Leh Airport
En route to Leh
En route to Alchi Monastery, about 70 kms west from Leh - Srinagar-Ladakh Road
The only way to cross these off-road stretches is to do them off-saddle, else it hurts.
On the way back from Hanle to Leh
The reliable Royal Enfield Himalayan!
On the way back from Hanle to Leh. One never get used to the colors on this route!
The back breaking stretches on the Leh-Hanle road that keep switching from bad-roads to no-roads.
The Indus river against the backdrop of several layers of hills and mountains
Brush stroked mountains...and a tiny little Kiang (The Tibetan wild ass) on the right.
Mountain goats for perspective!
Making good use of the marsh...btw photography on a bike is painstaking work.
En route to Hanle, 260 kms from Leh
Kiang, the Tibetan Wild Ass. Even though they are just asses, its always great to see animals in their natural habitat.
More Kiang!
...and the Kiang keep getting smaller
My cabin in the extremely small village Hanle
Hanle at night
A cold, quiet and moonlit night in Hanle
View from inside the Hanle observatory.
Hanle observatory...simulation of human habitation on Mars
Hanle village....almost ALL of it... in one frame!
Hanle Monastery
Hanle Monastery
Out for a photo-walk in Hanle
Hanle observatory
Hanle village
Enroute to Hanle...another 50 kms to go, the view is beautiful and there is opportunity for some great shots but...the body disagrees and its going to be dark soon.
Mind the road on the left for a perspective on scale and don't even bother counting shades of the mountains...
One of the best sections during my trip to Hanle! The view was enchanting, the weather was perfect, the road was black-top and spirits were high. As one moves forward, its ONLY the view that keeps getting better ;)
If fresh and new like skin is on your mind, this is how you roam about in Ladakh - without cover. Once you are back home, you can peel off the old one or if you don't bother with it, it will fall off.
I couldn't keep count of how many times I escaped going over a turn and into the valley below, while mulling over what's holding stuff together on the mountains in this region!!!! Even though every once in a while, a tiny pebble that may have been stuck atop a mountain for millions of years, decides to wiggle its way out and comes down hurtling towards you. On contact, they will make an extra and unwanted hole in you or your bike and for that reason, are called shooting-stones.
The rented Royal Enfield Himalayan, turned out to be a reliable travel partner. Perfect bike for the terrain!
Prayer wheels at Chemrey Monetery - 45 kms east of Leh
View from Chemrey Monestery
Absolutely stunning ride to Chemrey Monastery! I however came back from the gates of the Monastery after capturing the views from there. It was so quiet there and the monks were busy with their routines and with absolutely no other tourists, I found it extremely intrusive to go inside especially with all my camera gear.
Approaching Chemrey Monastery....stopped almost every 100 meters to capture the view. Of course the photo does not capture it the way I saw it.
Approaching Leh during sun set, while coming back from Chemrey
Approaching Leh during sun set, while coming back from Chemrey. Indus river in the foreground.
Approaching Leh during sun set, while coming back from Chemrey
Confluence of rivers Zanskar and Indus - Sangam
Demonstrating that you can sit in the middle of the road without the fear of being run over or finding yourself parallel to the fuming exhaust of another vehicle
View from the flight while approaching Leh
View from the flight while approaching Leh
View from the flight while approaching Leh
View from the flight while approaching Leh
I have always visualized the Himalayas as a range of mountains from the east to the west and have never really been able to fathom the enormity of it all despite the treks and trips in the mountains. The flight to Leh, gives one some sense around the massive scale of this region cause you see mountains till wherever your eyes can see!
