My First Vision of Ladakh

When you realize a dream, the adrenaline rushes and you live every flash of time. You get a high by being in awe of an illusion of being where you always imagined. You wish time to pause and be there for forever. This is how I always fancied I would feel when I will be in LADAKH, the crown of my wish list, not a place but an experience, enthralling enough to leave you awestruck.

My dreaming days

Even the idea of being in LADAKH fascinated me. I had many sleepless nights due to the cravings of being there. And finally it was August, the best time to experience the best of the best place. I couldn’t sleep the night before I left for Ladakh in exuberance and was counting minutes. Finally I boarded my flight with high spirits. One hour passed within a blink of eye and I was flying above my dreamland. I looked from the window and for a second I was dazed by the mirage. The clouds were parting and giving me way to see the emerging golden brown mountains with streaks of snow. That illusionary mountain desert hypnotized me and I was overwhelmed from inside.

First view of Ladakh from flight

Is Ladakh your dream destination?

If yes, how do you imagine it would be?

If you have been to Ladakh, how you felt when you saw first sight of it?

Magnificent Triund Trek

Triund, referred to as the Jewel of Dharamshala, is a heavenly retreat just 9 km away from the maddening crowds of city. Located in the Dhauladhar Range of Himalayas in Kangra district, Triund is at 2975m above sea level.Depending upon from where you start your trek, the road from Dharamkot, Naddi and Bhagsunag meet at Galu Temple and from here a well-defined uphill trek lead you to Triund. There are many shacks en route where trekkers stop to quench their hunger and thirst. 

Beautiful Panoramas en-route

The trail becomes tiring and difficult as you ascend, but all the fatigue go away as soon as you see the panoramic view of lush green valley, bunches of vibrant red rhododendrons and township below. Each new bend in the trail reveals another stunning vista of the valleys and terraced fields below.And then nature surprises with its wonder at Triund. What a view! 

Triund Top

You are actually above the clouds, crystal clear mountains and just greenery everywhere on one side and snow-capped Dhauladhar mounts on the another. Cool breeze kisses your face and take away all the fatigue and you lie yourself on the lush meadow. I was glad the clouds had parted just enough to give the spectacular views of Mount Dhauladhar. In Triund, there is a forest house on a secondary ridge of Dhauladhar. To stay here you need prior permit and advance bookings from Dharamshala. You can also use rock shelters to relax and grassy verdant meadow to pitch your tent.

Our little abode at Triund

Sights from the top are breathtaking and awe inspiring. You could see the spectacular three cotton wool peaks of Dhauladhar range from here, the reason this place is named Triund. When night approached and stars start twinkling, the whole aura of the location changes. The shimmering light of the valley below is a sight to behold.

Sunset at Triund

The mornings at such spectacular place are even more beautiful, clouds cover caressing the peaks of Dhauladhar and the belligerent sun rays piercing them to shine upon the land. In excitement I just sit and set a gaze at stunning panoramas during sunrise.

Snow Studded Ilaqa

The snow line of Ilaqa which is just 5km ascending walk from Triund is another experience to live. 

on way from Triund to Ilaqa

A walk through the picturesque snow covered peaks where one side plunges down into the deep abyss and snow itself is the only source of hydration. Such moments make you realize that you are such a tiny thing that exists in this world. The paths are infinite, some with a well-defined trail and a few where you define a trail. You proceed towards one peak and feel the next one is just a few steps ahead and when you walk towards that, you just go on and on. 

On way to Ilaqa

Out of all the odds there is a spirited man who runs a tea shop beneath a snow hooded cliff 9 months in a year at Ilaqa.

A shot beneath a snow covered valley

The best thing about being footloose in divine Himalayas is the chance to experience the world directly and without a filter, and to rediscover the rhythms of the day and the seasons. Hiking is an unscripted experience where spontaneity is the rule.

Ilaqa or Snowline

Have you been on a trek in Dhauladhar? If yes, share your experience.

Glorious Sunset at Bir

On this rainy day, I traveled to Bir Billing instead of starting my way to Triund. Driving from Dharamshala, I passed through the beautiful trails of Palampur. Few hours and I stood tall at Bir, the Lush Himalayas with their peaks kissing the sky above. 

