As unchanging and static as mountains may be , when the clouds above drift and cast those shifting shadows on the precipitous slopes of rock and stone , these mountains look totally different from one moment to the next. This constant play of light and shade on the arid mountainscape , for me, is the quintessential image of Ladakh.
At sunset, the evening shadow cast by the surrounding peaks engulfs the ridge on which the Namgyal Tsemo Gompa (Leh) sits and finally swallows the gompa into darkness. Quite a sight to see from the vantage point of Shanti Stupa. Right here, the range has already been plunged into darkness while a little bit of light still lingers on the gompa..
Namgyal Tsemo Gompa, as seen from Shanti Stupa. Leh.
So, yes - I’m back from a two month trip to Ladakh. As I was saying on a reply to one of my welcome back notes, it is the first time that I’ve come back home and haven’t quite returned yet. Ladakh continues to linger.. and still continues to consume much of my mind share. All the pictures and travel stories should come up here. Letz hope I dazzle with promptness :-p
The trip outline:
Manali and places around, Keylong, Leh, Spituk Monastery, Alchi - Murals & frescoes in the monastery, Thikse Monastery, Nubra Valley (Diskit, Hunder - White desert sands of Nubra, Bactrian camels, fertile valley, Sumur), Pangong Tso (Spangmik), Tso Moriri(Korzok), Tso Kar, Lamayuru, Dha, Likir Monastery, Padum, 10-day trek from Padum to Darcha via Shingo La. Back to Bangalore via Manali, Delhi.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Prashant Bhardwaj // Sep 16, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Fantastic picture and I am so looking forward to more on my favorite place on earth !!!
Ladakh stays in the mind for much longer than anything else that I know !!
2 anita // Sep 20, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Two months in Ladakh. Wow! And that picture is stunning.
Coming back from a place and not quite being there is a feeling I identify with :-)
Will look forward to more of Ladakh!
3 Shourya // Sep 23, 2008 at 10:10 am
Traveller, I will pretend to be gender agnostic and just call you lucky dawg !
4 Anush Shetty // Sep 23, 2008 at 11:13 pm
To Envy or No to Envy.. *confused*
5 Celine // Sep 24, 2008 at 10:18 am
That’s one hell of a trip outline! You’ve covered so much and a 10 day trek too! No wonder you feel you are back home and yet haven’t returned!
Looking forward to your travel posts and pictures.:)
6 Ashwin N // Sep 28, 2008 at 9:24 am
Lovely Pics..!! I have a fasciantion for Ladhak.. Don’t know why, but I love this place, n waiting visit. Well I am seeing it through your pics.. they are awesome.. ! I am having a virtual tour…
7 Lavanya // Oct 13, 2008 at 3:32 pm
@Anush: To Envy :-p
8 Madhu // Oct 30, 2008 at 10:16 am
Yeah Ladakh does indeed linger in your mind.
For me its the start of many trips to that area.
9 Sara // Nov 8, 2008 at 3:34 am
That picture is absolutely gorgeous…makes me want to visit
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