|
Trekking in Ladakh
Ladakh
is part of the north western Indian province of
Jammu & Kashmir.
It is isolated from the rest of Kashmir and the
province of Himachal Pradesh by high mountain
passes. Being closely linked culturally to
neighbouring
Tibet,
Ladakh is dotted with Buddhist monasteries. As most
monsoon rains don't reach the region, some of it
looks like desert. The most important water supply
is from glaciers and rivers. The Indus River cuts
through the beautiful valley where the capital Leh
is situated.
Because of its
relative isolation Ladakh has managed to maintain a
way of life which has been lost elsewhere. Of course
it does not have the strong influence of the
Chinese, like
Tibet.
The modern world is slowly finding its way into this
region and some problems have arisen recently with
the influx of people from Kashmir. Because of the
political problems there. People come looking for
jobs in the tourist business in Ladakh during the
summer season. Kashmir belongs to India, but most of
the Muslim inhabitants would rather be part of
Pakistan or still better, be independent. The
peaceful Buddhist people of Ladakh want to stay
clear of the tensions between Pakistan, India and
the Kashmiri.
To travel to Ladakh is still very much a trip back
in time, the way Tibet used to be. Joining an early
morning service in the Tikse Monastery with the low
hum of the chanting monks while sampling a cup of
butter tea is one of the most rewarding travel
experiences in the Himalayas. If you travel north
from Delhi you pass the holy places of Hardwar and
Rishikesh. On the banks of the river Ganges you'll
see hundreds of pilgrims taking a ritual bath in the
holy river. From here the road goes north to the
foothills of the Himalaya. Shimla used to be a hill
station where the British escaped the summer heat of
the plains, it's a nice place to spend some time en
route to Manali. From Manali, a holiday resort in
alpine surroundings, an arduous bus trip over some
of the world's highest motorable passes finally
leads to Leh.
Alternatively
you can catch a flight form Delhi to Leh. I'd
recommend on doing one way overland, then flying
back. When in Ladakh be sure to visit the
fascinating monasteries of the region like Tikse,
Hemis, Alchi and Lamayuru.
|
