This is an account of three heavenly weeks spent in the midst of some of the magnanimous and most beautiful mountains of the world located in the trans-Himalayan region. The description – from Shimla-Kinnaur-Spiti-Lahaul-Ladakh-Kargil-Zanskar-Dras-Kashmir-Jammu – is supported by anecdotes, colourful photographs, general correlation with the region’s physical features, past as well as flora and fauna.
The foundation of the trip – that involved crossing over 10 high mountain passes, fording most voluminous river systems originating in India comprising more than 10 watercourses in addition to numerous streams, negotiating deep gorges as well as narrow and open valleys through the roads and passages built on them to overpass more than 10 mountain ranges – dates back to 2005.

Surrounded by prayer flags and wind chimes, Yours Truly atop the Kunzum La
From the time when I was studying in the university, jaunts to the roof of the world were planned on several occasions every season but nothing fructified. The highland-sojourn kept getting delayed… Read More
Leaving Home (Preparations – NH22 – Chandigarh – Dharampur)
Just as I was about to start for Chandigarh from Jind (Haryana), my hometown, I again faced a few unexpected events which were, mercifully, both welcome and favourable this time… Read More
Mooning with the Highway to Tibet (Shimla – Theog – HT Road – Narkanda – Rampur – Satluj – Jeori – Kinnaur)
The excitement of retracing an olden route lies in the fact that it archives in its passage a noteworthy transition in climate, vegetation, terrain, people and culture…Read More
Up-close with the Tea river (Kalpa – Ropa – Pooh – Khab – Spiti – Reo Purgyal – Hangarang – Nako)
The ancient version of the HT road, reminisce of petty wool politics and Indo-Tibetan trade, was at best a broad and bridle trail. The olden route passed through the villages…Read More
Brush with The Maling (Maling – Chango – Sumdo – Parechu – Kaurik – SH30 – Sumra – Chandigarh – Tabo)
At 3800m, a few kilometre after Nako is the most notorious and terrific section of the road popularly known as Maling Slide. The infamous Maling nallah…Read More
Bumping into a rare four-legged wild creature (Poh – Blue Sheep – Manerang – Spiti – Dankhar – Kaza)
Afterward, the road climbed progressively and crossed village Nadang, Poh to reach village Shichling at 3460m where the valley opened itself up again from the gorge…Read More
Climbing up the slope of Bhar Pastures (Shilla – Trek – Langza – Chau Chau Khang Nilda – Bhar – Kaza)
Next morning after the daybreak, loaded with limited supplies that would last us a day, we started the steep climb towards the pastures of Kaza. The seven-kilometre…Read More
The Highest inhabited village in the World (Ki – Kibber – Kanamo – Rangrik – Pangamo – Kiato – Hansa – Losar)
Like every morning, having started the day with Yoga and overjoyed with the activities of the previous day and also of the fact that we had done our bit to get acclimatise with the high-altitude…Read More
The majestic Bara Shigri and a Night-Drive by the River Chandra (Kunzum La – Batal – Shigri – Chhatru – Keylong)
The following morning, weather Gods clearly supported our plans. Having spent a week in Spiti, we were now geared up to enter the Lahaul Valley over the notorious Kunzum La (4595m)…Read More
The longest night (Chandrabhaga – Jispa – Darcha – Baralacha La – Sarchu – Nakee La – Lachalung La – Pang)
Next morning after the routine morning chores and a satisfaction of having gained some experience from the previous night’s drive, we headed back to Tandi to get the fuel tank topped up…Read More
Early Morning on the Rugged Terrain (Moray Plains – Debring – AMS – Tanglung La – Rumtse – Upshi – Indus)
With an average elevation of 4500m, the Morei Plains (More, Moray, Mare) are a 40km plain-stretch, fringed by snow-capped mountains on both sides, which lay between Pang and the slopes of Tanglang La…Read More
Jullay! Junction of ancient highroads (Hemis – Stakna – Thikse – Shey – Choglamsar – Leh)
Situated in the lap of the Masho Mountains and overlooking the Ladakh Range – the largest monastic institution of Ladakh, the Hemis Monastery...Read More
The oldest surviving Monastery of Ladakh (Leh – Spituk – Magnetic Hill – Nimmu – Basgo – Saspol – Alchi)
Having got the fuel-tank topped up, we left for the next stage of the journey on National Highway 1D. Not surprising though…Read More
Retracing The Treaty Road (Alchi – Khaltse – Lamayuru – Fotu La – Bodh Kharbu – Namika La – Mulbekh – Kargil)
The following morning, we were again on the Treaty Road after crossing the Indus at Saspol. From the Alchi bridge the neatly tarmacked NH 1D is a fanciful drive…Read More
Driving alongside Glaciers in Copper Land (Kargil – Suru River – Sankoo – Parkachik – Shafat – Zolidok)
The road to Zanskar’s administrative headquarter Padum branches off the NH 1D, on the left bank of the Suru, immediately after the iron-bridge on the gushing river….Read More
The Sliding Darung Drung in Zanskar (Rangdum – Pensi La – Stod Valley – Phe – Tungri – Sani – Padum)
Located in an awe-inspiring barren mountainscape and surrounded by steep hills, orange shaded pastures as well as streams, the village Zolidok or Juldo is a popoular… Read More
