MY VISIT TO LEH-LADAKH

Introduction

I've been to Leh, Ladakh and Pangong lake. I'm sharing my experience with you all.

Sun's here too?!

As I walked out of the airport the sun's glare hit me in the face like a hard slap. My first thought was, "Sun's here too?!”. I can confidently say if one stands there under the sun long enough they will get a severe case of sunburn.

Ladakh is like a desert.

If you're looking for a desert experience, then I'd recommend heading to Ladakh. In fact, it's not so much a desert as it is an arid climate with no running water and no trees (but don't let that stop you from hiking).

The town of Leh is surrounded by mountains that rise up like giant walls around its outskirts. There are lakes here and there; they look strange compared to anything we've seen before in India or even Europe!

As far as sights go: some of them are stunningly beautiful; others just look like big chunks of rock that have been painted by God himself (or whoever makes up these kinds of things).

You see double humped camels.

As you drive through the mountains, you see double-humped camels. This is a genetic trait and not a deformity or disease.

The double hump is an evolutionary adaptation that has been around for thousands of years. It helps them to survive in harsh conditions by storing more energy than most other animals do for long periods of time (like when they're on their way up a mountain).

At an altitude of 14,000 feet is Pangong lake and we were there for about an hour with the oxygen level at about 50%.

We were lucky enough to be there on a day when the weather was good and we were able to see the lake.

At an altitude of 14,000 feet is Pangong lake and we were there for about an hour with the oxygen level at about 50%. This meant that our eyes were burning like crazy but we had fun anyway! The temperature was cold but then again it's so high up in the Himalayas so you can't expect too much warmth from such a place.

After Pangong lake, we went to the Hall of fame which has pictures of the Kargil war heroes, their life stories etc etc.

We went to the Hall of fame which has pictures of the Kargil war heroes, their life stories etc. It was a beautiful place and I really enjoyed looking at all those pictures.

The Hall was crowded with people waiting for their turn to see the exhibits so you had to wait for your turn. However, it was worth every minute!

The last stop on our itinerary was Sangam, that's where you can see the confluence of River Indus and Zanskar River.

The last stop on our itinerary was Sangam, that's where you can see the confluence of River Indus and Zanskar River. It was going to Pakistan from there.

The water level at Sangam was very high because it snowed heavily during the winter season and now, it is the summer season in this region. One of the main attractions was rafting in the river.

Finer points.

You need at least 24 hours to acclimatize. You will have a severe case of indigestion due to the high altitude. You will have to take a lot of skin care products like sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun. And it's no harm to anyone to look good in photos. Take fewer woolen clothes as in the daytime  the temperature is high and the woolens will be deadweight, Don't eat anything while traveling to avoid sickness.Drink water regularly.Consult a doctor to know if you are fit for this journey or not.

Conclusion

I just got back from Leh-Ladakh. I had a wonderful time and I have to admit that it was my most memorable trip so far. I had never been to Ladakh before and after reading a book about the area, I decided to go there. It was quite an experience because I have never been up to such high altitudes before. The landscape is very different from other parts of India but still very beautiful with snow-capped mountains and green valleys below. I had fun writing this blog post:) peace out!

BY MOHIT CHOUDHARY