About Ladakh

ABOUT LADAKH

Ladakh is a region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir that currently extends from the Kunlun mountain range to the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent.Ladakh, a spectacular, magical landscape with its austere and grandiose mountains, crystalline blue waters, vast open skies and rocky terrain dotted with mystical gompas is an experience like no other! A land of spiritual harmony and peace , where prayer wheels are in sync with the heartbeats of its locals; where the magnificence of its snow-clad mountains, high mountain passes, glacier-melted streams and smiling faces of its people, greeting you saying “Julley”, beckon you to come and be a part of an experience that will change your life forever.Ladakh, also known as “Little Tibet”, is one of the highest inhabited plateaus in the world at an average altitude of over 3,500 m.

Ladakh has often been called the Moon Land and Mysterious Land because of its unique landscape and rich culture.

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Religion And Culture in Ladakh

The culture and lifestyle of the mountain people of Ladakh are as unique as the land itself. This region has developed a culture different from other places largely because of its development in isolation. Tibetan Buddhism is the strong base upon which Ladakhi culture thrives. It has very little influence, unlike the rest of the world, of western monoculture.

Chutagi

One of the most famous and signature dishes of Ladakh is the Chutagi( dumpling soup). It is made of flour into a bow- tie shaped dumpling with soup consisting of potatoes, carrots and spinach. I simply love this dish and just cannot get enough of it especially when my mother makes it.


Skew

Another dumpling soup made in the same way as the Chutagi but shaped like really tiny thumb sized chapatis. The soup is delicious with the essence of all the different vegetables that are put into it. For a non- veg skew mutton is most preferred and potatoes are a must to give it a nice flavour and texture.


Paba

The flour of Barley is roasted and kneaded in a little oil and eaten with some sugar. Another way to eat it is with Tangthur and Zathuk which is butter milk. Paba is mixed with Tangthur and other vegetables and eaten. A very healthy source of food.


Gur Gur Cha/ Butter Tea/ Tsaza

Gur Gur is the name of the instrument in which the tea is made. After churning the curd/ yogurt the butter that is left is used to make this tea. It is not sweet but delicious in the cold weather. The ingredients used to make this tea are butter, milk and tea powder, all of this is then put into the shaker (Gur Gur) and the tea is made. In English it is called Butter Tea and in Tibetan it is called Tsaza.


MoMo

Momo is very famous Tibetan dish. It is a dumpling with different stuffings in them depending on whether it is Vegetarian or Non- Vegetarian. The dumplings are of different shapes. The dumplings are then cooked in a vessel called ‘Mokto’ where the vessel at the bottom contains water and the other three vessels on top having small holes for the steam to pass and cook the momos hold the dumplings. It is eaten with a kind of spicy chutney but can also be eaten alongside ketchup for those of you who don’t really like much spice.


Thukpa

Thukpa which is just noodle soup is also a Tibetan dish that is made is Ladakh. The flour is kneaded, the broth is cooked containing onion, tomato, garlic and other vegetables if veg and beef/ mutton if non-veg once it looks a little cooked the flour is rolled into thin strings and dropped into the boiling broth.


Tapu

This dish is more common in areas where apricot is grown in large numbers. The dried flour is boiled in water and then mixed with the seeds of the apricots which is nicely grinded to give a smooth texture. This dish is not only delicious but also highly nutritious and is considered very good for a normal diet.


