20 Jul 2014: Early morning in Sarchu is even colder. I have had a bit of a cold and uncomfortable night. Uncomfortable, not due to any uneasiness or discomfort due to altitude but more owing to the freezing conditions.
The idea today is to start at the crack of dawn and take in Tso Kar before heading out to Leh. It is just a 30 min detour one way and that is very doable if we pace ourselves well. Our campsite is at Nimmu, further out of Leh but that is fine. Nimmu is just a little over 30 kms ahead of Leh. The road conditions in Ladakh are expected to be really good and the passage that much faster.
We leave Sarchu at 0530 hrs. It is the crack of dawn…. the place is overcast and there is a bit of a drizzle. The wind is howling, it is snowing in the higher elevations of the surrounding mountains and I am chilled to the bone!
Right after we set out, we cross a little bridge which I am told is the boundary between Ladakh and Himachal. So now officially, we enter Ladakh! A little bit further we come across this signboard… the BRO has already been spreading the AIDS awareness message…!
Driving along with the Tsarap Chu on our left, we reach the Gata Loops… starting at about 4200 mtrs altitude. This is a series of 21 hair pin bends before we hit the Nakila at 4739 mtrs. All along, the peaks seem to have a sprinkling of fresh snow on them… just as if they were some giant muffins with a drizzle of icing sugar on top! Very beautiful!
There is a fair amount of traffic on this route… even though it is so demanding a journey. The day is getting brighter and the scenery more compelling. All of a sudden I spot a dog sized something on the corner ahead. Its gait immediately gives its identity away. It is a Himalayan Snowcock. Lo and behold! There are two more right behind it and our Scorpio comes to a screeching halt. The moment we stop (with squealing tyres) and rush to get to our cameras, they scramble up the mountainside giving us precious little time to get in a few clicks. It is then that I realise that there is a fourth one too! Am I happy!! A brilliant start to the day indeed!
Lachulungla at over 5000 mtrs is cold and windy and we move ahead to Pang. It is very different from what I had imagined it to be. I had expected a couple of dhabas but this is like walking on Main Street…. at about 4700 mtrs! There are at least 7-8 dhabas each, on either side of the road catering to the hungry, sleepy, out-of-fuel or just a tired traveller. Imagine, a collection of 15 odd dhabas looks like ‘Main Street’ after driving in these remote areas!!! Gives an idea of how sparse and patchy the habitation is in these regions.
A quintessential breakfast of maggi and tea later, we are off. The road loops up high over Pang giving a panoramic view of the settlement there from above as well as the valley of the Lachung River with those typically distinct geological formations in the valley, the result of high velocity winds in the area.
Moving ahead we come to the famed Morey Plains. A vast area of flat land surrounded by mountains… with Kiang (Wild Asses) grazing lazily in small probably family groups and loads of little birds foraging around the roadsides as well as the small clumps of grasses around. These plains are high altitude semi-desert plains at just under 4800 mtrs and part of the Tibetan plateau kind of habitat. The flora and fauna here also exemplifies this fact. Tibetan Larks, Horned Larks, Twite, Great Rosefinch, Tibetan Snowfinch…
The fabulous road through the Morey plains ends at a place just short of Debring. A minor road branches off to the right taking us towards Tso Kar. Though a rough and narrow road, it is easy going on it. A half hours worth of drive brings us within sight of the lake.
Tso Kar is a salt water lake and salt deposits are visible along the lake margins. This is one of the numerous lakes dotting the south east part of Ladakh. It is a breeding ground for the Common Redshank, Brahmany Shelduck, the Bar-headed Geese and the most sought after avifauna here – the Black necked Crane. The latter is a critically endangered species of which there are estimated to be just 200 to 300 left in the world.
