The following is a narrative of how Monuca, the founder of Triyana, fell in love with the lands of the lamas- Ladakh.
When we picture Ladakh, the first thing that comes to mind is its scenic beauty. After all, it is home to two of the world’s mightiest mountain peaks- the Himalayas and Karakoram, along with being an ecosystem where you can see all the elements of nature, that otherwise need sightseeing across entire countries.
Ladakh’s splendor is what draws a lot of travelers to the place. And like the others, this is what I had in mind when I first went to visit the place. It was one of the first rendezvous with my friends ever since I moved to Singapore. Be it the comfort and warmth of my friendship or the thrill of being in a beautiful place, my trip was the best by far I had in this life.
But, there was more to what met the eye. Even though I was back from Ladakh, my heart seemed to be lost, as if it was stuck back there. I went to visit other places across the world because my traveler’s foot doesn’t let me stay at home for too long, but couldn’t discover the joy that I had while I was visiting Ladakh.
And so I went back again. This time, I could see how my soul hinged into the minute details of Ladakh. Be it the infinite extending roads like Chang La, Khardung La, Tanglang La, the larger than life desert mountains, gorgeous night skies, Tibetan monasteries, the blossoming rainbows, or the dreamy landscapes, I was completely spellbound by the charms of Ladakh.
I started exploring places that were offbeat like the villages and isolated monasteries that not many knew about. Over several days, I went on my own adventure to explore the rich heritage and unseen beauty of Ladakh. I spoke to the villagers, watched children learn, attended the prayers that began at the dawn, and savored the soul-fulfilling food. It was then that I came to understand how aesthetic the Land of the lamas was, inside and out.
I decided that I would not keep the pleasantries of the place to myself, for real joy is only in sharing. Being an entrepreneurial spirit, I made a group of women, who’d love to visit the place. It was challenging, but when I narrated the tales of the picturesque Ladakh, there was seldom anyone who didn’t want to come on board. Women from all walks of life, regardless of whether they were solo travelers or a group of friends came along with me on this expedition to explore Ladakh from my eyes. And that’s how Triyana was born.
Tourists come and go, but it is only a traveler to which the grandeur of Ladakh speaks. Soon, I sketched out an itinerary for 10 days, in a way that people could see the best of Ladakh and share the tales of their great adventure with everyone. Since Ladakh isn’t a very easy place to be, there was no way I could compromise on the comfort of my travelers. Right from staying at the most pleasant places with amazing views to giving them tips on traveling, I took care of everything that made people fall in love with the place, without having to feel that they were not at home.
And by the time my first trip ended, the travelers in my group had irrevocably fallen for Ladakh. It felt that the place grew on them and was one of the happiest moments of my life.
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