Festivals of Ladakh Date
Spituk Gustor January 25-26
Leh & Likir Dosmochy February 24-25
Yargon Tungshak March 2-3
Stok Guru Tsechu March 6-7
Matho Nagrang March 11-12
Saka Dawa June 9
Yuru Kabgyat June 21-22
Hemis Tsechu July 3-4
His Holiness The Dalai Lama Birthday July 6
Shachukul Gustor July 11-12
Stongday Gustor July 12-13
Karsha Gustor July 21-22
Pheyang Tsedub July 21-22
Korzok Gustor Tsomoriri July 26-27
Dakthok Tsechu August 2-3
Sani Nasjal Zangskar August 6-7
Tingang Tseskarmo August 7
Deskit Gustor Nubra October 17-18
Nyoma Gustor October 17-18
Thiksey Gustor November 6-7
Chamday Wangchok November 16-17
Galdan Namchot December 12
Ladakhi Losar December 19
If you haven’t been to Ladakh, you are truly missing something. Ladakh is undoubtedly one of the most panoramic places one can visit in India. It probably ranks the highest on the list of bikers across the country. The breathtakingly stunning landscapes on the drive from Manali to Leh or Srinagar to Leh will overwhelm you beyond measure. It will truly be one of the most memorable voyages you can ever embark upon.
By Air :The nearest airport is at Leh, well-connected to all major Indian cities such as Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, Chandigarh, etc. From the Leh airport, you can visit your place of interest by a hired cab or rent bikes.
By Road :Leh is located 420 km from Srinagar and 490 km from Manali. A hired cab, jeep or a JKSRTC bus can get you to Ladakh. Alternately, if you have time, you can choose to take the most preferred way to reach Ladakh—a bike trip either from Srinagar or Manali. The highways are open only between May to September. Plan accordingly.
Total area of Ladakh 86,904 sq km. Leh occupies 45110 sq km of this area.
Main districts Leh, Kargil
Population Approximately 2.80 lakh (Leh & Kargil)
Languages Ladakhi, Tibetan, Balti, Purgi, Shina or Dardic, Urdu & Hindi.
Ethnicity Mongoloid & Tibetan, Dardic and Indo-Aryan.
Temperature 3 to 35 °C in summer and -20 to -35 °C in winter
Altitude Leh 3505 m, Kargil 2750 m
Ideal season for road trip May to September
Rainfall 15 cm average
Clothing Cotton & light woollens in summer and heavy woollens, windproof garments in winter.
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Beautiful Mountain Ranges of Ladakh

One of the most stark and striking differences among Ladakh and other tourist places is the fact that this place is one of the top most habitable places around the world located at 5000 meters approximately, above the sea level. It’s nestled in the magnificent Himalayas and reaching there through road is a recommendable journey around rugged mountain terrain and passes. You can enjoy views and have fun while thinking about various activities to do in Ladakh.

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Mountain Ranges of Ladakh

The huge mountain ranges of Ladakh and Zanskar will be your best companion all through your trip to Leh. They might be intimidating various times but your experience will be overwhelming. These high mountains make everyone feel small. Though, the main key to have fun at this place is by enjoying the beauty of these mountains. The steep terrain covered with all snow reflects heavenly skies. All point in Ladakh will make you want to visit this place again and again. The sound and view of loud rivers and mountains makes an absolute beautiful combination of heaven. You will find many activities to do in Ladakh!

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Breath taking Pangong Tso Lake

Do you remember the breathtaking striking lake from the movie 3 idiots? It is the Pangong Tso Lake, which traverses the international boundary from India to China. This lake is best site for late night camping and present hot spot for all individuals travelling to Ladakh.

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Fairytale Tso Moriri Lake

You will simply love this place as it has canvas colored along with blue white skies, clam blue lake water, white tops, blue green mountains as well as lush-green pastures. Tso Moriri Lake is perhaps not as popular as Pangong Lake but it’s yet a must visit place in Ladakh for anyone who is visiting this place. There are many activities to do in Ladakh like trekking, camping and water sports.

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Khardung la Pass highest motor road in the world

It may not look like a road yet you will get amazing experience to ride a bike and this is one of the best things to do in Ladakh. You must visit Kardungla pass at least once in your lifetime. You have to take care of your health and have to be fit to visit such height or traveling via such passes.

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Arabian Nights at Nubra Valley Ladakh

Desert is simply lovable and looks striking hot especially when you find them on snowy hills of Ladakh. The desert of Nubra valley provides the visitors a lot like Arabian Nights experience. You will find many things to do in Ladakh, most specifically in Nubra valley. This place has the most famous two humped camels, which is the highlight of this valley. The origins of this desert begin from Tethis Sea from where the pits of Himalayas have risen.

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World Famous Magnetic Hill

The magnetic hill science is unknown yet it is observed and believed that when you leave the car at hill base with brakes unlocked, then it’ll begin moving uphill steadily on its own. This is definitely not a magic but you will feel like a super human when you visit this place.

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Spituk Monastery: one of the oldest Monasteries in Ladakh Situated on the Hilltop

Ladakh is popularly known as the place of monasteries and monks and it is rightly said because of the Spituk monastery. It is one of the many old monasteries in Ladakh and its best known for its amazingly carved location on the hilltop. Nearby mountains are quite taller, the place isn’t actually a vantage spot yet the view is pretty amazing from the monastery.

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Buddhist Water Bowls at Namgyal Monastery

Namgyala Monastery or Namgyal Tsemo Gompa is specifically popular for its Buddha statue. It has earlier been visited by Dalai Lama. Buddhism and monks enthusiasts flock around the world to spend few days at this place. It permits people to reside at Namgyal Tsemo Gompa while having some peaceful days. You have many things to do in Ladakh.

