"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue

goandude · 10th July 2010, 15:58

Hi Team, After reading and looking at the magnificent Himalayas and Ladakh region, a group of 25 of us took the plunge and organised one beautiful trip. Flew Mumbai Delhi Leh. Then we hired 5 innovas from Leh and they stayed with us till Manali from where we volvoed overnight to Delhi. Del Mum by flight...

Day 1 : Leh (acclimatisation)
Day 2 : Leh Khardungla Leh
Day 3 : Leh Changla Lake Pangong
Day 4 : Pangong Changla Chumathang Tsomoriri
Day 5 : Tsomoriri Tsokar Pang Sarchu
Day 6 : Sarchu Barachangla Keylong Rohtang Manali
Day 7 : Manali Delhi

Bought a Panasonic FZ 35 a few days before the trip so some of the pics could have been better.

AMS hit more than half our group and 2 were worse than others. Diamox helped.

Landing into Leh surrounded by snow capped mountains.

"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue-landing-into-leh.jpg

Stayed at Hotel Lotus where were greeted with hot tea. Temp 12 degrees.

"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue-tea-outside-hotel-lotus.jpg

Stayed put till afternoon then drove to the big stupa overlooking Leh.

"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue-big-stupa.jpg

Leh From the big stupa

"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue-leh-big-stupa.jpg

Prayer wheel at market place in Leh

"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue-prayer-wheel.jpg

More pics coming up.

sudev · 10th July 2010, 16:25

Lotus is a delightful hotel nestled away secretively. Rinchin, the owner, is gem of a person. Have enjoyed few stays there.

Climb up the stupa on day one would itself be contrary to "acclimatisation" moto set out in the program. Flying in is a good option but you need to be very careful about AMS.

Glued in for further posts.

goandude · 10th July 2010, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

Lotus is a delightful hotel nestled away secretively. Rinchin, the owner, is gem of a person. Totally agree with you
Climb up the stupa on day one would itself be contrary to "acclimatisation" moto. Drove up actually

Glued in for further posts. Coming up...

Details from the stupa

"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue-details-stupa.jpg

Inside the stupa, with tripod,

"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue-inside-stupa2.jpg

"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue-inside-stupa4.jpg

Lotus Dining hall, delightful..

"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue-dining-hall-lotus2.jpg

Street seller in Leh

"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue-street-seller.jpg

Lightening-Fast · 10th July 2010, 16:46

Nice pics Goandude. Its always been a dream to make it to Leh and i hope i will certainly someday. Just curious. Whats the street seller selling by the way!!!

goandude · 10th July 2010, 18:04

Dried apricots. And seeing the blurr of his left hand his prayer beads are moving pretty fast.

TaureanBull · 10th July 2010, 22:01

Fantastic pics goandude! The panasonic has given good results. Congrats on the purchase.

Was the trip from tour operators/organizers or self planned/organized?

hvkumar · 11th July 2010, 00:58

Quite a focussed fast-track trip!
Must have been incredible sight from the aircraft.
Anyone was hit by AMS?
Any contact details of the Lotus hotel?

ampere · 11th July 2010, 06:57

Wow! Thats exactly what even I would like to do. Go on road one way and fly back the other!
Nice snap from the air! Share some more please!

Even I would like to know details about the hotel.

sudev · 11th July 2010, 07:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Any contact details of the Lotus hotel?

Rinchin 09419178648 You can give my reference and can jog his memory by saying "Sudev Rally wale"

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

Wow! Thats exactly what even I would like to do. Go on road one way and fly back the other!

Then go by road and fly back. It is better option as it helps reduce altitude related issues.

Hotel details in my reply to hvkumar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by goandude

And seeing the blurr of his left hand his prayer beads are moving pretty fast.

Doubt it. Could be result of beads swaying back and forth. In Ladakh nothing is done "fast". Certainly not prayers and contemplations.

But where are the pictures. I need more wall papers for my collection.

ampere · 11th July 2010, 07:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by sudev

Then go by road and fly back. It is better option as it helps reduce altitude related issues.

Hotel details in my reply to hvkumar.

That is exactly my plan Sudev. I am just patiently waiting for my kid to grow.

MX6 · 11th July 2010, 08:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere

That is exactly my plan Sudev. I am just patiently waiting for my kid to grow.

Waiting for kid to grow? They grow all the time dude!
I'm waiting for an SUV and some bucks.

ampere · 11th July 2010, 08:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by MX6

Waiting for kid to grow? They grow all the time dude!
I'm waiting for an SUV and some bucks.

