Children are always charming and in Ladakh the Charm is heightened to the Power of Infinity.
Do read up the blog titled “The 3 Idiots” on the Rancho School located near Leh,Ladakh.
Step by Step
This sweet charming kid rests against a colourful wall in the Monastery . His expression changed once he became aware of the camera.
Camera makes even children conscious
The Coy Girl was shy and kept covering her face with the white stole till patience paid off and I captured this image within the Hemis Monastery outside the Upper Residence of His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa.
Within the Hemis Monastery
This charming and extremely young Buddhist Child is on his way to becoming a Monk.
Charmed by the Camera
I was fortunate to sit amongst children near Leh, Ladakh and capture some delightful moments which I am sharing in this blog.
Raipur Village in Pali District , Rajasthan is a small intriguing Village on way to becoming a tiny Town as it expands and merges with village Haripur (home to the fabulous Lakshman Sagar) . Raipur is located 90 kms from Ajmer, off a fabulous Highway .
Rajasthan is a lovely state which truly reflects the Heritage of a Royal Past.
The pictures that follow were taken in Raipur Fort Palace now located in the midst of the Raipur Village where the erstwhile Ruling Family resides todate.
Red is the Hallmark of this Royal Palace from where ,Once Upon a Time, Regal Diktats were issued and executed.
The first glimpse of the RegallyRed Archways to unfold from the bustling village street of Raipur.
Ancient Archways reveal the First Gate to the Raipur Palace Fort
The Main Entrance from the alleys of the Town-Village as it exists to date.
Primary Gate to the Fort Palace
The Main Gate which leads to the courtyard and the numerous Palaces within the Raipur Fort complex.
Lord Ganesha adorns the beautifully Carved Doorway
You feel you have gone back in time, 400 years ago as you step into the main courtyard that leads to the various Palaces .
The Palace which is immediately behind the Royal Marble Throne.
The beautiful Arches unique to Rajasthan
This was a peak into one of the relatively unknown Royal Homes of Rajputana.
The Beautiful and Amazing Hemis Monastery is hidden within the folds of the Himalayas , 40 kms from Leh in Ladakh, India.
Am sharing snippets of the Awesome Hemis Monastery and the surroundings through pictures in a series of blogs.
You can check out http://www.drukpa-hemis.org for details on this Monastery and thus shall not repeat the same.
The featured Image and the picture below are the first glimpses of the Hemis Monastery ( building in yellow) which is discretely located and practically invisible till you are literally at it’s doorstep.
Hidden in the Lap of the Himalayas
This picture was taken from the main courtyard of the Monastery where the Winter Hemis Festival is held annually in February.
It is only now I realize the colour yellow is from the silken banners.
Reach out and touch the Himalayas
Beautifully integrated into the landscape, the construction can be a lesson for modern architects.
Behold the Beauty
The Hemis Monstery is located at a Height of 13000 feet and does leave you gasping for breath in awe.
Behold the Amazing Turquoise Attire of these Women of Ladakh.
These Amazing Ladies in Traditional Dresses were Photographed during the Winter Hemis Festival at Shrey, Ladakh in February.
Absolutely Gorgeous Rear View of The Turquoise Headgear
The Ladies are carrying Gifts for His Holiness , the Spiritual Head of The Hemis Monastery in Ladakh.
Happy adorning the Magnificent Headgear
A fascinating expression of faith can be witnessed during the Winter Hemis Festival when devotees line up in hundreds to Offer Gifts to their Spiritual Leader His Holiness and be blessed by him.
Beautiful and Happy Faces
Is it a coincidence that today also happens to be Women’s Day ( 8th of March 2016) ?
Travelling within India is like viewing a scene through a Kaleidoscope.
The sights and attire change dramatically as you move from Indian State to another.
Shifting from the Freezing Cold of Ladakh to Warm Rajasthan reveals Interesting Views taken from a moving car near Ajmer, Rajasthan.
The featured image captures an elderly Milkman with Beautiful Brass Utensils, pushing his Bicycle on a bridge.
His Splendid headgear called “SAAFA” or “PAGDI” is replicated by two of the Three Wise Men enjoying a cup of Tea . They are seated on a wooden bench besides a busy street. Do not miss the Handmade Leather Shoes called “JOOTIS“.
Three Wise Men
While the headgear remains Unchanged, the Bicycle has transformed into a Motorcycle alongwith one of the Brass Milk Containers into a lighter and larger Aluminium Container.
The Hand towel over the shoulder is a unique Multipurpose Garment much like a Fouta in Tunisia or Hammam Towel in Turkey.
Milkman moving with the times
The picture above was taken through the windshield of a Car and thus slightly milky.
This statement is underlined and highlighted many times over at THE RANCHO SCHOOL at Shrey, Ladakh.
A huge blockbuster of a movie titled THE THREE IDIOTS highlights the creative educational practices followed at this Himalayan School in the desolate landscape of Ladakh.
The school is managed by the Hemis Monastery which was founded in the 11th Century. The Naropa Temple ( seen in the picture below from the Rancho School) is dedicated to Naropa, the founder of the Drukpa lineage of the Hemis Monastery.