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Hemis Mask Dance Festival

Hemis Gompa is one of the biggest monasteries of Ladakh and you can enjoy in Hemis festival, which takes place in the month of July each year. Lots of people around the world visit this place and find many things to do in Ladakh. You will see mask parade in this festival, which is the highlight of Hemis festival and its said to be the sacred ritual of Ladakh. Each year, this monastery holds 2 days celebration to honor the borth-anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. He is known as the reincarnation of Lord Buddha.

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Showing Heaven and Monastery at 3:50am

Have you ever wondered why sky in the movies look so amazing and not from the view of your house? This place will show you how it feels to be in the nature’s lap away from all hustle bustle of the city life. This place will provide you must have experiences in Ladakh with best star gazing nights in your life.

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Inside Likir Monastery

The stunning wood work done on the colorful wood is the best non Buddhist thing known about Likir Monastery. This museum caters to the old history of Ladakh and you will confront must have experiences in Ladakh to remember for life long. You will see amazing picturesque surroundings that came third. This list is never-ending.

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Drang Drung Glacier

Suru Valley is one of the best places to visit in Ladakh. It is a perfect region for mountainous adventure games. The trek via this valley to Drang Drung glacier is considered to be the best in all aspects providing a blend of all possible things to do on mountains. This is the toughest trek to of in this region as well as it’s taken up only by experienced trekkers.

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Shanti Stupa was built to promote World Peace

Shanti Stupa is definitely one of the must places to visit in Ladakh. This is the most amazing place to raise some beliefs from within and asses yourself into life. Now you can introspect time and meditate a little at night in overwhelming view from this place.

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Leh Palace

The Leh palace may have lost all its grandeur still the stone and wood ruins are same and hence, it has become one of the most popular places to visit in Ladakh. People who are interested in historical architecture usually visit this place as it was built in the seventeenth century by Namgyal King and is nine stories high. This palace is under full control of ASI or Archeological survey of India and provides panoramic views of the Zanskar and Stok Kangri ranges transversely the Indus valley.

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Chadar Trek

The Zanskar River offers a chadar trek for people who are crazy for adventurous sports. It is basically known for trekking over frozen rivers. The trek over Zanskar River is known as the popular trek among mountaineers and trekkers that is undertaken by huge groups of adventure enthusiasts. One can go to this place as weekend gateways and explore this outstanding experience. Trek is usually happens in November as the river is frozen at that time of the month, which is safe and surrounded by snow and responsive enough to keep you survive.

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Rafting at Zanskar River best summer adventure

You will get many options of river rafting in Zanskar River during summers. This is one of the coolest weekend gateways for tourists and people who are looking for some adventurous sports. It can only be done in summer season as in winters this river is frozen. The water of Zanskar is extremely cold and will freeze you. When you are planning to go for adventure games in Ladakh then trip to this river is an ideal one!

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Must Watch Wildlife in Ladakh: Snow Leopard

The close locality with rare nature means Ladakh region, which is extremely rich in flora and fauna. The wildlife specially has adapted immensely to the climatic situations and has created its own distinct space. You can visit this place on weekends as this wildlife makes an amazing weekend gateways. Snow Leopards and flora are the main attractions of this area. Though, you may not wish to see the leopard in real. The local wildlife zoo will provide you the striking experience when it comes to wild animals and it is a must to do activity in Ladakh.

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Everyone deserve Love Donkey Sanctuary

Everyone needs little care and when you talk about donkeys then they need extra help. It may come as a surprise to many people but you are going to see the donkey sanctuary in Ladakh. This is one of the most important places to visit in Ladakh. This sanctuary caters to all sick and old donkeys, which are needed by local owning to geographical conditions and usually left when they are old and sick. The place in Ladakh is very lively shed as well as perhaps put a smile on kids face along with adults’ similarly with its graffiti and witty posters.

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This Manali – Leh Road will always excite you with its endless Beauty

Ladakh roads are known for effluent safety and concern at the border. It means roads are kept in amazing conditions as well as provide perfect weekend gateways for bikers. You will easily get bikes on rent in Ladakh as well as surrounding places. Bikes are generally scale these ways smoothly. Though, the roads are smooth and but it’s always good to keep some important backup products.

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Sign with meaning!

There is no need of any explanation here and the picture says it all! This will be your most amazing must have experiences in Ladakh!

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Fashionable Market

You will experience amazing things in the market of Ladakh. The culture and people everything is just so mesmerizing and it looks like a dream. You will find many things to do in Ladakh. You will make your own stories and experiences in Ladakh when you visit this place. Children and monks are specifically helpful as well as will reach out to you at various places and accustomed with various cultures of Leh. They will make you feel just like home.

