Winds of Ladakh: Shridhar Bandari's Himalayan Escape with Thrillophilia
It was a rainy evening in February when the idea for this trip popped up. My wife, Rajasri and I were staring at the grey clouds from our home. We were discussing that we had been to beaches, explored cities, and done weekend trips. She expressed her desire to go somewhere on the next vacation that leaves a lasting impression on her.
Before she could continue, our friends Bharath and Samatha joined the call on our usual weekend group video chat. I threw the idea into the air without being sure if they would catch it. "Ladakh. Let’s do it this April. All four of us."
To my surprise, Bharath replied almost immediately: "Done. We will finally check it off our list."
And so began our journey. A wonderful trip filled with cold winds, warm memories, and the kind of stories that change you just a little.
Royal Views and Tibetan Vibes
We landed at the Leh Airport in April 2025. Our driver welcomed us with a cheerful "Juley!" and drove us through winding roads to our hotel.
After some rest and mandatory ginger-lemon tea, we set out for our first exploration - The Leh Palace. It stood tall against the sky, and its walls narrated stories of the royal past. Rajasri took her time absorbing every corner of the palace.
Later, we visited the Shanti Stupa and watched the sunset behind the mountains. I remember turning to Samatha as she said, "This is peace, isn’t it?"
And, I could not agree more.
As the sky turned a deeper blue, we walked through the Leh Market, where we bargained for prayer flags and laughed like kids. Our first day of this beautiful trip ended with steaming bowls of Thukpa and stories around the hotel fireplace.
Magnetic Wonders and Cinematic Memories
The next day brought a bit of adventure. Our drive to Sham Valley cruised through bare mountains, sparkling rivers, and long, quiet stretches where your soul has space to breathe.
The Sangam Point, where the Zanskar and Indus rivers meet, looked like the earth had decided to merge two worlds. At Magnetic Hill, we played along with the mystery and watched our car roll uphill in neutral.
We then visited the Gurudwara Pathar Sahib and sat quietly to let the hum of prayers wash over us. Then came our favourite stop: SECMOL Campus, which was featured in the Bollywood movie '3 Idiots.' We joked about Rancho and Virus, but there was a quiet respect in all of us for what that school stood for.
Moving forward, the Hall of Fame brought tears to our eyes. The stories of soldiers, letters home, and frozen battlegrounds were impossible to walk out of untouched.
Cold Deserts of Ladakh
The third day was about leaving the comfort zone. We crossed Khardung La Pass, one of the highest motorable roads in the world. Rajasri gripped my arm tightly as we climbed. It was so cold that it numbed our fingers, but the views were magical.
We reached Nubra Valley by the afternoon. The Diskit Monastery was situated in an isolated location on a mountain. There, the Maitreya Buddha statue overlooked the valley like a guardian.
Later, we laughed like children while riding double-humped camels in Hunder and took silly selfies with sand dunes in the backdrop. We sat by the Shyok River at night and watched the stars multiply above us. It was one of those rare moments when no one needed to speak.
The next morning, we set out for Turtuk Village. This small green paradise, so close to the Indo-Pak border, surprised us with its warmth and culture. The Balti people made us feel like distant cousins returning home with their hospitality and stories. We tasted dried apricots, walked through orchards, and ended at the Turtuk Polo Ground. We even wondered how a village so remote could carry such spirit.
Blue Beyond Words
On the fifth day, it was time to see the much-awaited attraction - Pangong Lake.
The drive to Pangong Lake was surreal, with every turn revealing something more dramatic.
We reached Pangong by evening. The lake was a mirror to the sky, and it switched colours as the wind played with its surface. My friend Bharath quietly said, "This is where silence speaks louder."
Rajasri and I sat by the edge and watched the lake for some time. The sun dipped slowly and left behind a navy blue canvas filled with stars. We camped beside the lake at night.
High Passes and Farewell Monasteries
After a beautiful journey to the Pangong Lake, we left for Leh the next morning. We crossed Chang La, which made us feel like we were on top of the world. We reached the Druk Padma Karpo School by afternoon, which was the real-life Rancho School featured in the movie “3 Idiots”. We also posed under the iconic "Idiotic Wall" and joked about our own school memories.
Then, we visited the calm, vast, and spiritual Thiksey Monastery. There, the chants, the spinning prayer wheels, and the monks in their red robes grounded us. It reminded us to carry this peace back home.
And with that, we returned to our home.
Read More: Thrillophilia Leh Ladakh Reviews