The One About The Incredible Surprises on Our All-Girls Trip To Ladakh
Dear Diary,
It was back in 2011 when I heard about Ladakh, I was a school kid then. Searching images on Google and saving them as my wallpaper has been the drill since then. Its dreamy landscapes and beautiful moonscapes have always drawn my attention.
It has been 12 years since then, and today, I am on my way back from there.
Yes, I finally went on an expedition to Ladakh. ‘Expedition’ because September end is not the ideal time for this trip- the terrain gets more difficult with rainfall and storms, making it no less than an adventure trip.
My colleagues are also travelling with me, the trip was three times more fun because of their company. They are sound asleep beside me right now. We are on our way back to Delhi currently, I was sitting free, so I thought why not write a journal about this trip as the memories are still fresh and alive?
So the journey started with a marriage proposal. One of my colleagues is soon to be engaged, and it was her wish to go on an all-girls trip before she got hitched. As she did not have any preferences of destination, it was the perfect time for me to drop the idea of touring Ladakh, and within a week, my long-forgotten dream turned into a reality.
The trip-planning responsibility seemed too much work, so we mutually decided to go with Thrillophilia as their itinerary seemed to offer the best experiences as compared to other websites. So, we sent an enquiry and within an hour we received a call from them. We were okay with the itinerary and the prices, so the booking process was completed quite fast.
But my friends were a bit sceptical about whether the representative would show up at all. We made the entire payment, and after that, they started throwing random questions in the air… ”what if they do not show up?”, “What if they ditch us?”, and I was shushing them now and then. When they sent the flight tickets and the permission letter over WhatsApp and mail, then they calmed down a bit.
On day 0 of the trip, I received a call from Mr Bhupeshwar Pal Singh Chandawat from the operations team, who explained to us the entire itinerary and assured us that guides and drivers would be duly present on the trip. Relaxed, my friends also seemed convinced.
Upon reaching Leh, we met our driver, Mr. Gurmeet. He seemed to be a very humble and helpful person which was proved eventually on the journey. We also met Mr Parth there, who briefed us about the survival hacks in Ladakh in September weather. He already warned us about the sudden changes in the weather…from sunny to rainy to windy. On the trip, we could not understand what was going on so we just kept following this advice that worked like magic!
It was probably because of him and his advice on clothing and food habits that we could enjoy the trip to the fullest, without any difficulty or health issues.
To experiences that warmed my heart
Coming to the main part of the trip, we covered almost all major attractions points in Ladakh and did all the touristy things like posing like the 3 idiots poster in Rancho School, and recreating the yellow scooter scene in Pangong. We also visited the Khardung La pass, the world’s highest all-season motorable pass, and rode the double-humped Bactrian camels in Nubra Valley.
The best thing about the trip was the stays, they were all too pretty and cosy, with lovely locals and amazing food. We loved talking to the homestay owners and the camp stay caretakers, learning about their livelihoods in these harsh terrains.
The camp stay at Pangong Lake stole the show, we experienced a star gazing session for almost two hours, drawing the outlines of constellations in the air with our fingers. I still remember the night…it was pitch black all around, and we could see only the glistening stars and a few red and orange patches of the Milky Way. We were at peace…
New affairs that enriched this escapade
Three girls from South India were travelling with our batch, with whom we got quite comfortable. Together, we seemed like an unbeatable girl gang who came to win over the heart of Ladakh! On top of it, our cultures and beliefs were so different that it was almost exciting to hold conversations and healthy debates with them.
Coming to the beauty of the place…it can't be really expressed in words. Even though it is still very vibrant in my mind, I am not able to find the right adjectives to describe what I saw there.
The azure blue sky bordered unevenly with barren mountains, some brown and some snow-white at a distance. The desert landscapes of Nubra Valley and the moonscapes of Leh added a unique flavour to the scenery. It was unlike anything I have ever seen…I truly felt that I had arrived at a different dimension of the world.
When we were visiting the monasteries, Mr. Gurmeet was accompanying us, telling us about the significance and the history of the monasteries. Amongst them, the Diskit monastery stole my heart, it was a marvellous place with vibrant colours standing in stark contrast with the surrounding vistas, and a huge statue of Buddha standing like a guardian of the region.
Some rants, some vents, and some promises
There is an advantage of going on an all-girls trip- you face no extra hassle. Everything is well-coordinated, and things somehow work out for the best.
It's time for me to wrap up this entry...but there is a lingering thought in my mind.
What if we could capture each travel story of our lives in the pages of a diary? Inking the blank pages of our lives with experiences, and those of the diary with their stories.
Anyway, with the promise to be back with a new ‘story’, I now bid you adieu.
Oh…and lastly, one tip- Ladakh’s weather and Mumbai’s street fashion, both can startle you, so be ready to experience some surprises!
Read More: Thrillophilia Ladakh Sightseeing Tours