Travel to Ladakh, encounter a snow leopard - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Travel to Ladakh, encounter a snow leopard

Hindustan Times | BySathya Saran
Sep 18, 2017 07:28 PM IST

You may never see the animal yourself, but when you trek in Ladakh, be sure it’ll see you

Is the snow leopard watching, I wonder, as I walk. They say you may never see this most elusive of cats, but that does not mean he is not around.

Far below the path, slim trees bend their boughs in the wind, and a river gurgles along.(iStock)
Far below the path, slim trees bend their boughs in the wind, and a river gurgles along.(iStock)

Fact File

Easier treks that do not include a high mountain pass are possible. Spituk to Stok is one of the easier ones, though it also includes a pass.

All treks should include a guide. There are no signages en route, the villages are far flung and isolated.

Trekkers are expected to stay with the villagers who are supported by government organisations. Rates per person are pre- fixed.

Some villages have camping sites. But trekkers must carry their own tents.

Do not feed the marmots. They are greedy and unafraid.

Travel light. The knapsack will seem to get heavier as the air gets thinner.

The author on the way up the ascent to the 4,900m pass (Praveen Singh)
The author on the way up the ascent to the 4,900m pass (Praveen Singh)
Horses carry essentials from Leh to the remote villages and can often be seen grazing on a green meadow (Sathya Saran)
Horses carry essentials from Leh to the remote villages and can often be seen grazing on a green meadow (Sathya Saran)
The sloping mountainside shows nothing but sky ahead. I become a girl in pigtails. For the first time, I reach the top ahead of everyone else.
Dramatic rock shapes add variety to an already colourful rocky wasteland (Sathya Saran)
Dramatic rock shapes add variety to an already colourful rocky wasteland (Sathya Saran)

Brunch Insider

The nine-storey Leh Palace is among the top sights in Ladakh. It is a dun-hued edifice, which is an architectural icon. (Source: Lonely Planet)

Coffee lovers can unwind at Coffee Culture in Zangsti and sample a wide variety of lattes as well as brewed coffees. (Source: Condé Nast Traveller)

 Those travelling with family can put up at The Grand Dragon Ladakh hotel for a comfortable stay. (Source: TripAdvisor)

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Catch your daily dose of Fashion, Health, Festivals, Travel, Relationship, Recipe and all the other Latest Lifestyle News on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On