I am waiting for her to grow a bit more, so that she also remembers these places.
(I am not saying we go these places only once in a lifetime

)

aargee · 11th July 2010, 13:09

That's one fast trip & you missed the famous Zozilla pass & view point at the entrance of Srinagar. Anyway, Leh is leh you guys made it.

I would like to know more about hiring cars at Leh. Appreciate if you can share some details on it. Tks.

goandude · 12th July 2010, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Quite a focussed fast-track trip!
Must have been incredible sight from the aircraft.
Anyone was hit by AMS?
Any contact details of the Lotus hotel?

HV i've mentioned that over half were hit with AMS but diamox proved to be very good to keep it away for me at least. Will pass on contact details when I get back to Mumbai.
Guys I'v had to go out staion for two weels so will be back with some more pics.

LongDrive lover · 12th July 2010, 11:40

Another Leh TL! It happened that way last year too. Raining Leh TLs! BTW, seems a well planned fast trip. Waiting for more pics.

10th July 2010, 15:58	#1
goandude Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mysuru Posts: 1,763 Thanked: 1,283 Times	"Innova"ted Ladakh: A photologue Hi Team, After reading and looking at the magnificent Himalayas and Ladakh region, a group of 25 of us took the plunge and organised one beautiful trip. Flew Mumbai Delhi Leh. Then we hired 5 innovas from Leh and they stayed with us till Manali from where we volvoed overnight to Delhi. Del Mum by flight... Day 1 : Leh (acclimatisation) Day 2 : Leh Khardungla Leh Day 3 : Leh Changla Lake Pangong Day 4 : Pangong Changla Chumathang Tsomoriri Day 5 : Tsomoriri Tsokar Pang Sarchu Day 6 : Sarchu Barachangla Keylong Rohtang Manali Day 7 : Manali Delhi Bought a Panasonic FZ 35 a few days before the trip so some of the pics could have been better. AMS hit more than half our group and 2 were worse than others. Diamox helped. Landing into Leh surrounded by snow capped mountains. Stayed at Hotel Lotus where were greeted with hot tea. Temp 12 degrees. Stayed put till afternoon then drove to the big stupa overlooking Leh. Leh From the big stupa Prayer wheel at market place in Leh More pics coming up. Last edited by goandude : 10th July 2010 at 16:15.
	() Thanks

10th July 2010, 16:25	#2
sudev Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,838 Thanked: 3,179 Times	Lotus is a delightful hotel nestled away secretively. Rinchin, the owner, is gem of a person. Have enjoyed few stays there. Climb up the stupa on day one would itself be contrary to "acclimatisation" moto set out in the program. Flying in is a good option but you need to be very careful about AMS. Glued in for further posts.
	() Thanks

10th July 2010, 16:46	#4
Lightening-Fast BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 251 Thanked: 11 Times	Nice pics Goandude. Its always been a dream to make it to Leh and i hope i will certainly someday. Just curious. Whats the street seller selling by the way!!!
	() Thanks

10th July 2010, 18:04	#5
goandude Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Mysuru Posts: 1,763 Thanked: 1,283 Times	Dried apricots. And seeing the blurr of his left hand his prayer beads are moving pretty fast.
	() Thanks

10th July 2010, 22:01	#6
TaureanBull Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,071 Thanked: 326 Times View My Garage	Fantastic pics goandude! The panasonic has given good results. Congrats on the purchase. Was the trip from tour operators/organizers or self planned/organized?
	() Thanks

11th July 2010, 00:58	#7
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Quite a focussed fast-track trip! Must have been incredible sight from the aircraft. Anyone was hit by AMS? Any contact details of the Lotus hotel?
	() Thanks

11th July 2010, 06:57	#8
ampere Team-BHP Support Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,952 Thanked: 12,940 Times View My Garage	Wow! Thats exactly what even I would like to do. Go on road one way and fly back the other! Nice snap from the air! Share some more please! Even I would like to know details about the hotel.
	() Thanks

11th July 2010, 13:09	#13
aargee Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TSTN Posts: 6,236 Thanked: 9,643 Times	That's one fast trip & you missed the famous Zozilla pass & view point at the entrance of Srinagar. Anyway, Leh is leh you guys made it. I would like to know more about hiring cars at Leh. Appreciate if you can share some details on it. Tks.
	() Thanks

12th July 2010, 11:40	#15
LongDrive lover BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Lucknow Posts: 782 Thanked: 114 Times	Another Leh TL! It happened that way last year too. Raining Leh TLs! BTW, seems a well planned fast trip. Waiting for more pics.
	() Thanks