Ladakh Unplugged: Devanshi and her Husband Exploring the Other Side of the Coin
Ladakh is rightfully a paradise for adventure junkies. From frozen river treks to high pass expeditions, it is a marvellous destination to churn up the life inside you. And the landscapes…they are unreal!
But we were going there to also experience the other side of this place—the calmness of Ladakh. My husband and I are both fans of travelling to the mountains. It's our ritual for every year.
All decked up and prepared, we set out on this journey on the 3rd of July this year. Having booked a tour package, we already had our entire adventure organised. We just had to be there.
Juleh!
On reaching Leh, the fresh mountain air washed over us, brushing away all our stress and tiredness. We were so excited about this trip that since that very moment we started to click pictures on our DSLR, we did not wait for any specific place or event.
This was one of the resolutions we took as a couple, that we will celebrate each day as if it were the last. And the practice started on this trip.
Boarding our transfer, we reached our hotel in Leh and spent the rest of the day strolling around the markets and the neighbourhoods. It is always a nice feeling to experience a culture and life way different from your own. You get to learn so many things, and witness so many perspectives, that you realise how big the world is in reality.
We had a very simple itinerary in mind for this trip, and Thrillophilia had materialised it quite beautifully. Our hotel in Leh was pretty good - providing unparalleled views of the mountains right from our room’s window, a nice backyard, and with all modern facilities available. The food was yummy, they mostly cooked regional dishes, of which we enjoyed every last bite. Every morning we would find our driver ready to take us to various places here and there, suggest activities to do, and tell us about the place. He was a local, and our tour guide as well, so the insights from him came from first-hand experience.
All that he said about the place was so interesting, like the legend of the monk who is found to help people all over Ladakh or the fearless tales of villagers who fought with snow leopards. Also, stories of earthquakes, political issues, wildlife adventures, everything.
His stories offered a delightful exploration of the place. I realised oral narratives do have the power to move you. No wonder these old legends still survive…
To Nubra…
It was a huge journey from Leh to Nubra, and I genuinely did not have even a speck of energy left in me to carry out an activity. I wanted to rest. We had enough time left to explore Nubra, so we spent the remaining evening indulging in local wine and some accompaniments. It was lovely, and, so was the night sky from Nubra!
We were able to spend some quality time together after a long span, and while having conversations under the stars, we felt more reconnected.
Our campsite was also very nice and cosy. We spent the next 1-2 days in Nubra trying out all the activities there and also going for some small hikes here and there. And then we moved on to our most-awaited destination.
THE Pangong Lake
We did not have expectations from the cottage stay here, but oh my god! It was even better than that of Nubra! It was not just hygienic, but we got hot water at 6 in the morning!!
However, this is not the highlight of this place. The main attraction here is the lake, its colour-changing phenomena, and the serene peaks surrounding it. The reflection of these mountains over the lake casts a very enchanting spell throughout the region. And when the colour of the water changes, the entire mood of the place shifts.
It was an amazing experience, staying there, and observing the lake for hours at a stretch. This is why we wished to go for a smooth and laid-back journey, we did not want to just see these places, we wanted to experience the 1% of their daily being.
Back to Leh
We had visited all the monasteries that we came across on our journey till then. Only the ones around Leh were remaining. Also, we wished to explore its nightlife and explore the nearby areas with a bike.
And so we did!
We spent a fabulous time in Leh, making friends and going on bike trips together. Sometimes, we would even go somewhere to see the sunrise or the sunset, somewhere untagged, somewhere unvisited.
It did not matter for us to check the lists of attractions and tourist spots. Yes, we did want to explore the place, but a bit differently, like the way we wanted to. And Thrillophilia did a great job planning such a nice trip with top-class arrangements. The communication was on point, and their customisation feature literally enhanced our experience two-fold. We did not have any complaints, we still do not!
We were thinking of going on a trek in Ladakh this time, and I am sure to book this trip with them again.
Read More: Thrillophilia Ladakh Sightseeing Reviews