We are lucky to spot a Black necked Crane right upon entering the lake area and even before the little settlement of Thukje. There are marshes around the lake which are the favoured habitat of these handsome birds. For me, this entire trip has been worth it just to see these beautiful creatures…
The sandy soil at the edge of the lake is very soft and the vehicles are sinking appreciably driving on it. There are sand banks a little way inside the lake where we spot some Common Redshanks and Lesser Sand Plovers in breeding plumage. To the right, are a flock of Brahmany Shelducks. All around in the small scrubby patches of grasses around are Tibetan Larks, Tibetan Snowfinches, Twites and a lone Desert Wheatear. Near the settlement there is a stony retaining wall on which we spot the Little Owl. Very cute!
There is very little visible in the way of accommodation here. There are a couple of tented camps near Pongunagu right at the point one first sees the lake. Since it is a day trip for us, we do not check out any stay options. After spending a half hour there, we head back towards Debring and the main highway.
The roads are very good most of the way today except for the detour to the lake though one can’t really call it bad. The area around Debring is dotted with the tents of the nomads (the Changpas) spaced well apart though loosely congregated within say shouting distance of each other with the sheared wool from their livestock (sheep) lying outside all along in this region. Either they are doing well for themselves or it is the monetary help extended from the government that enables the presence of an SUV outside each tent we see!
The road slowly ascends in wide loops. Right at the very distant top, we cross the famous Thanglangla, the second highest pass in the world at over 5300 mtrs. The views from here are superlative…
As we drive towards Upshi and Leh, we pass Rumtse with tiny fields all bright yellow and vibrant green alongside the pristine blue of the river. There are chortens on the wayside and the landscape changes colour at regular intervals. Right about here there is a startling change as the mountains aroud take on a vinaceous hue!
At Karu we turn towards the Hemis Gompa for the benefit of our fellow passengers. We have done this trip (to Leh) before and seen the monastery. We spend the time birdwatching around the Gompa. A treat it is!
It is getting dark and we move out towards Leh. I look forward to seeing the Stakna Gompa even from a distance since I totally love the setting it is at. Much photographed, it looks mysterious, enticing, austere yet vibrant all at the same time!
This is definitely one of the most scenic routes I have ever driven on… all the way from Shimla, through Kinnaur, Spiti, Lahaul and now Ladakh! I feel blessed to witness such beauty firsthand!
We drive through the outskirts of Leh and go towards Nimmu on the other side. Enroute we stop at the Gurudwara Patthar Sahib and the Magnetic Hill, regroup with one of our other vehicles and then proceed to our campsite. It is after dark by the time we reach our camp. The gush of the Indus is heard in our tents since we are right at the river’s edge. A campfire set up at the riverside is beckoning. A sumptuous dinner later we hit the sack!
The journey continuous…
Nice is the word for your writing! Extraordinarily Beautiful is the word for the Photographs! I guess it was a boost to you all for your AIDS campaign to see that Signboard along the road spreading the message. I too during my tour to Ladakh saw many Black billed Magpie. Leh is not far now from Nimmu. Where is next?
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks a lot!
Next is Leh, Khardungla and some white water rafting which we did in Nimmu… the concluding part.
mind blowing… adventurous journey and excellent photographs..
Thank you!
AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING
Thank you!
Great to read your post on the drive and the accompanying photographs. I know it is tough task lugging the camera and the lenses etc so a special compliment for the effort.
Many thanks!
Beautiful post with awesome pictures..just loved it :)
Thank you!
Last time I talked about spotting, this time I am amazing on how you remember the names. In every log I see new birds (or may be I keep forgetting) making me wonder as of they were waiting for you, to shoot and to share them here. Mystery.
If not for the hint in the caption, there was no way I would have found Rosefinch. Beautiful.
As I write above, I see this small battalion (in want of a better word) of CoastGuards (yeah in Noida they have an office) marching on the road. Preparation for the Republic Day has started. Winters are coming.
Thank you. Names come naturally once you are interested I guess. Just like people can rattle off Movie names or actors or names of places complete with maps… just a hobby! But you have really made my day !! A little praise goes a long way :-)
wow! Great post with wonderful pics.
Many thanks!