Ladakh Hill Station

Its landscape, sky, shooting stars, silence, wizened faces, rosy cheeks, dragons and Zen – everything makes Ladakh a quite place to visit. This ethereal cold desert that goes by names such as ‘The Last Shangrila’, Moonscape, Little Tibet and so many others – all of which ring true, is a land that seldom fails to baffle or surprise.
The start and rugged landscape is situated amidst multiple-hued mountains, some smooth enough to rub your cheeks on, others scraggly as though termites have had a go at them for breakfast. Miles and stretches of this never-never land, surprised by quaint little vibrant green hamlets oozing wild roses and lavender, fringe the life-giving Indus River. Ladakh is a land like no other. Bounded by two of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram, it lies athwart two other, the Ladakh range and the Zanskar range.
In geological terms, this is a young land, formed only a few million years ago by the buckling and folding of the earth's crust as the Indian sub-continent pushed with irresistible force against the immovable mass of Asia. Its basic contours, uplifted by these unimaginable tectonic movements, have been modified over the millennia by the opposite process of erosion, sculpted into the form we see today by wind and water.
Yes, water! Today, a high -altitude desert, sheltered from the rain-bearing clouds of the Indian monsoon by the barrier of the Great Himalaya, Ladakh was once covered by an extensive lake system, the vestiges of which still exist on its south -east plateau of Rupshu and Chushul - in drainage basins with evocative names like Tsomoiri, Tsokar, and grandest of all, Pangong-tso. Occasionally, some stray monsoon clouds do find their way over the Himalaya, and lately this seems to be happening with increasing frequency. But the main source of water remains the winter snowfall. Drass, Zanskar and the Suru Valley on the Himalaya's northern flank receive heavy snow in winter; this feeds the glaciers whose meltwater, carried down by streams, irrigates the fields in summer. For the rest of the region, the snow on the peaks is virtually the only source of water. As the crops grow, the villagers pray not for rain, but for sun to melt the glaciers and liberate their water. Usually their prayers are answered, for the skies are clear and the sun shines for over 300 days in the year.

Trekking Ladakh

Its landscape, sky, shooting stars, silence, wizened faces, rosy cheeks, dragons and Zen everything makes Ladakh a quite place to visit. This ethereal cold desert that goes by names such as ‘The Last Shangrila’, Moonscape, Little Tibet and so many others – all of which ring true, is a land that seldom fails to baffle or surprise.

The inhabitants of Ladakh are simple smiling people who greet one and all with the all-encompassing which could mean hello, bye, thank-you and please! So if there is a word of Ladhaki that you must learn. The stark and rugged landscape is situated amidst multiple-hued mountains, some smooth enough to rub your cheeks on, others scraggly as though termites have had a go at them for breakfast. Miles and stretches of this never-never land, surprised by quaint little vibrant green hamlets oozing wild roses and lavender, fringe the life-giving Indus River.

Jeep Safari

This 17 day trip encompasses exciting activities. Arrive in Delhi on the first day and take a trip by car or air to Manali. Enjoy a wondrous trip from Manali to Lespa by jeep, while you cross the famous Rohtang pass and the Baralachal and Baratacha La passes. Camp overnight at the picturesque Nallah. On day seven, visit the Tsokar Lake camp overnight near the lake. On the 10th day, visit the Shey Hemis and Thiksey monasteries, and spend a day of leisure the next day. Move on to Uletopko and visit the Lumayuro monastery. Leave for Delhi on the 15th day and go sightseeing to various exciting places including Agra.

Rafting

The most difficult but exciting option for river running is on the Zanskar along its spectacular course through the gorge in the Zanskar mountins, between Padum and Nimo. This is suitable only for well organized white-water expedition, prepared for several days of river running and camping in absolute wilderness. Participants are required to be trained rafters themselves while the arrangements should be assigned to a dependable professional agency. Adequate arrangements for rescue coverage is an essential pre-requisite for embarking upon a white -water expedition on river like the Zanskar.

