now turned my gaze towards one of Ladakh’s most storied paths: the Markha Valley Trek. Armed with my trusted camera, I was prepared to capture the essence of this renowned journey. Ladakh, cloaked in the natural fortifications of its rugged mountains and enduring the harsh grip of its winters, remains one of India’s most secluded terrains. Its spectacular vistas and the lure of the Himalayan peaks draw travelers, both local and international, to its summer embrace. The allure of Buddhist festivals and iconic sites like Pangong Tso—a high-altitude lake celebrated in the film “3 Idiots”—add to […]

Aryan Valley Artifacts: The Valley of the Dards Revealed The road to the Aryan Valley is not marked on most maps, but it is etched in the memory of those who venture into its hidden depths. My journey began as most do in Ladakh—by air, descending into Leh’s thin air before moving onward to Nurla, a modest village with little fanfare. Nurla’s purpose was simple: to give me a place to catch my breath, both literally and metaphorically, before I plunged into the enigmatic world of the Brokpa Dards. The route to Dha, where the Brokpa dwell, follows the winding course of the Indus River. The river, ancient and unyielding, […]

Nubra Valley journey: The road winds through the desolate heights, a ribbon of peril clinging to the mountainside, where stones the size of beasts tumble without warning, and the skeletal remains of vehicles long fallen dot the landscape, a silent testament to the dangers lurking in the shadows. There are no barriers here, nothing but the jagged edge of reality and the pull of the abyss below. In the front seat of our jeep, I feel the weight of each moment, every turn a gamble against the snow and ice that coat the Khardung La Pass. The air is thin, and time stretches, slowing down to a crawl as we […]

Turtuk Village, in the shadow of the Ladakh mountains, is a land both silent and severe where time seems to be in no rush. Here, nestled close to the border of Pakistan, a quiet king oversees his domain. Yabgo Mohammad Khan Kacho, the last remnant of a once-great dynasty, speaks of his ancestors with a calm certainty. “For 2,000 years, my family has ruled these lands,” he remarks, his voice steady like the flow of the Shyok River that winds its way through the valley. The king’s realm is modest, its borders defined by fields of buckwheat and the rough-hewn stones of village paths. Turtuk, with its deep Muslim roots, […]

Ladakhi Food Culture: The High-Altitude Flavors of Ladakh, India In the remote and often snowbound reaches of North India, where the land remains isolated for much of the year, there lies a hidden culinary tradition waiting to be discovered. Ladakh, a region more renowned for its rugged landscapes and treacherous mountain passes, offers a food culture as resilient and inventive as its people. Imagine biting into warm, stuffed flatbreads cooked over a flickering charcoal flame, sipping on the tart sweetness of freshly pressed apricot juice, or savoring handmade dumplings dipped in a tangy tomato chutney. These are just glimpses of the dishes that define Ladakh’s unique culinary identity—a narrative woven […]

History of Ladakh whispers through the barren winds of its remote expanses, carrying tales of travelers who ventured into this unforgiving landscape with dreams of conquest and curiosity. For over a millennium, men and women, driven by ambition and necessity, have charted paths across its high-altitude deserts, scaling mountains that scrape the sky, and forging new trade routes through the vast unknown. Ladakh, perched at the crossroads of ancient civilizations, served not just as a waypoint but as a crucible where cultures collided, exchanged, and left indelible marks. The Silk Road, a web of routes that stretched across continents, wove its way through Ladakh, bestowing the region with a unique […]