I
first experienced the thrill in climbing a mountain when I was 13. It
was really a momentary incident in my life as I was not the person
who was fond of traditional or nature sports. That day I had realized
that this adventure would enable me to experience physical and
psychological challenges through which I would be able to know much
more about my personality and also learn from those experiences and
become stronger.
Also,
mountain climbing gave me the chance to see nature in its purest
form. But I was not so pleased by the fact that I was only climbing
in the Peak District which was no more new to me. But eventually when
I traveled with my friends to Lake District and Snowdonia and
Scotland, then I got introduced to the sheer beauty of these places
which further motivated me to continue these types of adventures or
traveling.
Over
the years I went various countries in search of different climbing
experiences. I have been to almost every continent from America,
Europe, Australia and Asia. Wherever I went I was mesmerized by the
sheer love and affection by the people of every culture I
experienced.
From
all of the places I have gone to, there is specifically one place
which stands out for me as the perfect divine destination for
climbers and that is India. This is the country which every
adventurer desires to visit as it offers unique challenges totally
different from the challenges we face in other places.
India
is also a very important place for ambitious mountaineers who wish to
climb the highest mountains. The north Indian region possess the
mighty Himalayas weaving their way through the states of Arunachal
Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Mizoram, Tripura and Sikkim in the northeast to all the way to the
north western states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu &
Kashmir.
One
of the most fascinating regions in this entire Himalayan Belt is the
Ladakh Region also dubbed as 'Himalayan Desert'. Here, a mountaineer
would find his desired height of mountains and the treacherous
terrain he/she craves for. A peak called Stok Kangri is a gem of a
mountaineering destination. All the mountaineer requires is reliable
mountaineering gear and that's it.
Way to Stok Kangri
People
who are coming from abroad would have to land at Delhi Airport. You
can Hire a taxi or take a Volvo bus which would take you direct to
Ladakh. It is a very Long journey which takes nearly 20 hours by Bus
and an hour less from a hired car. People who want to see the
geographical scenery of India are recommended to take the journey
through road to reach Ladakh. But for the ones who are on a short
timescale, taking the domestic flight from Delhi to Ladakh would be
the best option.
When
I went to India I was a bit tight on my schedule so I took a flight
to Leh main city of Ladakh.
After
you enter the hilly region, you can see the plane taking you through
the curving valleys and mountains.
Checking in at Leh
After
I landed in Leh’s I saw what I had thought about the place. The
airport was small, basic and friendly. I took a taxi to a hotel where
I check in and took rest after traveling at the height of 3500
meters.
Next
morning I was recharged and ready to go exploring the rich natural
surroundings of Ladakh. I was strolling on the streets when I saw
nearly every hill had Buddhist Stupas on them. I could also clearly
see the Stok Kangri Peak.
The
scenery is mystic and gives you the idea of how remote the place is
and why do we live in cities and depend on technologies when people
here are nowhere near to leading a lifestyle with technology being
part of it.
I
talked to some locals on during my stroll and I was flattered by
their generosity and friendliness. This is the friendliest city I
have ever visited. There is a huge Tibetan population in Ladakh who
came here because of the Chinese treating them inappropriately in
Tibet.
I
always took souvenirs for my family back in the U.K. from everywhere
I went. So, I went to the market to look out for some authentic and
native products for souvenir and I was stunned to see the artistic
talents that the people possessed. I saw people different types of
finely embroidered Silk clothes, jewelry and Buddhist Sculptures at
very affordable prices.
Besides,
I found out that there were shops which offered mountaineering
equipments and clothing. Also, some trekking agencies were there
which provided logistical assistance and tour guides so that you can
get much more about the local lifestyle of the people and the
traditions and customs they follow.
Climbing to the Peak’s Base Camp
Taking
the right trek route is the most important thing in terms of safety
and time management. Choosing a path that is shorter but more
treacherous than a long route, would be beneficial for professionals
but is a no go for people who are not experienced mountain climbers.
I
took the route which went through the Markha Valley. Beginning from a
small village called Chilling, just 15 minutes from Leh, is a
thrilling experience as the village is the gateway to the Markha
Valley and it requires one to pass the famous Indus River through a
cable bridge.
On
the other side of the river, there is pony service available which
charge genuine fare from you. If you are using trekking agency
services, then they would make all the arrangements for you.
