 |
| 2 Sept 2023: Atop Lasermo La. Left to right -- Prasad, Ashesh, and Kunsal, and Stanzin (kneeling) posing for the regulation photo, clicked by Glory! |
Ashesh Ambasta is a experienced trekker who has been with South Col Expeditions on numerous treks including many in Ladakh. In this guest post he recounts his experiences on the recently concluded Phyang to Hunder trek across the 5440 m high Lasermo La - from the Indus to the Nubra valley.
I am sure that trails in Ladakh never fail
to amaze and delight trekkers. For starters, it is possible to experience what
can truly be called wilderness treks barely a few hours from Leh. How cool is
that? Then, there are the breathtaking vistas. Scarps with steep acclivities
rise to dizzying heights on either side of the trails, which usually follow
water courses resulting in narrow – and the only – bands of vegetation for
miles on end, combined with multi-hued slope surfaces, all conspiring to produce
enchanted, fairy-tale panoramas. Not
surprisingly, even though the Phyang to Hundar trek was my fifth in Ladakh with
South Col Expeditions, the anticipation
gripped me well before I took off from Delhi.
30th August to 1st
September, 2023
A fitting start to the trek was a visit to
the sixteenth century Phyang monastery. It falls on the way to Murubok, where
the road ends and the trail begins. The gompa itself is inspiring and we were
fortunate to arrive at a time when the resident monks were in prayer in the
main hall. The sonorous chanting lulled
us into a meditative and peaceful repose, an appropriate mood for the trek.
 |
| 30 Aug 2023: A propitious start to the Phyang-to-Hunder trek is a visit to the 16th century Phyang monastery. This gompa is on the way to Murubok, where the road ends and the walking trail begins. |
