A night to remember, under the million stars!
SARCHU
You won’t miss to notice how every few kilometers the scenery changes – from rough rugged to thick sheets of snow covering the land and mountains. As you move further, suddenly the view again gets back to brown rough, muddy slopes and patches of greens and then again to cold, frozen land. Where else on earth would you find such picturesque vistas!
On the way, you might also meet a herd of Ladakhi sheep and Yak grazing over these hills. Beautiful and at the same time amazing to see how life is flowing gracefully, all the five elements in sync with each other.
The journey to Ladakh by road is just not about scenic views; it’s a journey of your inner being! The cold breeze whispering in your ears, the silence, the serenity around and the spiritual vibrations – all as if cleansing your mind and body.
The road trip gives many adventurists and explorers an opportunity to experience sleeping out in the open, under the sky with thousands of twinkling stars. Sarchu is one such famous stopover, where one can spend a night in the tent. To stop overnight here and next day begin the 257 km journey to Leh is a good idea.
When you reach here, you’ll see numerous colourful tents all around. The local people have their own small shops offering hot soup, noodles, chai, cold drink and even rajma chawal! Believe me, more than the hot food; their friendly attitude and love will keep you warm. After your meal, you can also have a nap inside their tent shop on beds (which are basically piles of mattresses and quilts) but are very warm and cozy.
The night at Sarchu is a night to remember, as dusk falls, the valley becomes cold and the bon-fires are lit. The light from the stars brightens the whole valley. As the night grows, the sky is filled with these millions of dots of white, twinkling stars. What a sight! You’d just want to gaze all night. Do carry a binocular, you might even spot a constellation or witness a meteor fall.
P.S. – Be ready to relieve yourself out in the open, umm in compost one 😉
Location:
Sarchu is 257 kms away from Leh and 4,290 meters above sea level.
Best Time to Visit:
Plan your road trip between June to October.