#3 Travel Diaries- Leh to Nubra – A Battle of Landscapes

Why “Battle of Landscapes”? Would you believe that these photographs were taken on a journey between two places just 120 kilometres apart?

Sangam-the joining of two rivers

Snowy mountains

Dry, scaly mountains

Snow capped mountains above, green shrubs below

Desert

Nature’s beauty was shining through every nook and corner of Ladakh. It was as if the landscapes were screaming to be called the best.

Snow-capped mountains on one side, desert on the other, a dry land here, lush fields just ahead- the journey was absolutely crazy! Just when I was getting on my gloves and furry coat, the sun started to shine through and I had to take it all off. Some snowy areas were warm, some deserts were cold. The place had everybody fooled. Listening close, I could almost hear the mountains and terrains chuckling at the tourists’ foolish selves.

Khardungla Pass

Nausea slowly started to kick in as we neared the Khardungla Pass. When we reached, I could only hold my stomach and groan. Seeing everybody around slipping and falling on the ice made it even worse. I was reluctant to get out of the car. I finally gave in to my mom. How many times can you go to one of the highest motorable passes in the world?

On the way to Khardungla

Board at the Pass

Taken at the Khardungla Pass

Back down from Khardungla- Yak grazing

Diskit Monastery

The Diskit Monastery from a distance

The Diskit Monastery

Built on the mountain itself, the Monastery traced back to the 14th century. It felt as if it could fall off the cliff at any time!

Camel ride on the way?

After seeing a man scream at the camels’ owners for a camel trying to bite his daughter, we decided to run away from there. Poor kid. How terrified she must have been. Even if we hadn’t heard the parent, there would have been no way that we rode on those camels. Camel poop everywhere and dirty,dirty camel hair.

Camel poop everywhere

Camels poorly maintained

We decided to take a few photos in the area around, instead.

Donkeys walking one by one on a bridge. Who said donkeys were dumb?

After a difficult walk up the dune, my tired self posed as if she were absolutely fine

Quad biking in the deserts of Ladakh

A quad bike in the desert

Waving at the camera while getting back

The wind gushed against my face, giving me a feeling of inexplicable freedom. Eyes closed, I forgot the world around me.

What wouldn’t I give, to feel that way now.