Nubra Valley-Ladakh

Home to the most beautiful white sand dunes and Bactrian camels, Nubra Valley is situated some 150 kms away from Leh.

Bactrian Camels

Also known as the Valley of Flowers, one can see a variety of flora during the months of June and July here. Irrigated by the Shyok River, the vegetation consists of fruit bearing trees like apple, apricot, almond and seabuckthorn berries amongst others.

It is the only place in India and one of the few places in the world to home the Bactrian Camel Species or the doubled humped camels.

                             

                                Statue of Maitreya Buddha

Diskit Monastery

What’s fascinating about this place is that it is a beautiful desert in the midst of snow capped mountains! The pristine landscape alongside the Shyok River takes you to another world all together.  The valley offers you an unlikely experience with the simplest of means- sitting around a bonfire at night, a camel ride through the dunes, a walk through the sandy lanes, a visit to one of the most famous monasteries- the Diskit Monastery and a photo stop at the towering statue of Maitreya Buddha.

You can stay at the comfortable campsite called Organic Retreat, a half an hour drive from the Dunes. This place has the best tent accommodation in the area; all the meals cooked there are from organically farmed produce, grown on the property itself. If you are looking to find peace, serenity and calm, then this is definitely the place to spend your time at.

While driving from Leh to the Valley you will also pass through the world famous Khardungla Pass, which is the world’s highest motorable road at a height of 18380 ft. The rush of actually standing at the highest motorable point in the world is incredible. Surrounded by snow and Buddhist prayer flags, this is a sight to be seen.

If you are adventurous enough, then you could also cycle your way from Leh till Khardungla pass, its best to consult with a local agency there though.

Nubra Valley can be reached by a cab from Leh.

The Pangong Tso

Once upon a time there was a magical lake on a hill so high, its water so blue and so pure, like a painting that could not be touched. The journey to this mystic lake was hard, but people believed that a single look, a slight glance would give them something to cherish forever….

Marmot spotting, en route Pangong Lake

Apologies for the dramatic prologue but The Pangong Lake had me mesmerized at the first glance and I couldn't help but think that it is straight out of some mythical tale. I have never till date seen something that is more breathtaking and sublime.

Situated at a staggering height of 14,270 feet amongst the Himalayas, this is one of the world’s highest lakes, but that’s not where its greatness lies. Like a perfect picture postcard, Pangong Tso is spotless and beautiful to the point of actually looking unreal.  The chilly breeze and the snow caped mountains, they all add an element of mysticism to the lake. One look at the lake and you see yourself taking in all of its delicious beauty, the slew of colors that seem to be changing in front of your eyes…from Turquoise to Indigo to Teal….the reflecting sunlight makes this a sight to be seen. You know you want to capture this somehow, but no matter how many pictures you take the real thing is hundred times better. No picture however well taken can ever do justice to the beauty of The Pangong Tso.

Gulls at the Lake

The winding roads from Leh and the long distance don’t matter once you reach this place. The roads too have many interesting sights to see, you will sight animals like Marmots, Wild Yaks and Kiangs that inhabit these areas. You will also cross the Chang la Pass, which boasts of being the third highest motorable road in the world.

The lake houses very little flora and fauna, Brahmini Ducks and the Bar headed goose are amongst the species of migratory birds found here. The locals report of no aquatic life in the lake.

During winters the lake freezes completely despite being saline. 

The best time to visit is between Mid April to Early October. June and July are the relatively warmer months. It’s a five hour drive from Leh, you can either visit the lake and come back the very same day or can camp out at The Martsemik camp at the lake. There are a few make shift restaurants by the lake where you can get basic vegetarian fare.

Easily one of the most awe-inspiring wonders of nature, one visit to Pangong Tso will leave you speechless. It has a certain poetic beauty about it and is very surreal.

The Hampi Experience

Bathing Tank at the Palace Ruins

The Famous Boulders

Tucked away within majestic boulders and heavily laden with culture and history lies the lazy hamlet of Hampi. 

The capital of the once famed Vijayanagara empire, Hampi does not disappoint even today. There is a sense of ancient royalty in the air when you walk through the lanes of old Hampi, well preserved ruins that are proof of what a magnificent place this must have been then surround you on all sides. The monolithic architecture makes you wonder if there had been some sort of a Greek influence here or vice versa. Interesting sights to see, tales to hear and architecture to marvel at, Hampi leaves you spellbound. But Hampi is just not about its ancient history or the famous temples, its beyond that.
                                                                                                                                                                     

Being in Hampi is like being at two places at one time, the main village that houses a major chunk of all the important monuments and temples and the tiny ‘Hampi Island’ as called by the locals. While the mainland is bustling with everyday activity and has an element of a maddening yet energizing chaos , the other side of Hampi is a far cry from all of this. One has to take a ten minute ferry ride to get to the island or if you are lucky then you can cross the river sitting on an elephant! Once there, you will find yourself immediately transferred to a place that has a lazy and soothing vibe to it. At first you won’t believe that there actually exists a place like this, walking down the lane to find a decent accommodation for yourself you will come across places like “Bob Marley Lodge” or “The Laughing Buddha”. A string of hipster styled lodges and shacks- all well equipped with an European eatery will make you wonder if this is the same little Hampi you had read about in your history textbooks in school!

A very popular destination with backpackers, mostly Europeans, this side of Hampi has a more relaxed and chilled out vibe. You will find clean and cheap accommodation in majority of the lodges but don’t expect anything fancy, in fact anything amounting to luxury would actually destroy the charm of the place. You can choose from an array of continental cuisine for all you meals and when in Hampi, drink plenty of Beer, for that is the only form of alcohol that you get here.

One of the many shacks in Hampi

Hampi has a lot to offer if you are willing to let go of the conventional.

From lazing around in your hammock in the lodge to riding in and around the village on a rented moped, Hampi gives you a chance to experience things you wouldn’t do on a vacation otherwise. Personally my best experience at Hampi was at this place called “The Teepee”, a massive tent and an open air restaurant under massive boulders. Once there you can pick an instrument of your choice, sing, dance, drink or even tight rope walk if that excites you! It’s a place where strangers seem to be friends, you dine with them, sing with them and this place gives you the chance to just let go. It’s a beautiful feeling to watch the sunrise to the sound of music being created by you.

This is but just a snapshot of what Hampi is like. There is so much more that I can tell about the place, but some things can only be experienced.

Hampi will surprise you with its diversity.

There are no direct buses to Hampi, one has to take an overnight bus from Bangalore to Hospet and from there Hampi is just an auto-rickshaw drive away