Leh-Manali Highway, India
It was now time for the reds of the Leh-Manali highway. The wind-battered mountain faces with their powdered rocks seemed like gigantic sand dunes. Read full story of the 470 km Leh Manali journey at The Leh Manali route – an epic journey
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Mountain Landscape - Leh, Ladakh, India
We saw this on the way back to Leh from Thiksey monastery. There is something magical about the skies in the higher altitude Himalayas.
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Double Rainbow Leh, Ladakh, India
A lucky view we got from our way back to Leh from the Thiksey monastery. Stone houses like this one with bright coloured frames are characteristic of this region.
Aerial View from Thiksey Monastery, Leh, Ladakh, India
The Thiksey monastery monastery is located on a hilltop and we could see a panorama of beautiful landscapes all around. The sky was full of compelling colours of blue. And the light was a beautiful golden.
Aerial View from Thiksey Monastery, Leh, Ladakh, India
The Thiksey monastery monastery is located on a hilltop and we could see a panorama of beautiful landscapes all around. The sky was full of compelling colours of blue. And the light was a beautiful golden.
Inside the Thiksey monastery in Ladakh, India
Thiksey monastery is situated on top of a hill, very close to Leh.
Thiksey monastery, Ladakh, India
A two storeyed golden statue of Buddha is the main attraction of Thiksey monastery. Thiksey monastery is situated on top of a hill, very close to Leh.
Two storeyed Buddha statue at Thiksey monastery in Ladakh, India
A two storeyed golden statue of Buddha is the main attraction of Thiksey monastery. Thiksey monastery is situated on top of a hill, very close to Leh.
Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India
Hemis Monastery is the biggest monastery in Ladakh. A short drive of 45 km from Leh it is located atop a hill. The several prayer halls, a museum, as well as the library are accessible to the visitors.
Photograph by Chetan Karkhanis
The senior monks leads the afternoon prayers at Hemis monastery, the biggest monastery in the whole of Ladakh.
Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India
The senior monks leads the afternoon prayers at Hemis monastery, the biggest monastery in the whole of Ladakh.
Creating art at Hemis monastery, Ladakh, India
Students of Shri Tsering Wangdus, a Padmashri award winner, the fourth highest civilian award given by the Government of India. They were painting the walls of the Hemis monastery. This was the first time we had met a Padmashri awardee. To see the master practicing his art was a privileged moment.
Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India
Meet Shri Tsering Wangdus. He is a Padmashri award winner, the fourth highest civilian award given by the Government of India. He teaches in an art school in Ladakh. We met him and his students at Hemis Monastery, the biggest monastery in Ladakh. Mr. Wangdus and his students were making art pieces on the walls of the Hemis monastery. This was the first time we had met a Padmashri awardee. To see the master practicing his art was a privileged moment.
Stupas that mark the boundary of every village in Ladakh, India
Shanti Stupa at Leh in Ladakh, India
The Shanti Stupa is an iconic structure in Leh. Atop a hill climbing 500 steps, reaching here by foot requires a lot of effort. Specially because of the high altitude. On the top, it is a place for breathtaking views, some peace and quiet, meditation and prayers.
Prayer Wheels Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India
These prayer wheels are a feature of every monastery in Ladakh. Touching each wheel, turning them around while chanting a prayer is the first thing devotees do after entering a monastery.
Shanti Stupa at Leh in Ladakh, India
Breathtaking views, some peace and quiet, meditation and prayers.
Aerial view of Leh from Shanti Stupa in Ladakh, India
The greenery in Leh makes us forget that Ladakh is actually a cold desert. The trees are are a result of water harvesting efforts put in by the locals.
Aerial view of Leh from Shanti Stupa in Ladakh, India
Shanti Stupa at Leh in Ladakh, India
The Shanti Stupa is an iconic structure in Leh. Atop a hill climbing 500 steps, reaching here by foot requires a lot of effort. Specially because of the high altitude. On the top, it is a place for breathtaking views, some peace and quiet, meditation and prayers.
