ಇದು ಮೂಲವಾಗಿ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆದದ್ದು, ತರ್ಜುಮೆ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಕನ್ನಡದ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಇಲ್ಲಿ
Preparation and Instructions
Here's an effort to convey some essential information to the readers:
1. Your prepaid mobile phone will not work in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh. If you need a mobile phone, it’s better to have a postpaid connection. Generally, all hotels provide WiFi, which you can use while in your room.
2. Breathing difficulties can occur in some places. First, it's advisable to take some blood-thinning medication (e.g., Diamox 250); then ensure that the car has an oxygen cylinder.
3. Roads are really bad in some areas. Be mentally prepared. It’s common to encounter traffic jams for kilometers. Plan your next travel carefully.
4. Lip balm and sunscreen are not just cosmetic items but essential here. Thermal clothing and a good sweater/jacket are necessary. Keeping Electral (an oral rehydration solution) and dry fruits is beneficial.
Overview
Our journey aimed to explore as many places as possible while spending money wisely. We traveled around 8,000 kilometers by train, public bus whenever possible, and taxi when necessary. We experienced all classes of train travel, including Vande Bharat and Rajdhani Express. Key places we visited include Vaishno Devi/Katra, Srinagar, Leh (Ladakh's main town), Nubra Valley, and Pangong Lake.
From Srinagar, we took a service from a company (Thrillophilia). They provided accommodation and taxis for all places for 8 days and 7 nights. We had a Mahindra Xylo vehicle with us, which was convenient. Our trip concluded at Leh, after which we arranged our own travel.
Our total expenditure was around 60,000 INR.
The first place we visited was Vaishno Devi, located on top of a hill. There are two or three routes to reach it. We chose the new Tarakote route.. You need register first and receive an RFID tag. Other routes offer horse rides and 'doli' (where four people carry you in a chair). We chose the 15-kilometer scenic new route. It took us 12 hours to climb, enduring considerable effort. Inside the temple, it took another hour to store our bags, mobile phones, and slippers in a locker. The queue for the darshan (viewing) took 2 hours. Inside, you view small stones (called 'pindis') of Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Kali in two different angles We then took the ropeway to Bhairav Temple and began our 13-kilometer descent, which was quite tiring.
Our next destination was Srinagar. During our taxi journey, we encountered significant security checks by CRPF soldiers at lest in five different places. The highlight of Srinagar is the Dal Lake, which spans about 22 square kilometers. Houseboat accommodationsfor all are available here. We took a Shikara boat ride for an hour, during which vendors approached us in their boats selling tea, coffee, fruits, jewelry, and barbecue items. There's a floating market selling clothes, ice cream, spices, and more. We dined at Wazwan restaurants, which are famous for their 16-course non-vegetarian meals. The weather in Srinagar was pleasantly cool, and we stayed there for one night.
Our journey to Leh was challenging, so we stopped at Kargil on the way. At Drass, we visited the 1996 Kargil War Memorial, which showcases stories of brave soldiers, used equipment, and models of the mountains involved in the battle. Fallen soldiers are buried there, and the site evokes deep emotions of patriotism. Though the roads were not great, the rugged beauty of snow-covered mountains and peaks made up for it. We visited a Buddhist monastery (Manestry) before heading to our lodging.
On the way from Kargil to Leh, we saw the confluence of the Indus and Zanskar rivers. The distinct colors of the two rivers make the confluence clearly visible.
We spent the next day exploring Leh. The 9-story Leh Palace, built between 1595-1615 by the Namgyal dynasty, has very narrow doorways. Locals here are generally short and stocky with rosy cheeks. We visited another war memorial (Hall of Fame) and the Shanti Stupa, a large monastery. The local market offers army jackets, Pashmina shawls, saffron, and the special Markhor biscuits
Next, we traveled to Nubra Valley. The route passes through Khardung La, the highest motorable road in the world at about 18,000 feet above sea level. The extreme cold and lack of oxygen mean vehicles carry oxygen cylinders, and visitors are allowed to stay only for 10 minutes. We walked on the snow but didn’t stay long due to the onset of headaches. Nubra Valley features Sand Dunes, and two-humped camels (Mangolinan camels) are available for rides. These camels originated from Mongolia for trade along the Silk Route. We stayed in tents with limited electricity.
Our final destination was Pangong Lake, the largest high-altitude saltwater lake, known for its clear and pristine water. The lake displays different colors, including blue, black, and peacock shades. Only one-third of the lake lies in India, with the rest in China. Due to the border location, mobile phones don’t work here. It’s an extremely cold area, making the water too cold to touch. We stayed in tents with room heaters and limited electricity.
Returning to Leh, we retrieved our luggage and took a taxi to Keylong in Himachal Pradesh, then traveled 19 hours by bus to Delhi and finally to Bangalore.
The sense of accomplishment upon reaching home was immense. Writing about our experiences and selecting a few pictures from the many we took was a challenging task. We were happy that our health remained good and the trip was relatively trouble-free.