The Rancho School and the Naropa Temple
The school was closed during the Winters when I happened to visit the Region.
Himalayan Playground
The Rancho School Coffee Shop doubles up as a restaurant or Dining Area during the Winter Festival which coincides with the Birthday of His Holiness . ( do read the previous blog titled SEA OF MAROON)
The building blocks of the entire school are Locally available Stones and not Bricks.
The entire school premises are powered by Solar Energy .
The School Coffee Shop
The School is surrounded by the Lofty Himalayas , Buddhist Temples and Stupas.
The picture below was taken from one of the Hostels at Rancho School.
Buildings integrated into the Beautiful Landscape
The Rancho School makes Movies come to Life.
Domestic tourism from other parts of India to Ladakh increased 500% after the movie rocketed to the top of the Charts.
The region is classified as an High Altitude Desert or a Cold Desert.
The vast barren Vista compels you to look inwards.
Buddhism is a Way of Life in Ladakh and seems to blend in beautifully with the Barren, Simple and Tranquil surroundings.
Gateway to Buddha
A drive from Leh to Shrey ( a village which is home to Rancho School made famous by the Bollywood blockbuster 3 Idiots) reveals the vast tracts of EMPTINESS.
To the Himalayas over tracts of NOTHINGNESS
There are kilometers of Land with nothing but Rocks and Barren Hills, a Land stripped Bare. An unusual but Divine Vista to behold.
An Emptiness that peers into your Soul within.
Flat roofed homes indicate that precipitation( rainfall) is rare or totally absent.
Rocks strewn all over
A tiny tot of a Buddhist temple breaks the monotony of the Brown Barren Himalayas laid bare by the powerful Rays of the Sun.
Sunrays are intense in the high altitude Air of Ladakh and quickly melt the Snow on the Hills exposed to the Sun.
Snow survives only in the Shadows
Temples and Monasteries are built on Hills and Hillocks and can be seen from miles all around.
The Pagoda style is Strangely seen only on Temples and not on Homes which are largely flat roofed.
I think I surprised the cyclist while taking this picture.
A Temple in Ladhakh reminds me of a Lighthouse
Do read the earlier Blogs CHARMING LEH AIRPORT, SIGNS OF BUDDHA and FROZEN to connect to this absolutely mesmerizing region of India.
Stay on Board as we reach the now famous RANCHO School to celebrate the Birthday ofHIS HOLINESS. You will be swamped in a Sea of Maroon.
The Frozen Ice on the Bucket Chairs outside the CHARMING LEH AIRPORT ( please do check a previous blog thus titled for continuity) were a clear Sign of the sub zero temperatures in Leh, Ladakh during the Winters.
Barren Hills and Poplar Trees overlook a Ladhaki Home adorned with fluttering Buddhist Prayer Flags.
The Rays of the Sun at an high altitude are Welcoming and Intense as they keep you warm and comfortable.
A Home in Leh, Ladakh
Thick layers of Grass are stacked on rooftops so that the Homes remain warm once the Sun Sets and temperatures dip to minus twenty or thirty degrees centigrade during the winters in Ladakh.
Grass acts as a Bio Insulater
The Cows in the region are small and of have a dense fur to keep them warm. The Magpie glistens in the Sun and finds food amongst Heaps of Snow.
Picture was taken outside the entrance to our Hotel Mahey Retreat in Leh, Ladakh, Jammu& Kashmir, India.
Mud Packed stone walls are a great ecological alternative to Cement and Bricks.
Snow, MagPie and Cow
A Quiet peaceful alley lined with Snow is the Hallmark of Leh during the Winters.
A quiet alley lined with Snow
Remain aboard as I keep unraveling the telltale Signs captured by the camera at the Charming Leh Airport.
For me the first point of entry into Leh, Ladakh was the KBP Airport and there were many signs captured by the camera which foretold me of the sights to follow.
The Unique Blankets hung over doorways charmed me at the Airport. By the time I left I realized it was a practical Local way of retaining the Heat during the Bitterly Cold Winters of Leh.
Small Charming Airport at Leh
Volunteers from the Hemis Monastery welcomed us with White Silken Scarves. Theie gorgeous traditional woolen attire ensured they remain warm when temperatures fall to minus thirty degrees centigrade.
Traditional Welcome at the Airport
Ladakh is classified as a COLD DESERT as Rainfall is a Luxury. It falls in the rain shadow of the Lofty Himalayas ensuring Rain bearing Clouds seldom reach the region.
The result is a unique and stark Landscape bereft of even a blade of Grass as can be seen in the picture below taken at the Airport at Leh.
Watching the International Borders
The temperature was minus Ten degrees Centigrade at 1000 hours when we landed. The frozen water on the chairs outside the airport bear testimony to the statement above.
It was another sign that Ladakh will be Freezing Cold.
Brrr Freezing Cold
Having understood little of the signs and symbols at the time of arriving I now see in hindsight that many sights had already been foretold the moment I stepped out at the Airport at Leh.
Off we go in the Powdered Sugar Car
Stay on Board as the Signs and symbols are unraveled as we travel through Ladakh.
Travel with Mukul 