When it comes to traveling, most of us capture beautiful yet ebbing moments through our cameras. There are some who captures the beauty and legacy of the place in their telltales. And then there are people who believe in the might of a tiny pen and try to recreate their journeys, emotions, thoughts, and observations, among others, on a piece of paper. Coming from a teenager, it means there is certainly something unique about a place that instilled the writer in them. Such is the magic of Ladakh in India.
Relive the tales of the picturesque sceneries, cultural heritage, piquant food, and a bucket full of experiences that Aryamann Arora, a teenager, went through in the Land of the Lamas.
“One day, my parents told me that we would be going to Ladakh for the summer. Honestly, I was pretty bummed about this, as Ladakh has a very weak wifi signal. I need the internet to play games, communicate with my friends and stay up to date using social media, with what’s going on all around the world. The days flew by and it was finally time for my trip to Ladakh.
As I boarded the plane, I was feeling uneasy and was still sulking about the fact that I won’t get to use my phone as much during this trip. Also, I was informed that we would be spending a lot of our time on the road, which made me even more nervous.
Finally, it was time to land, I looked out the window, and I saw the most beautiful mountains, with little streams running past them. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, the shades of the landscapes surrounding Ladakh truly bewitched me. As I exited the plane, I felt the wind blowing in my face. The temperature was perfect, and the sun was shining right on me, but at the same time, it was a bit chilly. The nights get cold, but a blanket would always fix that problem. It is cold because the elevation of Leh is 11000 feet above sea level. People find it difficult to breathe here because of the reduced oxygen level, but for me, it was a lot easier.
Looking at those snow-capped mountains, I felt that I could connect with my inner self and solve all my problems. There are many Monasteries all over Ladakh and I went to a lot of them, to be entirely honest, it was a bit boring. But I learnt a lot about the culture of Ladakh, which is predominantly Buddhist. The Dalai Lama is a monk who is very well respected all over the world and he lives in Ladakh. He is widely respected for his commitment both to nonviolence and the cause of Tibetan freedom. The locals here in Ladakh were very supportive of us, they explained to us the History of Leh and how people in Ladakh lived back more than 100 years ago. The local Leh market was amazing, it had many shops selling diverse items for example jewellery, books, toys, statues of gods, and much more.
They did not have many shops in Nubra valley as it is a desert, but it is absolutely spectacular. Nubra is situated at an elevation of 10000 feet above sea level. If you love adventure, Nubra is the perfect location for you. You can do ATV rides, water rafting, and camel riding. The ATV rides were my favorite, I felt so powerful sitting on those bikes, speeding my way across the deserts of Ladakh. I also felt very blessed when I looked at the beaming stars in the clear sky, shining on me with their white light.
The sky was very clear in Ladakh, especially in Pangong. Pangong had the most gorgeous sky I have ever seen. The clouds looked so fluffy, just like cotton candy and the best part was the lake. The lake was entirely blue, matching the sky. It was absolutely majestic, it looked like it was straight out of a fantasy novel. Pangong Tso is around 14000 feet above sea level. To reach Pangong, you must cross the Khardung La pass, known as one of the highest motorable roads in the world. It’s situated at 17000 feet above sea level. It was quite an experience for me, I felt like I was at the top of the world. I spent a lot of my time on the road, looking out of the window and admiring the nature Ladakh has brought to us.
As the trip ended, I realized it was about the journey, not the destination. It’s hard for me to explain how amazing Ladakh is. I barely even used my phone throughout this trip, I simply did not need to. What I did do was eat, I ate a LOT! The food here was up to the mark. Ladakh had so many restaurants with food from all over the world, and it was brilliant. This is a trip I would be telling my kids about because I think it changed my perspective on how I see the world. This trip made me realize that the world is so beautiful, but not many people notice it. I am so grateful now as I can finally appreciate nature. This place is truly magical. ”
Have you traveled to Ladakh too? Write to us at socialmedia@triyana.com or find us on Instagram @triyana.travel to share your experiences, stories, and more!
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