The wow factor started in the flight itself as mountains appeared with peaks of snow. Fortunately the flight had a few empty seats and I managed to get to a comfortable window seat to watch the view. Later instructions included getting an A seat while landing at Leh and an F seat while getting out for the best view and light. The first impression of the airport was that of photos of wildlife and scapes and warnings of altitude sickness.
A day off to get used to the thin air was needed with the lightest of exertions tiring anyone out. A walk around the market in the evening was a pleasant change.The next couple of mornings however were much better spent at a few birding spots near the river and marshes near Shey monastery. Common birds there were rosefinches, redstarts, wagtails and a few choughs. Magpies of course are common everywhere. The marshes also had a few water birds incidentally and a feral duck which had us very hopeful for a while.
Other locations closer to Leh which we visited were Leh palace and the Shanti Stupa. Both of them certainly have fantastic views of the city. The hall of fame (a museum dedicated to the military personnel at Ladakh) is also an interesting watch. The other areas we managed to have a look at were the Thiksey and Hemis monasteries. While Thiksey has a bit of a climb, the view from above is incredible. It overlooks the valley and the hustle inside is quite interesting. Occasional raptors add to the view. Hemis monastery is quite large and away from the city. Closer to the Hemis national park, it is still quite a busy place.
Camping out at Hemis national park was always going to be fun. A 10 km trek through the scenic route made it even more interesting. Birding was excellent again, with new additions of fire-fronted serins and chukars. Bharals were of course visible at a distance and eventually we learnt to spot them as well. A eurasian sparrowhawk nesting near the camp kept the evenings busy while nights were spent getting shots of the star trails.
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