Ladakhi culture Archives -

5 Reasons Why You Must Take A Bike Trip to Ladakh

Ask any motorbike fanatic for a destination for a road trip, and without a second thought, it will be Ladakh. The next time when wanderlust itches, take a motorbike trip to Ladakh and surrender yourself to the beauty of the Land of High Passes. Tough terrains, barren lands, pristine blue lakes, gigantic mountains and patches of greenery urge you to take the untraveled path. The exorbitant charisma of this scenic land is branched into several places that make road trip a splendid one. If you also have been bitten by the travel bug and you need to feed your wanderlust, travel to Ladakh!

For the sweeping scenic beauty of Ladakh Treks and Passes

The stark blue sky paired with snow-laden mountains, lush vegetation and unspoiled blue lakes together form a surreal scene that every rider wishes to have a view of. The beautiful and robust roads meandering through the bleak mountains will let you ride some of the highest motorable mountain passes in the world. An expedition through Khardung La to Nubra Valley and the road through Leh to Srinagar are some of the best routes in Ladakh region where you can zip through the mountainscapes.

Known as the roof of the world, Ladakh also houses some of the best treks, many of which are on the bucket-list of an enthusiastic trekker. Enclosed between the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges, Ladakh’s stark beauty will make you want to stay here forever. The landscapes wear the colors of nature which make the entire landscape a picture-perfect shot for anyone who loves to do nature photography. Some of the most prominent treks of Ladakh are Chadar trek, Markha valley trek and Tso-moriri Lake trek.

For the excellence of starry nights and Pristine Blue Lakes

The extensive lakes of Ladakh are marvelous in terms of beauty and elegance. The perfect amalgamation of blue sky and water makes the lake a picturesque spot for shutterbugs and nature adorers. Pangong Lake is lately popular among the tourists (thanks to the movie 3 idiots) due to its unparalleled beauty and the dramatic blue color of the water. In winter, every year a gala festival over the frozen lake is organized for ice- skating enthusiasts.

The feeling of camping alongside the Pangong Lake and coming out of the tent to such a breath-taking view every time, cannot be expressed in mere words. The starry nights near the campsite are so mesmerizing, it will totally bewitched you into its sheer glory. So if you are planning a trip to Ladakh, make sure to visit Pangong Lake. It will surely leave you awestruck with its charming landscapes that will be imprinted in your heart forever.

For the colorful Festivals of Ladakh and its monasteries

celebration at hemis festival — Hemis Festival in Ladakh

The warm culture and vibrant festivals Losar, Hemis and Naro Nasjal will definitely be a pleasure to anyone visiting Ladakh. The festivals are celebrated as a win over the evil, and the rituals follow a procession of troupes dressed in colorful costumes. And singing, dancing and listening to traditional music brings out peace and prosperity within them. The traveler spirit in you will find a deep connection if you let your soul delve in the trance state. And if you could not connect, enjoy the drama performance and click pictures of the colorful surrounding around you.

The majestic Key Monastery with the magical views of the stars in the background

Do not miss a visit to the historic monasteries to have an insight about customs and traditions of the Ladakhi people. The carving and wall paintings of the monasteries depict tenets of Buddhism and Buddha. Some of the monasteries you can explore are Shey, Thiksey, Matho, Phyang and Key Monasteries.

To savor the lip-smacking cuisine of Indo-Tibetans

Devour tasty Ladakhi cuisine. In picture: Thukpa

You must have tried momos and thukkpa of various places, but the authentic flavor of Ladakh is just spectacular to the taste senses. The exotic chilly flavor in the thukkpa and the crunchiness of the fresh vegetables makes it a delightful slurp. And each bite of the freshly prepared momos will make you crave for more and more. The difference in the taste of Indo-Tibetan cuisine is the mystical spice hidden in the valley. It gives their thukkpa and momos a distinct flavor. Also, at many places you will be served with Timok, which is a bread much like an alternative to roti. To combat the freezing temperature, Ladakhi people eat chilies to keep their body warm and ready for harsh winters.

The pull of Magnetic Hill

Located 30 kilometers from Leh, Magnetic Hill is one of the most desired spots to visit in Leh. The strong magnetic properties of the hill pull cars uphill. The signboard at the Magnetic Hill invites you to stop your car, switch it off and leave it in neutral. As soon as you do this, your car starts moving uphill at a speed of 10-20 km per hour. People coming to this place make sure to experience this strange phenomenon once in a lifetime.