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Must Try Cusines

Ladakh is the region which is famous for its cuisines, which is developed uniquely from Kashmiri Cuisine. You must experience the food made by local people and visit the home of local people to experience the local food of Ladakh. Pictures definitely do not do justice with the taste for sure!

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Shopping is always fun

You can buy many things in Ladakh that will make a perfect gift for your loved ones. The small shops cater to tourists and locals alike as well as they are very jolly. The souvenirs and artifacts are frequently displayed on road side stalls and it is quite easy to bargain. When you are at it then do search around for local Pashmeena Shawls and dresses.

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Milky Way Galaxy from Ladakh

Leh Ladakh is definitely a must visit city for all armature and professional photographers, especially Astro photographers! Such photographers have taken by collecting several pictures one by one of Milky Way! It’s very important to know that clicking any picture might take more than 3 to 4 hours but your purpose will be solved for sure of clicking something gigantic and out of the world. It usually takes dedication, skills and patience to click such pictures. One of the main reasons why people find this place more attractive for photographers is because this offers clear night sky to complement scenic beauty.

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Better than Other Views

When you are searching for view in other places then you will get view from the loo in Leh. This place has view everywhere and you don’t have to search for it! You can see it in the picture itself!

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Everyone should try this thrilling adventure

You can plan a camping in the mountains as it will give you one of the most amazing experiences for lifetime. Go camping with family and friends in Sarchu. You will not find water in a mug when you wake-up early in the morning. It will turn into ice. This place is so chilled out.

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Enjoy If get chance to attend Ladakh wedding

You will find amazing ways to get wed and choosing Ladakh is definitely shows your adventurous side. It will be an out of the world experience for both of you.

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Moon From Sarchu

You will find moon very close to you in Ladakh. In Sarchu, you will feel like sleeping under the Galaxy and moon. The experience will be overwhelming and guarantee you some unforgettable moments.

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Incredible Ladakh

If you are looking for peace and meditation then this place is just great! You will find a new self within you when you reach here. You need to lose yourself in the mesmerizing beauty and eye captivating scenery of Ladakh. Each place is a view in itself and you don’t have to look for any specific place to click pictures. Just go with the flow of Ladakh’s beauty, it’s just awesome place to visit at least once in a lifetime!

A trip to Ladakh requires meticulous planning and several days to materialize it. Before you start your journey, you need to gain knowledge about the place and the weather here; have an itinerary laid out; know your accommodation choices; and prepare yourself both mentally and physically.If your plan is of a road trip, then you need to pay close attention to your vehicle as well. Get it serviced and anything that seems dicey should either be repaired or replaced.

Traveling with no plan at all; and just going along with the road may sound cool enough but in case of Ladakh; it is better to lay out a plan and try not to deviate from it. I am speaking this out of my own personal experience. Just because I deviated from the set plan, I once ended up spending the entire night sitting next to a dirt track; hoping that someone will pass us by the next morning; lost in the middle of nowhere. The next time I made the same mistake, we almost got lost and reached our destination at 1 in the night; only to find the entire village deep in sleep. This time, we ended up sleeping on the floor of a tea-stall with whatever blankets the kind shop owner could arrange for us.

Gaining knowledge about Ladakh before you reach there; having a well laid itinerary will just make your trip simple and I highly recommend that you do so.

For most people, acute mountain sickness remains to be a term unknown until they first start planning for a trip to Ladakh. It happened with me as well. I did not even know that something like AMS or high altitude sickness even existed. Almost all of us in our lives have been to a hill station at least once but never felt or gave mountain sickness a thought. We tend to not take it seriously because we have never suffered from it and do not even know how it exactly feels like when AMS hits you. This can really spoil all the fun out of your trip.

To being with, AMS more or less feels exactly like you are suffering from 102 degrees fever; and you have to consider it seriously. It gets of even more importance if you caught a flight to Ladakh. No matter what age group you are in; how good an athlete you are; or how many hours you spend in the gym a week; how many trips you have been to in Himalayas, you are bound to suffer from AMS if it is your first time in Ladakh. For some people, these symptoms are very less while others suffer for a complete day or two. You can take precautions to reduce the symptoms but in the end; your body needs time and rest to acclimatize and there is really no other way around it.

