7th August
Despite the uncomfortble bed and pillows we awoke bright eyed and busytailed after a reasonable night sleep and were on the road again at 7am sharp. It was a beautiful sunny morning and the rising sun on the hills behind Kargil was a sight to behold.
We followed the river out of Kargil. The valley between the mountains was relatively narrow bounded by steep, barren mountains. The valley floor itself, a lush, fertile oasis with healthy vegetable gardens lining the river.
We breakfasted in Mulbekh on spicy paratha. Coming into Mulbeck we passed and impressive figure of Buddha cut into the rock face but we were past it before I had time to register to ask Sultana to stop so that we could have a closer look at it. He probably is not impressed with Buddha statues being a muslim.
From Mulbeck we travelled on to Lamayuru through what continued to be amazing scenery.
The village of Lamayuru has one of the most famous and rather spectacularly set gompas in Ladakh. It is the oldest known gompa in Ladakh and is set on the side of an eroded mountain. Opposite the village are what are believed to be the remains of what was once a large lake or glaciall dam. The lake bed looks to be of soft, fluffy rock - hard to distinguish as a once lake to a non geological person such as myself but it is referred to as 'moonland' and I could certaily see that. The whole area resembles what I imagine the surface of the moon might look like.
It was a long two days travelling but a truly amazing journey. We travelled through some of the most spectacular scenery that either of us has ever seen. Was it worth it - definitely!
Despite the uncomfortble bed and pillows we awoke bright eyed and busytailed after a reasonable night sleep and were on the road again at 7am sharp. It was a beautiful sunny morning and the rising sun on the hills behind Kargil was a sight to behold.
We followed the river out of Kargil. The valley between the mountains was relatively narrow bounded by steep, barren mountains. The valley floor itself, a lush, fertile oasis with healthy vegetable gardens lining the river.
We breakfasted in Mulbekh on spicy paratha. Coming into Mulbeck we passed and impressive figure of Buddha cut into the rock face but we were past it before I had time to register to ask Sultana to stop so that we could have a closer look at it. He probably is not impressed with Buddha statues being a muslim.
Our breakfast spot in Mulbeck
From Mulbeck we travelled on to Lamayuru through what continued to be amazing scenery.
A minor hill collapse. Only problem - as it was cleared it was pushed onto the road as it wound below, behind where we has just travelled.
The village of Lamayuru has one of the most famous and rather spectacularly set gompas in Ladakh. It is the oldest known gompa in Ladakh and is set on the side of an eroded mountain. Opposite the village are what are believed to be the remains of what was once a large lake or glaciall dam. The lake bed looks to be of soft, fluffy rock - hard to distinguish as a once lake to a non geological person such as myself but it is referred to as 'moonland' and I could certaily see that. The whole area resembles what I imagine the surface of the moon might look like.
The lake bed
More incredible rock formations from Lamayuru to Khalsi
Chai stop in Kalsi - apricot tree across the road
Kalsi
Kalsi to Basgo
Basgo, once the capital of lower Ladakh. The mud brick gompa (on the left) is 4oo year old and the citadel 5oo. Both are up winding, steep and no doubt slippery tracks.
Lunch in Nimmu - chik pea dahl and puris
Nearly there!
Are we there YET? Not really. The sign was a long way out of Leh, but almost!
It was a long two days travelling but a truly amazing journey. We travelled through some of the most spectacular scenery that either of us has ever seen. Was it worth it - definitely!
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