Blue, green, purple, grey and all their possible shades, changing into shades unseen with each passing second and each passing minute, as the angle of the sun changed with time; like Mother Nature had decided to create havoc with a bucketful of divine colours. It was a piece of mysterious and holy water body, where you can just about expect to see a water demon rise from within, any moment. It was Tso-Pangong, or the Pangong Lake, the highest salt water lake in the world, shared between the two mighty countries, India and China.
On our way there, we passed through Changlangla, the second highest motor able pass in the world, and the highest that I have been to, due to the mishap at Khardungla. Thanks to the fresh bout of black clouds, the route to the pass and the pass itself was a complete snow-field that I actually got to throw snow balls!! As we dropped down into the lower regions, we spotted marmots (huge Himalayan rodents), kijangs (Himalayan wild asses) and bharals (the mountain goats). We kept our eyes peeled out for the snow leopard, the ultimate animal to spot in the Himalayan region. But of course we did not get to see one, as you have to be personally blessed by God to even catch a glimpse of one. Just as we were approaching the lake, a sudden bend brought before us the view of the entire magnificent lake. And man, what a view it was!!
The entire place was just a complete riot of unimaginable colours. The whole body of blue green water, snaking between the various ranges, as peaks of various shades of brown and green guarded it all. As we drove towards it and then walked to the edge, the strong wind that whistled through the ridges created ripples and sea-like waves in the water, piercing through the five layers of our clothing and chilling us to the bones instantly. And in this eerie and barren place, we stayed for a night in a tent, just a few hundred paces from the edge of the water.
The coast line, as far as we could see, was a mixture of landscapes- sandy beach on one side, steep mountains rising right from the water edge on the other, and rugged and rocky topography in the middle, where we stayed. After checking in, we made ourselves comfortable on these rocks- just the three of us with no one within hearing distance. Just us, the lake and the mountains… These few hours that we spent there are my personal favourite moments of this trip. As the wind started gaining momentum towards twilight, and we could no longer feel our fingers, we decided to get back into the tent, which was surprisingly warm though it was just a normal canvas tent with canvas flooring.
After dinner, we squeezed into the blankets, huddling close for warmth, with just the sound of the wind lulling us to sleep, when it started- loud music thumping and rattling right outside our tent. It was a gang of tourists who had come to drink and make merry on this holy land. It was after a serious argument that we managed to make them turn it off, and restored the peace and tranquillity of the place. But our memory of the stay on the shores of this lake had been tinted.
The next morning, we were up at dawn to watch the sun rise from within the bowels of the golden peaks, and cast its first rays on the magical lake. And well, it really was more than magical. We left early to try to find more marmots and kijangs, and did we find plenty!! Every hundred yards brought to us a marmot, and we had a nice time watching these little rabbit-like creatures bound and leap into their burrows.
Despite the unfortunate incident that night, the unbearable cold and the rough journey, that one day we spent next to this holy lake will always be an incredible piece of memory that I will cherish till the end…
What a beautiful account of a remote area that most of us will never see. Even though the partiers found it too, you have good memories.
Thank you so much!! And I certainly do have great memories about the lake!! Good ones!! 🙂
sounds like an incredible, magical place – I love your description of it (and the photo of you shivering with cold is so sweet!)
Ha ha ha!! 😀 Thank you!! 🙂
That first shot is unbelievably beautiful! And your narration brings it alive!
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Hello Sumithra Sriram
Thank you for sharing your wonderful pictures with us. You have done a good job, so thank you again! 🙂
Here I would like to thank you for following my blog. I hope my blog is not disappointing and that you will continue enjoying my blog in each of your visits.
Thank you again and I wish you a lovely day! 🙂
Subhan Zein
Thank you so much!! And your blog was far from disappointing…. Love all your pics and quotes… Will definitely keep visiting!! And thank you for the follow too!! 🙂
Have a nice day!
Sumithra
Thank you, Sumithra! Your words mean a lot for me. Many blessings and much happiness to you. 🙂
Subhan Zein
Thank you, and wishing you the same!! 🙂
Cheers
Sumithra.
accustomed to your brilliance by now.
and the picture with you in it is really sweet
😀 Thank you!! This means a lot to me!!
Your great photos (must have been terribly cold) and your wonderful narration made me feel like I was there. Great post!
Thank you!! Glad you liked it!! 🙂
My first visit here and I feel good. Yes this post on the Ladakh’s pristine glory is beautiful to say the least. The pictures are enthralling and your narration ever so interesting.
Cheers and best regards,
Dilip
Thank you so much for those kind words!! 🙂
beautiful pictures, and great description of your wonderful trip 🙂
Thank you!! 🙂
Hi Sumithra, your commentary is outstanding, I felt like I was there. Your photographs truly is hearing with the eye, so I really enjoyed this refreshing and entertaining post. Thank you for sharing, Penny
Thank you so much for those kind words… 🙂
My pleasure, always easy to say something that is true! 🙂
Lovely photos. what a beautiful place. thank you for sharing.
Hello Dear Alice,
This is such a beautiful place and piece. I really enjoyed seeing and learning about this lake (not so much the noisy people though.)
I love your blog!
Vivian
Thank you so much for your kind words!!
Hugs,
Sumithra.
Thank you for liking my post, beautiful photography!
Thanks for stopping by gardeningnirvana. What gorgeous photos, Sumithra.
I really enjoyed your story, sounds like an great adventure. You’re brave to be on your own in that kind of terrain. I wish those tourists had been more courteous. Why do others assume you want to listen to their music? It happens every where’s here too. It’s a pet-peeve of mine. I’ve never been to either country but it’s nice to get a glimpse of it here with you. Thank’s for stopping by my Blog as well.
Thank you!! It was indeed an adventure that I will never forget!! And you are right about the music thing… Its become an everywhere-event!!! I wish people would understand!!
Great pictures. We have marmots in the Rocky Mountains, too.
Oh ohk!! That’s news to me!! Thanks for sharing. And thank you!! 🙂
Beautiful images and wonderfully written. Nice post.
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Cheers,
Sumithra.