Landscapes en route Tso Moriri, a mountain lake in Ladakh, India
Rocks carved with Tibetan scriptures are an important part of the Buddhist culture. They are usually found around monasteries. We saw this rock on our way to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Man from Korzok near Tso Moriri, a mountain lake in Ladakh, India
Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Women making spices at Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
This was at the outskirts of Korzok, the base village for Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake, 250 km from Leh. Summer is the time when the people of Ladakh prepare for the harsh snow clad winter. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
SUV going to Tso Moriri, a mountain lake in Ladakh, India
Mighty, endless, vast, abundant, clear, beautiful and pure…it touches you and moves you like only Nature can. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Barley fields near Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
These barley fields separate the village Korzok, the base village for Tso Moriri from the lake itself. Tso Moriri is a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Summer landscapes of Ladakh, India
The greenery in Ladakh, a result of special efforts like water harvesting, makes us forget that it is actually a cold desert. We saw this village on the way to the high altitude mountain lake Tso Moriri. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Prayer rocks at Lamayuru meditation hill, Ladakh, India
These stones are an important part of the Buddhist culture, some of them being centuries old. Carved meticulously with the beautiful Tibetan script, these stones are a piece of art. These were strewn on the way to the meditation hill in Lamayuru in the Ladakh region. Their colours represent the colours one sees in the mountains of Ladakh.
Moonlike landscapes at Lamayuru, Ladakh, India
The best view of this "moonland"; is from the top of the meditation hill in Lamayuru. As you get to the top and proceed to the edge, a surreal landscape awaits you!
Blue Monster Enroute Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
We are Chetan and Sandeepa at Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
We usually get so engrossed in taking photos, we hardly at all take our own picture. This exotic location however made us change our mind. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Barley fields - Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
These barley fields separate the village Korzok, the base village for Tso Moriri from the lake itself. Tso Moriri is a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
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Barley fields - Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
These barley fields separate the village Korzok, the base village for Tso Moriri from the lake itself. Tso Moriri is a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Tso Moriri, mountain lake in Ladakh, India
Mighty, endless, vast, abundant, clear, beautiful and pure…it touches you and moves you like only Nature can. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Insects of Ladakh, India
We saw this well camouflaged insect on the flatlands on the way to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Flatland enroute Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
For most part of the drive to Tso Moriri we were negotiating ups and downs through the mountains. Suddenly we hit this vast flatland. It was hard to imagine you are at a height of 4500m. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Flatland enroute Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
Kyogar lake or Tso Kyogar is the trailer before Tso Moriri. It is a couple of hours before the actual Tso Moriri lake begins. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Bulldozer ride near Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
Breath taking beauty deserves one of its kind commute. People working near the out-of-this-world-stunning Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh can not travel to work like you and I. Buses and trains won't do for them. Rakes of bulldozers will! Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Flatland en route Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
For most part of the drive to Tso Moriri we were negotiating ups and downs through the mountains. Suddenly we hit this vast flatland. It was hard to imagine you are at a height of 4500m. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Bulldozer ride near Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
Breath taking beauty deserves one of its kind commute. People working near the out-of-this-world-stunning Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh can not travel to work like you and I. Buses and trains won't do for them. Rakes of bulldozers will! Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Tso Kyogar, Ladakh, India
Kyogar lake or Tso Kyogar is the trailer before Tso Moriri. It is a couple of hours before the actual Tso Moriri lake begins. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Typical high altitude village en route Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
A typical high altitude Himalayan scene: Barley fields, white mud houses surrounded by the barren mountains. Out here, living in sync with nature is not a choice but the only way, life is possible. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Purple mountains en route Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
We saw many unfinished bridges on our way to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. What we also saw, were purple mountains. Yeah, that's right, purple! Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Landscapes enroute Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
On the way to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh, we had the first glimpse of the famous purple mountains of Ladakh! Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Landscapes en route Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
This is the bridge at a village called Mahe. The bridge leads to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Going straight ahead leads to Pangong Tso, another lake. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Cyclist en route Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
The stunning landscapes of the Himalayas in Ladakh attract cyclists from all over the world. We saw him on our way to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
Woman weaver from Ladakh, India
We saw her on our way to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. She was basking in the sun, readying for the harsh winters of Ladakh, creating beautiful patterns on a shawl she was weaving on a traditional wooden loom. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
En route Tso Moriri, Ladakh, India
Swinging wooden bridges like this one are a common means of connecting villages to the roads in Ladakh. We saw this bridge on the way to the high altitude mountain lake Tso Moriri. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.