For bikers, their only love is to get on their bikes and snake up through the barren mountains of the region while enjoying the spellbinding scenic view. Well, I don’t think any biker will want to miss such a heavenly place. So gear up guys, pack up your bags and plan the next trip to Ladakh!

5 Unbeatable Reasons To Trek Markha Valley

Markha valley is a treat to the eye; a scenic depiction of Markha valley

Limitless deserts, thriving jungles, prosperous rivers and breathtaking views – with every step you take on the Markha Valley Trek you are introduced to nature, beauty, adventure and a heap of emotions felt never before.

With its trail taking you through the Hemis National Park where there’s a good chance you’ll spot a snow leopard to further heading to tiny Himalayan hamlets with huge parachute tents and a unique Buddhist culture to finally crossing high mountain passes that offer you views so enchanting that you almost never want to leave, the Markha Valley Trek has it all!

So if you’re planning your next trekking adventure, look no further! Here are 5 Unbeatable Reasons to do the Markha Valley Trek this summer.

Explore Diverse Landscapes
Unlike the numerous treks that take you through forests or arid deserts of the region, the Markha Valley trek introduces you to landscapes along flowing rivers, green pastures, scenic valleys, and flourishing national parks, and bone-dry desert expanses. On this trek, you will experience excitement – when you spot a snow leopard; hardship -when you cross stretches of the waist-deep Markha River; peace -when you take a stop at the confluence of Indus and Zinchen Rivers; thrill -when you conquer over 17,000 feet at Kongmaru La Pass.

Discover Ancient Buddhist Villages
The Markha Valley Trek takes you through some diverse landscapes and while most of the hike is shadowed by wilderness, there will be days when you will stop by tiny mountain hamlets. Trek through scenic landscapes and pass along river banks; meet the region’s locals and come face-to- face with religious shrines at Lhatos and confront the Mani walls. Mani walls are stone structures that are formed by the compilation of intricately carved stone tablets mostly with the inscription of ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ loosely meaning ‘ Hail to the jewel
in the lotus’.

Hike through the villages of Umlung and Hangskar. Much like an eagle nest perched on the tallest tree, the Techa Monastery in Umlung is one of the highest located monasteries and is easily a 1000 years old. Although Umlung offers the comforts of a monastery and a handful of homestays, a visit to Hangskar (the last hamlet in the valley) with its ever welcoming locals and their hot butter tea is a reward in itself. Some of the other villages that you will pass by during the Markha Valley Trek are Spituk, Shingo, and Siku among others.

An Encounter with the Wild
One of the best parts of about the Markha Valley trek is that it takes you through the charming Hemis National Park. Best known for having the highest density of snow leopard in any protected area in the world,
the Hemis National Park with its large population of rare species of wildlife is arguably one of the best parts of this trek. Tibetan wolves, red foxes, Eurasian brown bears and Asiatic ibexes – they are all here. But that’s not all – the region also boasts of being the only habitat of the Shapu in India and is also home to the mountain weasel and the Himalayan mouse. The park is also a bird watcher’s paradise and visitors are often lucky to spot the Lammergeier vulture, the fork-tailed swift, Fire-fronted serin and Tibetan snowfinch in their natural habitat.

Live in Parachute Tents
The Markha Valley trek is also known as the ‘tea house trek’, takes you through diverse terrains and arid deserts but that’s not the only fun part of this excursion. While the villages on the trail have ample homestays that provide the comfort of a home away from home, this adventure also lets you have the experience of camping in parachute
tents. These parachute tents are massive tents where you camp the night with your entire group. Fun much? Oh, you have to experience it to know how much!

Be an Achiever
The trek begins from the green landscapes of the Hemis National Park but don’t let the lush environs fool you, this is just the beginning. The Markha Valley trek takes you through striking contrasts. Trek through the land masses with powerful rivers that are knee-deep if not more and pass through rocky canyons to reach the towering peaks of
Ganda La at 15748 feet, and Kongmaru La at 17060 feet. Reach the top and be welcomed by breathtaking views of Ladakh and the Zanskar ranges. It’s a superlative achievement that feels a million times better
than it reads.

It’s not every day that you come across a trek that offers an out-an-out Ladakhi experience. Raw and natural beauty, exciting adventure, the Buddhist culture, the local food, and the warm hospitality of the people
– everything’s covered.

This trip is everything that dream vacations to Ladakh are made of, and if it resonates with your idea of adventure, let there be no place else you head this summer.