After
crossing the river, route leads you from the mesmerizing Markha
Valley to the village named Skiu. Till this village it would take you
around four hours to come from Leh. The Village has nice camping site
and various royal bungalows and cafes. One take rest here and move
ahead the next day.
The
next village is Shingo which has unusual scenic beauty. After
crossing Shingo, the challenge begins as the track moves upwards
towards the Ganda La Pass. One may experience Fatigue as there is
oxygen shortage at the height of 4900 metres.
From
the Pass, you get on to a steady track which leads you descending to
Rumbak located at the height of 3800 meters. It would almost take you
Ten hours to reach there from Shingo. This is the point from where
you detour towards the Stok Mountain range.
The detour would lead you to
the south east direction where the Stok Mountains stand. You first
reach at Stok La situated at a height of 4850 meters. The track is
tiring and treacherous with the oxygen level at very low percentage.
After crossing the Stock La,
you would reach the village of Stok. You can either camp at the
village and see the ceramic nature all around or rather continue with
climb and reach the peak of Stok Kangri.
Reaching the Base Camp
The
base camp at Stok Kangri is fairly Satisfying in terms of facilities
they provide. The region is arid and offers only the basic
necessities.
To
enjoy more scenic beauty you can follow the track leading to the
Advanced Base Camp from where you can see the glacier and upper
sections of the mountains. Though camping at this place is
restricted.
After
a night’s stay or more according to your schedule, you can plan for
the ascent. Deciding the time of departure has to be in tune with the
time you need to catch your flight back to U.K.
The Return
Following
the path going out of the site of Advanced Base Camp I witnessed a
descending path which led to the glacier. I initially was getting
uncomfortable as I was not able to climb in a rhythm until I started
climbing from the naturally made slope patterns. Sometimes there may
be snow on the mountains and it is very important to watch your step
and every move you make as it would be dangerous.
I
climbed nearly hundred meters towards the usual line of attack which
lead me back to the southern ridge from where I could straight away
head towards the summit. The rocks were loose and particular you need
to be careful of where you are placing your foot, but if you are
confident and sure footed you’ll find this section passing quickly.
After the treacherous climbing on the edge of the glacier I finally
reached Stok Summit.
After
this tiresome adventure I wanted some rest after which I had to plan
my returning back to Leh.
Back to Leh
After
taking adequate rest at the base camp I took the quickest route which
took 5 hours. Strolling down this route I witnessed the beautiful
flora and fauna of the area with animal species like Bharal, Blue
Sheep and Marmots. You would get all the photogenic moments at this
stretch so keep your cameras ready. As you reach the Stok village you
can take the pony straight back to Leh.
Things
to figure out before packing your bags –
What is the most Favorable season to go to Ladakh?
In
Ladakh, the trekking season starts around the middle of June till the
beginning of July and until the end of August. The best time to be
there would be the period around July to September. The weather at
this time is favorably good and things start to quieten both in the
mountains and in Leh. This also the time when the Ladakh’s annual
festival is organized.
How much it would cost you to go to Ladakh from U.K.?
Tourists
from UK should get down at Delhi. It would cost you around £500-600
for a direct flight. After reaching Delhi the best way to reach Leh
is by flight. The flight would take you their in 1hr 30 minutes. The
expedition organizing agencies charge around 150-170 Pounds which is
quiet affordable. It is convenient and conventional for a outsider to
hire a expedition or trekking agency so that you does not get to face
any problems regarding the local language and the knowledge about the
terrain and the routes to reach your desired destination.
Where
Do I Stay?
There
are so many hotels in Delhi which offer excellent facilities at very
low prices. After you leave to Leh you can check in to a guesthouse.
The guesthouses there are really simple but that is the specialty of
them as there are beautiful scenic view from each room which makes
you forget everything and keeps you fresh all the time.
Should
I hire a Trekking Company?
There
are agencies there in Leh with very professional and experienced
people who provide you the best equipments and guides and make
arrangements for transportation and accommodation during the trek.
Which
trekking company is best to use?
Adventure
India (Only Adventure - Nothing Else) is an tour & travel operators Company providing the Trekking in
India service for tourists. Full details can be found on
http://www.adventureindiagroup.com/
or +91-97361 02222 call to book your Trekking tour.
All
in all going to Stok Kangri would be a life time experience and would
leave you mesmerized and amazed by the sheer mightiness of The
Himalayas. You may even plan to stay their forever.