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.
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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.
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Shanti Stupa at Leh in Ladakh, India
Breathtaking views, some peace and quiet, meditation and prayers.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India
The senior monks leads the afternoon prayers at Hemis monastery, the biggest monastery in the whole of Ladakh.
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View from the Lamayuru meditation hill, Ladakh, India
View of Fotu la as we climbed up the meditation hill in Lamayuru. Lamayuru is a small town in Ladakh famous for its moonlike landscapes. Fotu la or Foto la is the last and the highest pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway. The roads are in an excellent condition and it is a pleasure to drive. Read more on the Himalayan Passes at Mountain passes we crossed.
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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!
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Monastery at Lamayuru, Ladakh, India
A view from meditation hill. Lamayuru is a small village 100 km before Leh on the Srinagar-Leh highway. They even have guest houses named Moonland in Lamayuru!
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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.
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Stupa at Lamayuru Monastery, Ladakh, India
These were the most decorated stupas we saw in Ladakh. They are otherwise only plain white in colour, without any embellishments. We saw them on the way to the Lamayuru meditation hill.
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Inside the Thiksey monastery in Ladakh, India
Thiksey monastery is situated on top of a hill, very close to Leh.
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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.
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