Priti’s Leh Ladakh Story is All About Luck and Love!
Priti and her partner had booked a 6-day and 5-night Ladakh tour package from Thrillophilia for a much-awaited vacation. Their travel itinerary was very simple, as they just wanted a relaxing tour of Ladakh.
Yeah, it is kind of a paradox that Ladakh’s terrains are not quite soothing, but the stops definitely are!
All was going well till the date of their departure. Their flights got cancelled due to bad weather, an event that Thrillophilia’s consultants had warned them about. But they were determined to visit Ladakh in July, so they postponed their departure for the next day.
The next day the weather was relatively better, and the flight were operating. But…
Balancing equations
Ladakh’s ecology is greatly threatened by a wide range of factors starting from overcrowding to plastic accumulation and water crisis. Upon this, the changing climate and global warming have played a huge role in degrading the environment as well. Ladakh’s ecosystem is endangered, and quite fragile. But in the last few decades, its capacity to replenish its resources has deteriorated, and no recovery time has been granted to nature.
The results that we get because of this are floods, landslides, loose soil, and casualties.
2023 saw the same thing.
The Leh-Manali highway and the Leh-Shimla highway both got closed due to bad weather and landslides.
So, right before boarding the flight, they got this news from Karthik, a member of the Ladakh Operations team of Thrillophilia who was in charge of this trip. Taking a flight to Leh directly was not an option because none were operating. So they had to re-route.
From Kashmir.
Their trip had taken an unusual turn and they were quite confused and weary of it. But they had no other option, if they had to go for the trip, they had to take the Srinagar route.
And so they did. They reached Leh via Srinagar and Kargil, and finally after 11 long hours, they reached their hotel. Arriving in Leh seemed like an adventure in itself. But, the real one was just about to start!
A journey to remember
Hotel Khakshal, Leh, was amazing. They were attentive to the couple’s requests, and they were serving fresh hot Ladakhi, Nepali, Tibetan, as well as North-Indian food. It was a showstopper- the rooms were beautiful, and they could see the blue-grey-brown mountains at a distance. Their washrooms were top-notch, with all modern amenities installed. And the highlight- the drooping willow trees and apricot trees that bordered the hotel premises. They appeared to be very visually pleasing, offering a unique touch to the views from the hotel, especially the windows.
They spent that evening at leisure, enjoying a cup of rose-bud tea by the coffee table beside the window of their spectacular room.
The next day, Mr Nawang Tsering, their driver cum guide picked them up from the hotel and took them for an all-day tour of Shyok Valley and Leh. They were mesmerised to see the ancient monasteries, each of which was no less than a museum of Buddhist artefacts. The elaborately detailed thangkas, the copper prayer wheels caught Priti’s eyes so significantly, that she bought a small wheel for herself from the Thiksey Monastery.
They toured the Shanti Stupa and also went to the “Apricot Valley” (Sham Valley). They witnessed the confluence of Indus and Zanskar and spent the entire journey admiring the off-beat landscapes and vistas of Ladakh. All through the trip, Nawang was telling them about the history of the place, the local cultures, and the livelihood of the people here. He also showed them some amazing eateries from where they tried authentic Ladakhi meals!
Their next stop was Nubra, where they stayed at Hunder in Hunder Apricot Camp. After a bumpy car ride from Leh to Nubra, and then a thrilling camel ride through the cold desert of the region, they finally retired to their cottage to spend a serene evening together.
But unfortunately, Priti was burning with a fever, and her partner informed the staff about the medical emergency. In response to this, the staff of the hotel became all the more careful and caring towards the couple. They provided hot water and medicines whenever asked for, they were also very punctual and efficient in delivering services.
The morning after they had to leave for Pangong, and Priti knew that she did not get better, she could miss the trip. She did not want that for either of them, so she obeyed her partner and went to sleep early.
Moments to take back
She woke up suddenly. It was 6.30 AM.
She could hear the birds singing morning hymns, and the sun rising slowly from beyond the mountains. Some of the staff members were already awake, and she could hear the clanking of the utensils from the kitchen. She was hungry, so stepped outside their cottage to go to the kitchen, and she was frozen in wonder. The breathtaking beauty of the sky had surprised her. Taking a few photographs, she continued on their quest for food.
The journey to Pangong Lake was a level higher in comparison to challenging rides. But upon reaching, the crisp mountain air shook out all their tiredness. It was an unforgettable sight. The Pangong lake whose other end remained invisible, reflected the image of the towering mountains lining its circumference.
On the way to their cottage, Nawang gave them a few tips as to how to survive the cold there. His humble and helpful nature had won the trust of Priti and her partner, so they urged him to have dinner with them. The cottage staff was happy to accommodate a table for three of them. The staff at Pangong, Cottage Mountain Gem, were impeccably thoughtful and supportive. They were also keen to make sure that they did not face any issues, being on their toes to help them out in any case.
Completing the trip, Priti and her partner returned back to Pune with a warm heart and a mind full of memories. They had a great trip, meeting amazing people, and watching some extraordinary sights of nature. While narrating their trip to their friends, Priti said-
“Once you visit Ladakh, you can never forget it. Such is its enigma.”
Truer words were never spoken!
A special thanks to Thrillophilia for embracing this truth, and doing justice to it.
Read More: Thrillophilia Leh Ladakh Reviews