Ladakh
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Hemis Festival: The dance of the monks
The main temple complex swelled with the music of gongs and horns. The head lama sat at the highest elevation. It was 7.30 AM. Monks clad in yellow robes and traditional red drikung kagyu hats sat on cushioned benches. The wooden artistry of the monastery was adorned with thangkas. The walls were painted with the teachings and stories of Lord Budhha. The hall was reverberating with mystical chants. A white ceremonial scarf known as khata was passed on from a devotee to the presiding monk. Tourists are allowed to observe the puja but clicking photos and videos are not allowed. But the monks don’t enforce this strictly and tourists appeared…
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Hemis Monastery Guest House: How it feels like to stay in a monastery for a day
We stayed at the Hemis Monastery guest house for a night on the eve of the famous Hemis Festival. Read to know more about how it feels to live within a monastic complex in the remote Himalayas.
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Sham Valley Ladakh : A travel guide
A major portion of the Srinagar-Leh highway meanders through the region known as Sham Valley. Tourists travelling from Srinagar to Leh by road can enjoy the sites enroute while travelling to Leh. Apart from Sham Valley Ladakh there is another scenic route in Ladakh along Leh-Manali highway dotted with several monasteries and sites, you can check out its guide here. If you are searching for a more comprehensive guide to Ladakh then check it here. In 2012 when I visited Ladakh, I missed exploring Sham Valley so on my latest trip to Leh, I made sure my Ladakh itinerary covers Sham Valley as well. Motorcyclists call this route the best…
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Places to visit in Leh : A One day itinerary
If you are looking for a detailed Ladakh itinerary you can read my Ladakh trip guide here. If you are researching about places to visit in Leh, keep reading. When a person from the plains finds herself at a staggering height of 3500 metres, her potential is somewhat reduced. When we landed at Leh airport in Jammu and Kashmir district of India, we wanted to rush around and tick all the boxes in the ‘places-to-see’ list. Blatantly ignoring the AMS prevention guidelines we strolled in the market on the first day. Our overconfidence was kicked out when on the second day husband woke up with a throbbing headache and oxygen…
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How to plan a Leh-Ladakh itinerary — All about transportation, accommodation, AMS and permits
Ladakh is a district in the Jammu and Kashmir state of India. Leh is the largest city in Ladakh, also, the base city for a Ladakh trip. The entire region is commonly referred to as ‘Leh-Ladakh’ by tourists. All the information shared in this Leh-Ladakh itinerary post is based on our own experiences. This post will not talk about motorcycling or biking in Leh as it is not our forte and we have no personal experiences with motorcycles in Leh. Situated at an altitude of 3500 metres, Leh is surrounded by mighty mountains. There is no single spot in Leh from where the Himalayas are not visible. The Main Bazaar…
