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The Trans Himalayan
regions of the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal
Pradesh are a moonscape land- an arid high altitude desert
unlike any other part of the Indian subcontinent. The stark
landscape is a panorama of high snow-capped peaks and bare
multi-hued hills sculpted by the forces of nature. The high
dusty valleys spotted with lunar rock have altitudes ranging
from 2500 m to 4500 m
The climate is
extreme with long snow bound winters and a brief 3 month
summer: Cut off from the water laden monsoon clouds by the
Great Himalayan Range, rainfall is a mere 2 inches per year
and it is the melting snow flowing swiftly down the rocky
streams and rivers that sustain habitation and meager cops of
barley, wheat, fruit trees and vegetables. During the short
summer season the villages are splashes of green providing
relief to this stark grandeur with their patchwork of fields,
groves of tall polars and willows and little whitewashed
flat-roofed houses.
Within this area falls the division of Ladakh with its Leh and
Kargil districts in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the
adjacent district of Lahaul Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. For
centuries these trans Himalayan tracts remained locked behind
formidable mountain walls linked to the outside world by
barely penetrable passes and narrow mountain paths. Despite
this isolation and the harshness of the climate and
environment, the people are endowed with a hardiness of
character and natural gaiety.
For the visitor
this region is a dramatic escape into an unfamiliar world with
marvelous opportunities for an unusual holiday. An ideal place
for trekking, mountaineering, camping or white water rafting;
for discovering the treasures of Buddhist monasteries (Gompas);
for shopping in romantic bazaars; for participation in the
excitement of a local festival or for simply experiencing the
highs of this lunar landscape! Since the best time to visit
this area is form early June to end September it is an ideal
destination for the monsoons- especially as it does not rain
here!
Why no problems during August-September:
1. No more rainy season as it
rains only in the months of July and august.
2. Most of the travel is done
on no rain areas(on higher altitudes) or areas where it
rains very little
3. These being the Border
roads, BRO(Border Roads Organisation) and GREF(General
Reserve Engineering force)keep a constant vigil 24x7 on
these roads - Personnel and machinery ready all the time
4. Months of August-September
are considered the safest to travel on these rods especially
while taking a long journey as the roads are in the best of
conditions
5. There can however be
smaller interruptions (usually less than an hour or two)
because of minor landslides, road maintenance work which are
fairly expected in this region but it's fun having a break
and seeing BRO people work
6.Our good rapport with the
local administration/ authorities and locals at different
places makes us more confident and every effort is made to
ensure that the journey is comfortable in all respects.
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