Unveiling the Soul of Ladakh: Dr. Sonam’s Travel Stories with Thrillophilia
I bent down to look closely at the Bactrian camel that was supposed to take me on its back and help me explore the Nubra Valley.
It did not flinch even once.
Then I tried to put my hand on its head in an attempt to pet it, but it just glanced up at me once, unbothered, and kept on chewing on grass.
I got up and looked at two of my friends with whom I was travelling, and they cast a look that clearly said, “Just get on its back and start moving”.
Well, they were already sitting on the back of camels, while my ride was busy chewing.
When the cameleer came to probe it, I almost protested, but then I thought that this was his only source of money, so I let it pick the camel up. Then he helped me climb up its back.
The rest of the activity went beautifully, although I was a bit sceptical about how the camel would treat me, but it was all good. We went around the area and witnessed the dunes of this cold desert. When the time for sunset came, we were just returning to our camps. The temperature was dropping and we three tightened our shawls around our bodies. These shawls that we got from Leh market were really warm, perfect for the Ladakhi weather. We went inside the camp, freshened up, and one of the staff informed us that the bonfire was just getting ready to be lit.
The Lores of Ladakh
We were travelling in a group of 10. Each of the members huddled up around the fire, some with ukuleles and some with mouth organs. The crackle of the fire and the white tents around made for a perfect setting to share some stories. Our guides and the staff of the stay were also there, sharing their accounts of living in Nubra. Some were there for months, while some had spent their whole life here. It was interesting to listen to them, and the hardships they faced like scarcity of water, prying leopards, and extreme cold. They also spoke of the rare sightings of Blue Sheep and Ladakh Urial, adding in the end that these sightings are actually a sign of good luck and fortune as believed by the locals.
I felt that Ladakh is a place where myths and legends come true, that place itself is so mystical. One of the guides sat up straight and started to speak with much enthusiasm in their local language. I think he got too excited and hurriedly switched back to Hindi. He said,
“So, in Ladakh, we have tsan. They are red-skinned, and they can make a person fall ill. There was a day when I was returning from Khardungla, and it got quite late. And on the way, just near the Shanti Stupa turning, I saw something, I assumed it was a monk, but it was very late, and why would a monk stand in the middle of the road at night? Then it dawned on me, I quickly lit a matchstick as fire is believed to keep you safe, and crossed the stretch. But the next day, I fell seriously sick.”
The story intrigued me very much. I also heard that people keep red coloured stones in their houses to help these spirits pass through freely, without causing any harm.
We wrapped up the night merrily and woke up the next day excited to go to Pangong Tso. The road was breathtakingly beautiful. Upon reaching the lake, we spent a nice time walking along its banks, hearing controversial stories of the Indo-China conflicts regarding this lake, and pointing out the change in colour of the lake as time ticked.
It was a mesmerising sight, often misleading too, to see the colour-changing phenomena. So, to rule out the missing leads, our guide helped us a lot. He had bonded well with us three, and he was there to help us whenever we needed him to.
Greatness is a culmination of the tiniest marvels
Our Leh sightseeing tour was just that- a culmination of small wonders that truly made our jaws drop in awe. The Sangam, the Magnetic Hill, the Leh Palace, the Shanti Stupa, and the monasteries we encountered on the way, all made for a great trip.
Crossing the Chang La and the Khardung La were two more highlights of this tour, which made us excited beyond imagination. We discussed, “Now we would also be able to point at the Google pictures and say that we have crossed two of the highest passes of the world!”
We sounded like children, I am realizing now that I am putting them in this review, but it is what it is…
All in all, Thrillophilia had arranged for a brilliant trip. Their services were nice, the guides were flexible and the itinerary was also very well-researched.
Suggestions for Future Travellers
Try the local food. That would be my first suggestion.
Sky, Apricot jam, Chhurpe, Tingmo, butter tea, Thukpa, there are a lot of delicacies available here. I am not suggesting this just because of the taste, but because of the ingredients. They make your body acclimate well, tell you about the products of the region, and also give you the authentic feeling of staying in Ladakh not as a tourist, but as one of their own. This is very important, blending in and adapting to the ambience and the people.
This is what travel is about primarily, not just ticking off destinations on your bucket list. And especially on a trip to places as remote as Ladakh, keeping up this attitude is necessary.
Secondly, take some more time in hand and visit places like Turtuk, Stok, and Lamayuru, you will be stunned to see what these places have to offer you. Even besides the monasteries and the villages, you get to experience the diverse geographical wonders of our subcontinent. Also, you will get to know about the various communities and cultural sects native to the region, along with their history and stories of survival.
Thirdly, be aware of tsan!
Read More: Thrillophilia Ladakh Reviews