The drive to Tsomoriri is long and rough, but it is an incredibly beautiful drive nonetheless. With hills on either side and the road by the stream, every stop is a photographic opportunity. As for the fauna, the stream allows for a variety of birds to be seen while occasionally bharals also step down for a drink.The pace was slow owing to the constant breaks but we managed to make it to the lake just in time for the sunset. The last stops were the best of course, a smaller lake before Tsomoriri and a huge plain surrounded by hills.
The lake itself supports quite a bit of birdlife, with waders, bar headed geese, gulls, choughs and other smaller birds keeping company around the lake. The sunset on the other hand is something that is right out of a fairy tale. An after dark trip to shoot stars was another thing we tried out. The tents themselves are quite comfortable even though temperatures and winds were much harsher than in the other places.
After a morning walk and breakfast, the drive to Tsokar had a lot more to see. Black necked crane, upland buzzard, kiangs and rudy shelducks made for an interesting drive. An unidentified medium sized owl also made a fleeting appearance.Tsokar while smaller than Tsomoriri as a lake feels much wider as a valley. Overcast conditions also brought about a dust storm and some drizzle but all was in good spirit. Tanglangla pass is certainly worth a view and we managed to spot a few himalayan griffons soaring high above us there as well.
The last couple of days were spent traveling to and from Nubra. Staying in Diskit, the statue of the Bodhisattva stands tall over the valley. A mix of snow capped hills, sand dunes, and rocky spaces make for some really varied landscapes. Hunder of course has the two humped camels for riding and posing on the dunes. There are quite a few spots in Nubra as well for birds; we stuck to the green patches near the came safari and the marshes near Diskit monastery. Among the mammals, pikkas and hares are quite visible on searching.
The route from Leh to Nubra passes through Khardungla, arguably the highest motorable pass in the world. The route can be daunting as we found out on the way back with clouds destroying all visibility and rock slides making the roads a minefield but the view and the fauna make it all worthwhile. On the brighter days we spotted a bunch of larks, chukar, smaller birds and tons marmots, on the cloudy one we found a golden eagle. The flights for the day had been cancelled due to the weather conditions and most of the group left the next day. The flight was again memorable as just before boarding, crowds gathered at the windows to see a rainbow in front of the runway.
Its speechless.....
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