From
primarily a cultural tourist destination for several decades, India
has emerged as one of the most sought-after adventure destinations
for discerning international travelers. Perhaps no other single
country in the world offers the variety of adventure opportunities
as India does.
Zanskar
is located on a most difficult trek, the striking feature of the region is
its unique life style. Ladakh is much easier to approach through the means
of airways. A jet plane flies from New Delhi to Leh, therefore I opted for
this facility and fly to Leh. The region has many tourist facilities to
offer its visitors. The trek of Zanskar is quite hazardous, to reach Zanskar
I had to cross several passes between 15000 and 16500ft, or had to take a
difficult trek to the valley at Padum, where I had to walk further, as the
trek is not suitable for jeep. A guide who was arranged for me at Leh was a trained one with much of the information at his store. He told me that Ladakh is the largest of the 10th provinces of Jammu and Kashmir showcasing many places of tourist interest. This small region is thronged with plethora of visitors during the Hemis festival - most celebrated festival for the people of Ladakh.
He further added that the region also offers ample opportunities to the adventure-enthusiast, there is much scope to water sports - river rafting in Ladakh is an amazing sport to be experienced. Being a water sport lover, I had already under taken many sports activities in the waters of Kerala and Goa in south India, there fore there was no hesitation to try up the rafting sport here. I tried the most difficult and full of thrill, river rafting in the waters of river Zanskar with its many adventure courses. The sport is taken up under the guidance of skilled professionals. And no doubt it was the most exciting sport that I tried on this land.
My adventure through the Jeep Safari was most enthralling, I had my prior booking for the safari, in fact, it is the most comfortable and easy way to explore the New World of Ladakh. With this jeep safari tour, I got the chance to visit many Buddhist monasteries and temples, which were not feasible on foot. To take up safari tour, the tour operator has to take an acculturation and inner line permit, that is the most important of all, without the permit you are not allowed to access the remotest of Ladakh region.
The next adventure included into my itinerary was nothing else then the 'Yak Safari'- the unique attraction of the region. Yak is the only mode of transport for the locals to travel within the region and is the most useful animal - use for milk, meat and skin. The ride was quite an exciting one, leading through the scenic lakes, snowy valleys, frothing streams, rapids, meadows, and forests. The ride on Yak's back was the most enthralling experience for me.
In addition to this I also trekked up to Zanskar - the place blesses with the culture of its own, its very high altitude location assist it in preserving its own unique identity not to be influence by the rest of the world including India. I could feel that the life on this part of Himalayas is not an easy task. Neither altitude nor climates do any righteous for mountain people. The awesome beauty of the landscapes fabricated by these majestic mountains and of the ever, present Buddhist culture bestows a very strong impression on me.
I really had a most memorial time in Ladakh- Zanskar valley. It gave me ample scope to capture some most splendid moments and picturesque vista into my handy-cam. In fact, I was quite surprised and had never thought that my photo trial would go so placidly at an altitude of 16000ft at Zanskar.