Though Himachal has a number of rivers, it is only the Beas and the Chandra River in Lahaul that have been used for river running. There are regualr runs between Shamshi and Aut on the Beas. the 20 km stretch has exciting white water and class 3 rapids.

The Chandra River flowing through the exotic mountainscape of Lahaul is another interesting area for river rafting. The other rivers of Himachal, namely the Ravi and Sutlej also have possibilities for rafting and canoeing.

With the sky-high Himalaya in the north and the sea-level jungle in the south separated by a mere 200 km of hilly terrain, the entire country is like a steep incline. The rivers that flow down from the mountains towards the flatlands, therefore are of the high speed kind. Brimming with glacial melt, the raging rivers charge down from the high mountains and as they twist and roar through the narrow gores the waters churn into white foam-answering the prayers of every river runner.

Apart from the thrill of charging down tremendous waves and swirls, a white water trip on Nepal's waterways provide splendid views of the landscape and river died flora and fauna. Descending from the mountains to the plains, a river trip also provides a cross-section of Nepal's ethnic diversity. You traverse a variety of terrain. lifestyles and climatic conditions in a few short days. Some rivers rush through scenic canyons with sheer rock walls on either side while others course through uninhabited wilderness to offer varied scenery and excitement.

Water Sports

Cutting across the lunar landscapes of Ladakh, The Indus river begins its 2,000 mile long journey, biting through a land few men have seen. Often called the 'lion river' the Indus roars across great hams of mountain and earth, bridging both in a roar of thundering foam as she plunges across untamed countryside. As she passes through Leh, river runners congregate to navigate her waters, ice-cold, clear and offering infinite variations to occupy all grades of enthusiasts. Options include a half day scenic run for amateurs on low waters from they along fast currents through canyons and along spectacular mountain views to Niemo, the confluence of the zanskar and Karakoram ranges. Or combine a scenic and white trip on the run from Niemo. Water-skiing on Dal and Nagin lakes is a popular sport and for those who are trying it for the first time ten-day water ski courses are available. Canoeing too may be attempted at the high altitudes lakes, while diving in the lakes has still to catch on.

Flora and fauna

The wildlife of this region was first studied by Ferdinand Stoliczka, an Austrian/Czech palaeontologist, who carried out a massive expedition in the region in the 1870s. Vegetation is extremely sparse in Ladakh except along streambeds and wetlands, where several wild herbs and shrubs can be seen. Some vegetation is also found on high slopes that receive more snow, and in irrigated places.

The fauna of Ladakh have much in common with that of Central Asia in general and that of the Tibetan Plateau in particular. Exceptions to this are the birds, many of which migrate from the warmer parts of India to spend the summer in Ladakh. For such an arid area, Ladakh has a great diversity of birds — a total of 225 species have been recorded. Many species of finches, robins, redstarts (like the Black Redstart) and the Hoopoe are common in summer. The Brown-headed Gull is seen in summer on the river Indus and on some lakes of the Changthang. Resident water-birds include the Brahminy duck also known as the Ruddy Sheldrake and the Bar-headed Goose. The Black-necked Crane (Ladakhi: Thung Thung), a rare species found scattered in the Tibetan plateau is also found in parts of Ladakh. Other birds include the Raven, Red-billed Chough, Tibetan Snowcock and Chukar. The Lammergeier and the Golden Eagle are common raptors here.

The endangered Ibex, found in high craggy terrain, numbers several thousand in Ladakh. The Bharal, or blue sheep, is common in the Himalayas, ranging from Ladakh to as far as Sikkim. The Shapu is a rare goat that numbers about a thousand. Found at lower elevations, mostly in river valleys, it competes with domesticated animals. The Argali, or Nayan, is a relative of the Marco Polo sheep of the Pamirs with huge horizontal curving horns. They number only a couple hundred in Ladakh. The Chiru, or Tibetan antelope, (Ladakhi: Tsos) is an endangered animal that has traditionally been hunted for its wool known as shahtoosh, valued for its light weight and warmth and as a status symbol. The Kyang, or Tibetan Wild Ass, is common in the grasslands of Changthang, numbering about 1,500 individuals. There are about 200 Snow Leopards (Ladakhi: Shan) in Ladakh, especially in the Hemis High Altitude National Park. Other cats in Ladakh are even rarer than the snow leopard, the Lynx, numbering only a few individuals, and the Pallas's cat, which looks like a house cat. The Tibetan Wolf which preys on the livestock of the Ladakhis, is the most persecuted, reduced to just about 300. There are also a few brown bears in the Suru valley and the area around Dras. The Tibetan Sand Fox has recently been discovered in this region. Among smaller animals, Marmots, voles, hares, and several types of Pika are common.

