Vinayak Hegde

The Alchi Monastery in Ladakh is a historically important site in Lower Ladakh. It consists of the Chos Khor (a monastic complex) and several Chorten in the surrounding area. The lamps used to pray to Buddha use yak butter. Alchi Monastery is fairly nondescript as compared to some of the other monasteries in Ladakh such as Hemis (nestled in valley surrounded by mountains on all sides and home to the snow leopard) and Thiksey (majestically crowning the top of a hill; Also the Buddha Statue from this gompa appears in Incredible India! ads.)

More technical details about the photo at my photoblog (click on Image Info).

Continuing my Ladakh Photograph series with another photo. This photo was taken along the south-western bank of the Pangong Tso (pronounced with a silent T – Tso means Lake in Ladakhi). Part of the lake lies in China (Aksai Chin). You will need a inner-line permit (easily obtainable with the help of a local travel agent) to visit. If you are on a budget or are constrained by time you will have to choose between visiting one of the two major lakes in Ladakh – Pangong Tso and Tso moriri. Camping on the shores of Pangong Tso by night is an amazing experience because of the extremely clear skies.

To take this photo I put it my camera very close to the waters of the Pangong Tso to get a better wideangle shot. I have used this extremely well for shooting water-bodies. More technical details about the photo at my photoblog (click on Image Info).

The view from the top of Namgyal Palace which towers over the small town of Leh in Ladakh. Leh is very small but very welcoming place. The city market is just two streets wide with several old charming shops on either side with several antiques shops. The climb to the top of hill on which Namgyal Palace sits, is steep and tiring but the views are rewarding. One of the striking things you will soon notice about of the ladakhi landscapes are the contrasts in the landscapes around you. This photo shows that well.

I was going to Nubra valley when I took this photo. To go to Nubra valley, you have to cross the world’s highest motorable road – The Khardungla Pass. We went through the Khardungla pass during June 2006, when the snow was getting cleared. We were lucky that the pass was open as we could see the snow-ploughs of Border Roads Organisation continuously clearing the lower reaches of the pass on both the north and south sides of the pass. The best part of the photographs were the striations in the ridge and the snow melting in the side facing the sun which gives it zebra like stripes. We were initially planning to do a 3-day trip but cut it short by a day. How lucky we were as the pass was closed due to heavy snowfall from the 3rd day onwards for 3 more days.