Ladakh's Mystical Landscapes: Exploring the Cold Desert's Hidden Gems

Ladakh is India's cold desert. It boasts high, dry mountains without trees or grass. Rainfall here is scarce, just about 3 inches a year, making water a precious commodity. Yet, amidst this barrenness, lies Pangong Lake. This massive lake, over 13,000 feet high, stretches 160 kilometers long. It's so vast you could travel from Mumbai to Pune, and it still wouldn't end.

Despite its beauty, this lake has a secret. Not a single drop of its water is drinkable. That's right; it’s India's highest saltwater lake! This place is remarkable. The blue water contrasts beautifully with the brown mountains, creating a breathtaking view. The lake starts from the Karakoram range in East Ladakh and flows into West Tibet, changing names along the way. In India, we call it Bangong, while it's Sonak or Rumo across the border.

One village near the lake, Mirak, is special yet often overlooked. It’s quaint, with only a few houses set against towering, snow-capped mountains. Thanks to the lake, there is unexpected greenery here, too. Trees and grass grow in abundance compared to the rest of Ladakh, breathing life into this cold desert.

Mirak offers stunning views. You can see snow peaks on one side and the mesmerizing Pang Lake right in front of you. It feels almost magical! The village is serene and mostly quiet, making it an off-beat destination worth visiting. The houses here are made of mud, a practical choice for insulation against the harsh cold and strong winds, especially during winter.

An intriguing feature of Mirak is a unique beach. A sandy path runs through the middle of Pangong Lake, with water on both sides. It’s a rare sight for a lake! This vast body of water deserves more appreciation. It behaves like an ocean, with waves crashing gently against the shores, and the night sky sparkles with stars above.

In the morning, the mountains shimmer like gold. The Karakoram range, especially Kanju Kangri, stands tall at over 22,000 feet, commanding attention. From here, the peace is palpable—the gentle breeze creates small ripples on the lake, and the sounds of nature fill the air.

While wandering around, I discovered a charming stone house called Rantan. It’s a natural mill run by glacial water. The water spins a turbine that grinds barley, working tirelessly throughout summer. In winter, the stream freezes, halting the production.

Mirak also hosts a monastery perched on a hilltop. Its prayer walls are inviting, and surprisingly, there’s even a government school here. It’s heartwarming to see education thriving in such a remote location!

Next, I headed from Pang to explore another beautiful spot in Ladakh. Along the way, I’ll share my music choice. For my videos, I use tracks from Artlist. It’s an incredible platform for royalty-free music and sound effects, perfect for capturing emotions in storytelling. They even have an AI feature that recommends music based on your video idea.

My next stop is Hanle, about 250 km south of Leh. Here, only around 300 people live at an altitude of 14,000 feet. Despite its remoteness, it's famous for India’s highest astronomical observatory. This place is ideal for stargazing, with telescopes designed to view the galaxy.

The Himalayan Chandra Telescope, situated at a high altitude, is controlled from Bangalore. Data collected here is sent to ISRO for research. It’s a marvel that such a facility exists here!

The cold desert conditions make this a rare spot. The clear skies provide a fantastic view of the Milky Way from March to October. Hanle also occasionally reveals auroras—a sight usually reserved for polar regions.

In this unique land, secrets lie both above and below. The Chuma Dham Hot Spring showcases nature’s wonders as boiling water bursts from the ground. It's mesmerizing to see and feel! This geothermal phenomenon reflects the beauty of Ladakh’s landscape.

In this open valley, you can’t help but feel small yet serene. The expansive sky puts life’s problems into perspective. Here, you find peace, realizing the vastness of the world beyond our city troubles.