Butter Tea at the Ancient Karsha Gompa (Padum – Karsha – Sani – Pensi La – Rangdum – Parkachik – Kargil)
Clinging to an outcropped feature on a vertical mountain-face, in the shadow of Sasririgo and Rinamphu peaks, the eleventh-century Karsha Monastery belongs to the Gelugpa…Read More
Promulgation of War Tourism (Kargil – Drass – Zoji La — Sonmarg – Gund – Srinagar)
The traffic on the Zoji La is managed by the local police in association with the administration. The time earmarked for the vehicles to cross the pass from Kargil-side is in…Read More
The floating village and hanging gardens (Srinagar – Dal Lake – Mughal Gardens – Srinagar)
The following morning, I got woken up by the incipient sunlight filtering in from the curtains of the lake-facing window of the hotel room…Read More
The Jawahar Tunnel (Srinagar – NH1A – Qazigund – Jawahar Tunnel – Patnitop)
Bidding adieu to the Dal Lake as well as the Hari Parbat in its backdrop, next morning we checked out from the hotel after morning yoga as well as breakfast and headed towards the Lal Chowk…Read More
Maa Vaishno Devi (Patnitop – Kud – Udhampur – Katra – Maa Vaishno Devi)
The hill – Tirukuta Mountain – on which the main temple is sited, becomes visible from the highway itself near Domail. Revering the holy site…Read More
Postscript (Katra – Jammu – Jalandhar – Karnal – Home)
The following morning, I chose to ignore the otherwise routine morning activities, which includes yoga or a morning-walk. Without breakfasting, we checked out of the…Read More
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Lovely Click . One day I will try this journey
Travel India
Thanks. Please watch this space for more (and informative) updates on the route. Thanks for revisiting the blog.
very nice..
Thanks for visiting my blog.
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Wonderful. You are living a rich life.
Thanks for appreciating the travels Sir. I look forward to remain in touch and seeing you on bnomadic again.
Now this is one helluva trip. Keep traveling and keep sharing 🙂
Thanks Nikhil. Look forward to your further visits on the blog. Thanks for visiting.
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Beautiful!I went to Simla,Manali,and Rohtang pass last year.They’ve become quite dirty,but still a visual treat! 😀
Good to know about your travel interests. You must visit Spiti too. At least once in your lifetime.
People suggested we go Lahaul Spiti too.But mum fell ill in Rohtang.So,another time!:)
Ya. On a given day crossing Rohtang could be terrible. Spiti is beautiful.
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‘Manimahesh’ signifies a “jewel (Mani) on Lord Shiva’s (Mahesh’s) crown”. According to a local legend, the moon-rays reflected from the jewel can be seen from Manimahesh Lake on clear full moon night (which is a rare occasion). However, it has been inferred that such a phenomenon could be the result of reflection of light from the glacier
Ya thanks. Man He Mahesh Hai.
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Words would fail to show my sense of appreciation for the beauty and serenity of the places shown in your deftly taken pictures and nicely worded text.
Thanks for showering with praises and appreciation Maveric. I am glad you liked the effort. Hope you’d continue to encourage me by visiting in future as well and leaving your feedback. Thanks
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Wonderful pictures! I just couldn’t take my eyes off to read the article.
Thanks Renuka for stopping by! Hope you found the content useful too and would want to visit again.
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Very nicely compiled !! Kudos to the effort put in …
Thanks Dheeraj bhai. Keep visiting. And encouraging. 🙂
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Heavenly photographs.
Thanks admin for stopping by and appreciating the pics.
Loved the Himalayan series!
Thanks Admin. Keep visiting.
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I have started following your blog and reading this memoir. You are a wonderful writer. I still haven’t posted the Kinnaur -Baspa valley posts. They are in two parts but don’t have any pictures. I never had a camera on that trip. Just a Sony Handycam. Noone knows how to transfer from cassette to CD and then take stills from the movie. It doesn’t look as beautiful as your posts but I still want to share my joy of that travel. Will let you know the moment posts are up. Rhank you following my blog. Very beat for your future travels. Keep sharing.
Thanks Tikuli for showering with appreciation. Just came back to internet zone this morning after a month-full of hectic worklife. The best travels happen when you are without a camera. 🙂
Always a pleasure to read. What you say is true. 🙂
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Superb Photo essays! You have Captured the heart of Trans Himalayas!
Thanks Anagha for stopping by my blog. Visit more often 🙂
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Beautiful pictures
Thanks Harshita for stopping by the blog. Hope you’d find the content useful as well. Keep visiting bNomadic for more such travel stories 🙂