You may have been on numerous road trips; or done a lot of traveling; you may have had your fill of off-roading but you cannot make the mistake of being over-confident in Ladakh. The roads here are challenging and can be treacherous if you were not careful. You still need to take it slow and be careful. Understand the fact that you are driving through a region that gets buried under snow come winter and BRO has to work these roads straight each year. One small mistake can see you drive off the road and downhill; or at least cause serious damage to your vehicle.

A lot of people tend to plan their trip by looking at the distance. If they see 500 odd kilometers, the immediate thought is that they can easily cover it in 1 day. Time and distance however do not really work together in Ladakh. Even on a straight freshly laid road, you cannot make the mistake of speeding. There will be dips in between which can really break your vehicle if you were at a great speed. There will be stretches that will severely limit your speed down to merely 15-20 kilometers per hour. You will be crossing passes and climbing up on a twisting narrow road cannot be done at 60-70 kilometers per hour. To be on a safer side, plan a total travel of about 150-200 kilometers for one day; nothing more than that. There cannot be absolutely any speeding here at all.

Need I explain this anymore? Driving while under the influence of alcohol in Ladakh will be fatal; there is no other or simpler way to put it.

If you were traveling to Ladakh with your child, you will need to constantly monitor and keep them under check. They will be way more excited to be at a new place than you; they will still run and jump around and in the process, exert themselves. This exertion will trigger AMS and a child will not even be able to tell you clearly how they were feeling. Keep a close check on their eating habits, do not let them tire themselves, protect them from the cold and harsh environment and monitor constantly for any symptoms for mountain sickness. Read How to travel to Ladakh with children or infants for further details on precautions you need to observe while bringing a child to Ladakh.

This I speak out of my own experience. I am probably one of the very few who were foolish enough to take a dip in Pangong Tso. This was during my first Ladakh trip more than a decade ago. Ladakh back than was still a bit deserted and that day, I along with a friend of mine were the only two tourists on the banks of Pangong. Thinking it will be an experience of one of a kind, we walked in the lake till water was until our thighs, sat down, took a quick dip and ran out.

Was it an experience? Yes it was but a nightmarish one. Pangong is a salt water lake and that salt water entered all the wrong places. There was no place there for us to even wash it off. However serious concern was that it was something extremely dangerous and we could have even died. Our entire “in the water” time was in seconds, not even a full minute. Yet it was enough to turn our bodies numb for next one hour, give a serious headache for rest of the day and trigger cold for rest of the trip. If I had lost my footing while running in and out of the freezing cold water, I could have drowned. I could have even suffered from thermal shock or hypothermia.

Please do not risk this. Lakes in Ladakh are not for bathing or swimming. Water is freezing cold and before you even know it, your entire body will go numb. Even washing your face with water that cold will cause the famous “Ice cream headache”.

Do not attempt this.

A lot of people do this, especially at the high altitude passes in Ladakh. They will take there shirts off, go topless and then try to click a macho picture with their bikes in front of the board reading the name of the pass. This while sounds like a perfect picture to share around with friends can have serious implications. Standing at the top of a pass with your body exposed to cold winds will make you highly prone to falling ill; which will definitely ruin your rest of the trip. It is more or less one minute of fun but results can be dangerous.

Non-local taxis, self drive rentals, motorcycles rented in another city except for Leh are only good enough to bring you to the city of Leh. Using it for sightseeing in Ladakh; places like Nubra, Pangong and Moriri, is not allowed and you must not take the chance. There have been incidents where such vehicles were attacked and vandalized by locals; even some tourists I heard got hurt. If you reached Leh in a non-local rented vehicle then please leave it parked at your hotel in Leh and rent another vehicle there for visiting other places in Ladakh. For more details on this ban, please read Non-local taxis and rented motorcycles banned in Ladakh.

Inner Line Permit is a mandate to visit areas like Nubra Valley or Pangong Tso. You do not need this permit to reach Leh but will have to obtain it from there for journey ahead. Please do not ignore this. There are check posts in between and if you did have the permit; they will send you back to Leh.

Ladakh is bound to leave you mesmerized and inspired to visit again. It is a small piece of heaven that I believe every Indian should be proud of. Littering in such a place and staining its beauty must be at all cost avoided. Please respect the region and help the government to keep it clean.

Adding this one more point here after seeing this fellow trying some stunts while riding down from Khardung La towards Leh during my last year ride to Ladakh. What came next? Well there was a stone that he could not avoid and since neither of his feet were on the ground, he took a nasty fall. As a matter of fact, he missed the cliff by just a few inches. Slightly harder fall would have seen him tumbling down the hill like the old Jack. Please, do not try this. Ladakh is a place to soak yourself in its natural beauty; not show off what you can or cannot do on a motorcycle or in a car.

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