Culture

Ladakhi culture is similar to Tibetan culture. Ladakhi food has much in common with Tibetan food, the most prominent foods being Thukpa, noodle soup; and Tsumpa, known in Ladakhi as Ngampe, roasted barley flour. Eatable without cooking, tsumpa makes useful, if dull trekking food. A dish that is strictly Ladakhi is skyu, a heavy pasta dish with root vegetables. As Ladakh moves toward a less sustainable cash-based economy, foods from the plains of India are becoming more common. Like in other parts of Central Asia, tea in Ladakh is traditionally made with strong black tea, butter, and salt; it is mixed in a large churn and known as gurgur cha, after the sound it makes when mixed. Sweet tea (cha ngarmo) is common now, made in the Indian style with milk and sugar. Most surplus barley produced is fermented into Chang, an alcoholic beverage drunk especially on festive occasions.

The architecture of Ladakh contains Tibetan and Indian influences, and reflects a deeply Buddhist approach. The Buddhist wheel, along with two dragons, is a common feature on every Gompa (including the likes of Lamayuru, Likir, Thiske, Hemis, Alchi and Rhizong gompas). Many of the houses and monasteries are built on elevated, sunny sites facing the south, and are often made out a mixture of rocks, wood, cement and earth.

Traditional Ladakhi music, like Tibetan music, often involves religious chanting in Tibetan or Sanskrit, as an integral part of the religion. These chants are complex, often recitations of sacred texts or in celebration of various festivals. Yang chanting, performed without metrical timing, is accompanied by resonant drums and low, sustained syllables. Religious mask dances are an important part of Ladakh's cultural life. The Hemis monastery, a leading centre of Drukpa Buddhism, is a centre for an annual masked dance festival. The dances typically narrate a story of fight between good and evil, ending with the eventual victory of the former. Weaving is an important part of traditional life in eastern Ladakh. Both women and men weave, on different looms. Typical costumes include Gonchas of velvet, elaborately embroidered waistcoats and boots, and gonads or hats. The Ladakh festival is held every year in September. The people, adorned with gold and silver ornaments and turquoise headgears throng the streets. Monks wear colourful masks and dance to the rhythm of cymbals, flutes and trumpets. The Yak, Lion and Tashishpa dances depict the many legends and fables of Ladakh. Buddhist monasteries sporting prayer flags, display of 'thankas', archery competitions, a mock marriage, and horse-polo are the some highlights of this festival.

Archery is a popular sport in Ladakh. Archery festivals are held during the summer months in villages. These are competitive events, to which all the surrounding villages send their teams. The sport is conducted with strict etiquette, to the accompaniment of the music of surna and daman (oboe and drum). Polo, the other traditional sport of Ladakh is indigenous to Baltistan and Gilgit, and was probably introduced into Ladakh in the mid-17th century by King Singge Namgyal, whose mother was a Balti princess.

A feature of Ladakhi society that distinguishes it from the rest of the state is the high status and complete emancipation enjoyed by women. A related feature is the absence of a caste system, although class distinctions do exist. Fraternal polyandry and inheritance by primogeniture were actively practiced in Ladakh until the early 1940s when these were made illegal by the then government of Jammu and Kashmir, although they still exist in remote areas. Another custom was known as khang-bu, or 'little house', in which the elders of a family, as soon as the eldest son has sufficiently matured, retire from participation in affairs, and taking only enough of the property for their own sustenance, yielding the headship of the family to him