Ladakh Diaries

Taking a break from writing about my parenting experiences, I am gonna relive one of my most amazing travel experiences. That definitely has to be my trip to Ladakh.

It was the pre-covid era and travelling for fun and leisure was routine. A trip to Ladakh had always been on the must visit checklist. It materialized in a sudden and unexpected manner.

It so happened one my husband’s college friends, a native of Leh was getting married. Yup, so Ladakh not just happened as a vacation for me but it also gave me a chance to be a part of a local wedding. A win-win I would say.

Though am a beach loving kinda girl but nothing can match up to the experience that Ladakh is. Pristine and out of this world are all terms that fall short for it. Catch a glimpse of my trip to Ladakh in the post and do let me know in the comments about your travel experiences.

Day 1– Arriving at Ladakh

We entered Ladakh over a spectacular view of the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges visible from our flight. The sight of those formidable ranges is enough to take your breath away. We landed at the Leh airport somewhere around 7:30 in the morning.

Along with carrying out the routine stuff like collecting our baggage, I was taking in the surroundings through my eyes. Do note that no photography is allowed at the Leh Airport.

It is heavily recommended to acclimatize for the first day and not undertake any travel to higher altitudes. Also since we had the marriage ceremony next evening so our 2 days were already reserved for Leh.

Sleep and hydration are the key to acclimatization.

We slept in till afternoon and planned on doing some local sightseeing later. We spent the evening at the Leh Monastery and explored the local market.

Day 2– Leh Sightseeing & Marriage Function

The next day was reserved for sight seeing around Leh, starting with the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers, a picturesque spot. We covered the War Memorial on our way back to the hotel.

After a short nap, got ready for the wedding. Our first stop was the home of the groom. I got to meet his family and had the chance of tasting butter tea, a drink local to the area and other Himalayan regions. It is not just delicious but also good for the high altitude and cold weathers.

After an evening of food, dancing and fun conversations, we retired for the night. I was super excited as the next day was gonna be more adventurous as we would be leaving for the Nubra Valley.

Day 3– Drive to Nubra Valley

Words fall short for describing our drive towards Nubra Valley. I had personally never witnessed any sight or terrain like it. The day included a visit to the Diskit Monastery, drive across the sand dunes, ATV ride and photoshoot in local costume.

But nothing could beat the experience of the drive itself and of course the Khardung La Pass.

We retired for the night at our resort located in Hundar.

Note: Be prepared to compromise when it comes to washrooms as there are very few proper toilets along the entire stretch. Most are just boxed up holes in the ground. But then there are people and our armed forces living in these extreme terrains and climates all the year round without any luxury. We can take in the scenic beauty and forget our discomfort for once.

Day 4– Pangong Lake Visit

We were to return back to Leh but only after visiting the Pangong Lake. You can stand and stare at the lake for hours and yet not get enough of it. In fact, pictures don’t do justice to the lake.

It is said that on a good day, the lake appears as blue as a sapphire. We were caught up in a cloudy day. But that didn’t mar the beauty of the lake even a single bit.

As I drove back towards Leh, processing all the wonders of nature that I had witnessed in the last 2 days, I was gonna see something else unexpectedly. It had begun snowing. I got to experience it and also play around with it.

Day 5– Return

It was the day of return. We caught up once more with the group of friends and went to see the new bride and groom before leaving. Their marriage had given the opportunity for me to check one of my must visit places off the list.

After roaming around a bit in the local market, finally left for the airport to catch our return flight. We flew off with the splendid Himalayan Ranges disappearing below us.

It was a great feeling penning this down after so many years. Signing off with a bonus image of a Himalayan Marmot posing for us en-route to Pangong.