Mountains in Our Memories: Gautami’s Family Journey Through Ladakh with Thrillophilia
“You really think the boys will enjoy Ladakh?” I asked my husband, Amar, one evening over tea.
He smiled and said, “They will not just enjoy it, Gautami. They will remember it forever.”
That is how it all started. A simple idea that was born from our longing to do something different beyond malls, beaches, or theme parks. Our sons, Agastya and Agneya, were growing up fast. As parents, we wanted a family trip into the unknown that would bring us closer before the teenage years slipped away in a blur of academics and gadgets.
So, we decided to visit Ladakh, which was a land of high passes and vast deserts.
A Gentle Start in Leh and the Magical Sham Valley
When we landed in Leh, a calmness settled over me. The air was thinner, yes, but it was also purer. There was something about the vast blue skies and the mountains hugging the city that instantly made us feel like we had arrived somewhere sacred.
Our guide greeted us with a cheerful “Juley!” and from that moment, the word became part of our vocabulary. We checked into a cosy hotel, and after a bit of rest, began our gentle exploration.
The Leh Palace stood like a silent guardian of history. While walking through its old corridors, we imagined royal lives that once looked out at the very same mountains we were now seeing. Later, as the sun set behind snow-capped peaks at Shanti Stupa, Agastya said quietly, “I did not know places like this existed in real life.”
We then explored the beautiful Sham Valley the next day, where the confluence of the Zanskar and Indus Rivers was spellbinding.
The boys were amazed at the strange phenomenon of Magnetic Hill, while Amar and I soaked in the peace at Gurudwara Pathar Sahib. The Hall of Fame War Memorial was especially moving. We stood there silently and read the letters and stories of soldiers who had never returned.
A Rollercoaster Ride from Khardung La to Nubra
Our journey from Leh to Nubra Valley via the Khardung La Pass was nothing short of a rollercoaster, both literally and emotionally. At over 18,000 feet, it is one of the highest motorable roads in the world. Every twist and turn offered jaw-dropping views, and the snow surrounded us on all sides.
Agneya screamed in excitement every time we drove through a patch of snow, while Agastya captured everything on his camera.
We also visited the ancient Diskit Monastery, where a tall Maitreya Buddha gazed out over the valley in eternal calm. That evening, the boys’ excitement reached a peak as they rode double-humped camels on the Hunder Sand Dunes. Who knew you could find a desert in the Himalayas?
As night fell, we reached our camp by the Shyok River. Amar lit a small bonfire, and we sat together under a sky filled with stars. “This,” he said, “is why we came here.” I smiled as I could not have agreed more.
Turtuk's Hidden Beauty and the Blue Spell of Pangong
The next morning, we left for Turtuk, a village near the India-Pakistan border. Situated between tall mountains, Turtuk felt like a secluded place. With warm smiles and apricot orchards, the Balti people welcomed us with such openness that it felt like home.
We explored the narrow lanes, sipped tea with locals, and visited the Turtuk Monastery. Watching my sons walk hand-in-hand through the village, joking and talking without screens or distractions, filled my heart. For once, they were simply present with us and with each other.
The next day, we headed to Pangong Lake. The journey was long and rough, but nothing prepared us for that first glimpse of blue. Besides being a lake, Pangong was every shade of peace we had ever needed.
We sat by its shores and watched the water change colours as clouds passed by. Amar said, “No camera can capture this.” And he was right. Some things are only meant for the soul.
The temperature dropped that night, but our laughter continued in our lakeside tents. We played cards, shared stories, and fell asleep listening to the soft waves lapping at the shore.
A Full Circle in Leh
Our journey continued back to Leh on the 6th day. We moved through Chang La Pass and stopped at the Druk Padma Karpo School, famously known as “Rancho School” from 3 Idiots, and the boys could not believe it was real. The Thiksey Monastery, with its giant Buddha and sweeping views, was the perfect place to end our adventure.
As we reached our hotel in Leh one last time, Agastya whispered, “I do not want to go back.”
I put my arm around him and said, “That is how you know it was a great trip.”
On the last day of our trip, we packed up and drove to the airport. None of us spoke much during the ride as we were all reliving the last few days in our own way. As the plane lifted off, I looked out at the brown and rough mountains and thanked them for giving us this chapter of our family story.
Read More: Thrillophilia Ladakh Reviews