A heaven for geologists, Ladakh is surrounded by expanses of mountains, rock formations and stony terrains reflecting every possible colour. To make up for the breathtaking but barren expanses, white houses, red monasteries, brightly painted trucks provide a visual relief while driving through the region. The sky is painted in shades varying from deep cyan to cobalt. Apart from Leh city, the sheer amount of space enjoyed by the locals feels like an upgrade from metro cities. I worked in Hanle (Changthang, Indo-China Border), Stok Village and Lamayuru all which are predominantly Buddhist. Local architecture, hanging prayer flags, brightly painted monasteries, local signs in the bodhi script, symmetrical royal monuments, intricate wood carvings, Thangka miniature art, prayer wheels and larger than life statues of Lord Buddha characterize these parts of Ladakh. River Zanskar, River Indus, Pangong Tso, Nubra Valley and Khardungla were some of the natural wonders which I was able to explore. Spread across two months, there was something very slow and peaceful about the days I spent there.