While sipping my tea, all I see ahead of me is the endless clusters of mountains and low lying villages of Billing. Wherever you are in Himalayas, a cup of tea and a plate of Maggie are never so far. Few hours later, as sun went lower, the shades of grey started to pour in the sky. I sat down, mesmerized by the adorable sunset. I wished I had a canvas, the paints and talent. I was glad, I had my sight. The aura was a prism spectrum with blended edges of streaking color. I don’t think I took a breath for many minutes.

Have you been to Bir? If yes, share your experience.

Remote land of Rajasthan - Jaisalmer

A Night in Thar

A famous saying-

""Ghoda kijiye kath ka
Pind kijiye pashan ka
Bakhtar kijiye lohe ka
Tab dekhiye Jaisaan""

"Kath" means wood. Have a wooden horse who does not ask for grass and water (ghoda ho lakdi ka jo ghas aur pani na mange). "Pind" means feet, "Pashan" means stones. Have feet made of rocks which does not get tired. (pair ho pathar k jo thakan na kre). "Bakhtar" means torso. Have an iron torso which can bear 48-50 degrees temperature. (shareer ho lohe ka jo 48-50 degree bear kr sake). "Jaisaan" means Jaisalmer. Then come and visit Jaisalmer

This "Golden City" is among the most offbeat places in India and you get to feel it as you sink in the golden sand of Jaisalmer. 

When traveling to Jaisalmer, it has a lot to soak in- Sun, Sand, Stories, Culture, People, Folk dances, Camel safaris, moonlit nights.... what more would you want??

The stories heard and read about ancient India are still the reality of this remote place. Ladies are not allowed to go out and study. When they see a city girl traveling to this place, you can make out this from their mere expressions. A really inhuman thing is Girl child is being killed right after birth in some villages. There is a village where girl headcount is negligible. Men pay lakhs of rupees to people in other villages for marrying their daughters. There are hardly any schools in this region. Men prefer to marry illiterate  because she would not know about the laws of separation or the actions she may take in case of harassment. Love marriage is an alien word in their world. Tourism helped in uplifting this region a bit and resolved their problems such as water and electricity.

When in Jaisalmer, spend a night under stars in lap of desert, switch off your phones and switch on your senses and feel the rhythm of this gold painted land, experience one of the most remote places in India by riding on the back of a camel in Thar Desert.

This mesmerizing experience is what you need to clear your head before you take life by the horns.

Kuldhara – The haunted village of Jaisalmer 

There are a lot of stories being told in news/internet about this place. What i got know after my visit to this abondoned village is:

Kul (vansh/parentage) + Dhara (dharti/land)  :  Kuldhara was land of Paliwal Brahmins, so it was called dhara (land) of their kul (Paliwal brahmins). There were 84 villages in that region. 200 years ago (in 18th century), people of these villages were harassed by ruler of that time and were paying him huge money in form of taxes. One day, ruler offered Paliwals to marry one daughter of their community but it was against their will as ruler belonged to some other caste. So Paliwals decided to leave the land. They vacated all of 84 villages overnight and cursed the king and the land. Nobody knows where they went or what happened to them. 

After wars at borders, refuges started living in 83 villages but Kuldhara is the only village where no one lives. Not because some ghosts reside there but because this village is acquired by government to showcase the old property to the world. A part of it is now under construction which is being looked after an old man (and tells these stories). It is just media which highlighted it as a haunted village.

Have you been to Jaisalmer? If yes, share your experience.

Bir Billing - The Paraglider's Delight

To pump up my Adrenaline, to give up my acrophobia, to give myself a dose of thrill and to see how it feels to be suspended with a balloon amid the tremendous mountains, there would not be a substitute to Paragliding. I traveled to Bir to take off and land at Billing. Sheltered by mountains and surrounded by rolling tea gardens, Bir-Billing is considered one of the finest aero sports sites in the world. The state government is being hosting Paragliding Pre World Cup in Bir district from many years. Prominent flyers practice for World cup championship at Bir.

Being the second highest paragliding spot in The World, the paragliding operators have good gears and very well trained instructors. The operators took to me to top most part of the hill with a scary vertical drop. Loaded with gear and with leap of faith on pilot, I walked few steps towards the edge of sharp bent and was swiftly lifted by the glider. Woo hooo…. What followed was the 30 minutes of pure enthrall ecstasy and adventure.

Have you done paragliding at Bir Billing? If yes, share your experience.