It is the time of the year to go to the Himalayas which are
not easily accessible during winter.Attractive Leh Ladakh travel packages are all over
the travel sites. I feel nostalgic. I had traveled with
Women on Wanderlust in 2011.
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| Picturesque Pangong lake |
For anyone visiting Ladakh, travel doesn't complete until you visit Pangong lake. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever
seen in my life.
Pangong Tso(lake) is a narrow long lake located 150 kms away
from Leh. About one seventh of the lake is in Tibet and rest in India.This lake came in to fame after it was shot in the Bollywood
movie ‘3 Idiots’. Pangong lake is located at the height of 14,270 ft from the
sea level.
On the way we drive through Chang la pass which is the 3 highest motorable pass in the world at the height of 17,380 ft
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| Changla pass pose |
It is a 5 hour journey from Leh through curvy roads. Visitors flood Pangong lake from
May to August.
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| What you see as Z is road to Pangong lake from Leh |
Some travelers visit and go
back to Leh on the same day due to limited accommodation options at Pangong lake.Staying there
and feeling the lake from dawn to dusk is
a surreal experience.
Nothing comes easy. To get such a life time experience one
needs to bear with the cold in the night and minimum facilities in the
tent.
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| First sight of Pangong lake |
It was afternoon when we reached there. It was love at first
sight. We got the aha feel at the first sight of the lake. After finishing lunch, I just meditated the lake sitting on the bank till dawn. You might wonder isn’t
it boring? No. I wouldn’t have believed if I had not experienced it! I was
lost in the beauty of the lake in the background of nude mountains!!
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| Pangong lake |
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| Close up of clear water |
Sun plays a magical effect on the lake bringing all shades
of blue. Turquoise to deep blue to Indigo to many layers of blue. As dusk captures
the lake, magic will go behind the sun and it looks like any other lake.
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| Just before dusk - Pangong lake |
We woke up early in the morning to watch the sunrise. That was
another amazing experience to watch sun bringing back the magic and creating a
world beyond words.
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| Dawn at Pangong lake |
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| Dawn at Pangong lake |
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| Morning again lake is shining in the sunshine |
One must see this wonderful piece on earth in one’s lifetime.
How to reach ? – Only way is by road. 160 Km from Leh. It
takes nearly 5 hrs.
Where to Stay ? – There are few tented accommodations with attached
toilets. We had stayed at Camp Water Mark. It was a decent accommodation with good
bedding which was very much needed. They also provide hot bags. Food was also
decent. Water is the main concern. However, getting any basic stuff in
that remote place and extreme weather is itself a luxury. So no complaints.
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| Accommodation in tents - Camp Water Mark - This is where we stayed |
Food – There are few camps, tent hotels where you can get food.
It was very cold when we visited in the last week of May. Next day,
while coming back heard that due to heavy storm all these camps were blown away by the wind. Life here is unpredictable.But I say again one must see this wonderful piece on earth in one’s lifetime.
