Ladakh is renowned for its remote mountain beauty and culture. It has been strongly influenced by tibetan buddhist culture. The largest town in Ladakh is Leh. Its considered an high altitude desert as the Himalayan mountain range that surrounds itde creates a rain shadow, refusing entry to monsoon clouds. The main source of water is the winter snowfall on the mountains.
Vegetation is extremely sparse in Ladakh so I've made an attempt to capture the patches of green and bring it to you.
The first photograph below is that of Lamayuru Moonland. It looks like the dusty surface of moon with its hills and craters. It is one of the most spectacular views with barley fields in a green contrast to the yellow and brown mountainscape.
This is another monastery around Leh. Check out the green.
The picture below was taken on our way to Khardungla, highest motorable pass in the world in the lap of the Himalayan mountain range. Trust me, it's a treat to watch.
This is a view from the top of a monastery in Leh. Isn't it beautiful?
The photograph below is the one at Alchi monastery situated on the banks of the Indus river and has countless pomegranate and apricot trees.
Here you see Ladakhi women selecting and deseeding apricots for processing.
As we descend, this is on our way to Manali (a popular town in another state, Himachal Pradesh)
I don't know the name of the flower. The hotel garden was full of them like a snow cover of sorts.
Hope you all enjoyed this post!
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Dear Urban Green
ReplyDeleteThis was the most amazing tour post I have seen.
I have been fortunate to live in the Netherlands for a few years and have seen some of Europe. But I have never seen this part of the world and it has been so wonderful to see it through your post.
I feel rather naive and silly about my garden posts after seeing such a stunning one like this .. we live in our own little worlds too much .. but the opportunity to see these pictures and read about your experiences is quite profound .. thank you : )
Joy
@gardenjoy: thanks for your visit. I totally agree with you. So much to experience and so little time. India has vast and diverse stretches of green, dwindling fast under the pressure of urbanization. As I travel around here, I try capturing those patches of green...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful mountains! Those greens in the midst of rocks are just amazing. You travelled up and down by jeep or did you trek? I recalled the a few days I was in Pokhara, Nepal, I have to trek up some hills as there were no roads for vehicle to go up.
ReplyDeletewhen I reached the top, I was exhausted to the fullest! But the snow cap mountain and the scenery was so awesome. And when I travelled back to Kathmandu, I took a bus, it was a threat too. Riding the bus through the narrow roads at the slopes of mountains was quite a scary experience. So, TQ for snapping these wonderful photos. Btw, I realise that the landscape in Nepal is different from what you have here. But both are as beautiful. Have a great day!
@Stephanie: Travelled partly by jeep and partly trek. Travelling in Ladakh is scarier than Nepal, a roller coaster but the gorgeous landscape takes your breath away.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed your post Urban Green. You have allowed me to see a part of the world that I would never see. I am looking forward to seeing more so please keep posting. Thank you!
ReplyDelete@Helen: Am so glad you liked my post. I do hope to keep posting more :) thanks for stopping by and being so encouraging...means a lot.
ReplyDeleteHi! Great photos and post!
ReplyDelete@Kaija: Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful! How great to be able to have gone there and now to share it. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteps. the flowers look like hydrangeas.
Beautiful, thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteHello, this is a very, very wonderful place you have traveled to, I was looking at your beautiful pictures wishing I´d be there.
ReplyDeleteMaría Cecilia, from Chile, southamerica
@Teresa: Thanks for the name. I'll remember that. Thanks for visiting my blog, do stop by again.
ReplyDelete@Hermes: Thanks so much! Btw, I love your blog.
ReplyDelete@Maria: Thanks for stopping by. I do hope to post more and sharing with everyone. see you around.
Lovely pics of Ladakh, must have been a divine experience for you. Thanks for sharing. The plant in the last pic looks like Hydrangea to me, not sure though!
ReplyDeletesimply beautifully captured shots....lovely!
ReplyDelete@Green thumb: Oh yes, Ladakh is something else. Absolutely divine. I've vowed to go back every two years. And you are right, I figured those are hydrangeas too. Teresa pointed that out. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDelete@Kalyan: You got a nice photo blog. Thanks for your visit.