Chromatic Discoveries

And our tour began, on its scheduled date, without any more hiccups.

It was the first day of our tour. We landed at Srinagar airport. Stepping out of the plane, we were greeted with mildly cold, pleasant gush of wind. It brought along the moist smell of the alpines. Right ahead was the vast expanse of the clear blue sky dotted with lone drifting white clouds. The blue umbrella met the hardy mountains capped with the snow and draped with green shawl, at the distant horizon. A serene welcome by the nature was enough to calm down my anxiety of high altitudes.

The first sight set the bright tone for the ‘chromatic discoveries‘ ahead.

As we proceeded towards Sonmarg by road, Jhelum gave us sonorous company. Shadowed by the mountain on other side, the rapidly flowing water of Jhelum appeared as if it is was a peppy song from black and white ear of Bollywood.

I longed to hear free-spirited song of rapids in her current. Stepping out of the car to do so, I spotted acorns dangling from the branches. On closer look, every other branch of every other tree boasted of small and big acorns.

As I turned my back to Jhelum, the HD coloured sight awaited, standing in attention pose to receive a complement. Sun, the master director of the light show, has the most dramatic scenes ever created on the Earth, to his credit, I must say!

Soon we were at Sonmarg, our first pit-stop in the seven day long tour. Settling in the cosy chair in the hotel room, waiting for the hot cup of coffee, I pushed back the curtains of the adjoining window. Green slopes with the sun kissed trees, a lone grazing cow separated from its herd and a Kashmiri woman stood before me, as if it was a painting!

Early bird catches the worm. So did I. Next day, on 2nd day, I caught the mountains basking in the glory of the rising sun, red handed….should I say golden handed?

We were on our way to Kargil soon. The landscape started reflecting the change gradually. From the tree lined green grey mountains to the bare rock solid barren beauties, there was a subtle change. The tree cover was waning rapidly making macho side of the Himalayan ranges prominent.

The mountains and the peaks proudly had the snow cover on their heads, shoulders and torso. The missing snow cover here and there, showcased its raw muscle power. “Tall dark and handsome” doesn’t only exist in Mills and Boons, I thought. No wonder then I fell in love with it!

We took a halt at “Zero Point” which is few kms before Zoji la. One can enjoy the snow sports here. As we had already enjoyed snow sports at Gulmarg during our Kashmir trip the previous year, we decided to watch the action from side lines.

Reclining against the car, all four of us were standing next to each other. Better half caught a sight and pointed towards it. It had the most vibrant colour combination and the paved road below provided the apt background.

After crossing Zoji la, one comes across sort of a plateau amongst the mountains. The blue water stream with the frills of the white, was flowing down as if in hurry.  It had no time to stop and admire the cream and green coloured mountains nearby or the snow clad one at a distance.

There was a surprise awaiting little ahead. A mountain with mostly orange and little of grey, green, purple etc shades awaited us round the corner. Felt as if it was a mannequin displaying God’s best creation!

The stream at the foothills had the stones of all shades and sizes. I could not resist playing around with them for a while. I could attend the  Zen state of mind in no time!

The tender yellow and blue wild flowers bloomed here and there, dotting the bare landscape with cheer and defying the chilly winds. They were swaying to the tunes of never stopping mountain wind and making merry!

Half a day was about to be over and the body clock was about to go abuzz with the hunger pangs. Another colourful sight was enough to put off that alarm. This time it was man made though…

Post the scrumptious meal, we were on our way to Kargil War Memorial. Here I found the best colour of the day, or say life time… the patriotic colour. Words fail to describe this and can only be felt.

‘Joy is found along the way and not at the end’ goes the old saying. However after this colourful entry in my memory, I have changed it a bit… Joy and colours of life are found along the way and not in the end!


Picture courtesy Shreyas  and Sukhada Joshi

You can read Echoes From High Altitude #LehLadakhDiary – Part1, “Jinxed” here and Part2 “Happy To Be Missing” here

This post is published for #OpenNTalk Blogger’s League hosted by @Gleefulblogger & @Wigglingpen in association with SummerBarn, Vedantika Herbals, Nyassa, Explore Kids World.

This June, I will be sharing four posts(one in each week) chronicling my experiences from my recent tour of Leh-Ladakh. I am glad to be part of #CrossBorderSisters, Team6 of the #OpenNTalk. You can read fab posts from my buddies Bahwana Shah of Kickupstairs, Adit Kapoor of Panoramic Ripples, Dr Priyanka Naik of Nostalgic Moments and Manisha Garg of Zara Hatake Blog!

You can reach out to my buddies at…

1: Aditi:  BlogFacebook Twitter Instagram
2: Manisha: BlogFacebook Twitter Instagram
3: Dr. Priyanka: BlogFacebook | Twitter Instagram
4: Bhawna: BlogFacebook Twitter Instagram


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47 Comments

Arvind Passey (@arvindpassey) · June 22, 2018 at 8:46 pm

Another nice travel post with charming pictures. Just one suggestion: Can you possibly increase the transparency of your watermark on the pics?

Arvind Passey
http://www.passey.info

#NISSATalks #OpenNTalk

    Anagha Yatin · June 22, 2018 at 9:12 pm

    Thank you so much for the encouraging words Arvindji.
    Will look into the transparency of watermark. Thanks for this as well 🙂

Silja Nair · June 22, 2018 at 10:05 pm

Interesting post with a lovely pictures. #NISSATalks

    Anagha Yatin · June 22, 2018 at 10:52 pm

    Thanks Silja for visiting and appreciating.

Pratikshya · June 22, 2018 at 10:06 pm

Amazing view of Kashmir. Your travel experiences are well preserved here in these words. My tryst with Kashmir is yet to come. I remember wishing to visit it with a strong fervor after watching Haider. Love these pictures.

    Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 12:13 pm

    Haider does capture the heat under the cold snow! However it covers the Kashmir side of it. Leh Ladakh is another side, another face of the J&K. It rugged, difficult yet calm, serene and peaceful. Do visit it Pratikshya.
    Thanks for dropping by.

Silja Nair · June 22, 2018 at 10:07 pm

Wonderful article #NISSATalks

Deepa · June 23, 2018 at 12:06 am

Pretty pictures with equally beautiful description. Enjoyed reading about your journey and experience. Wish to travel there soon. #Openntalk #Bloggingdivas

    Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 9:16 am

    Do visit the place Deepa, its a life time experience!
    Thanks for visiting me and appreciating.

aditi · June 23, 2018 at 12:55 am

Beautiful description urging me to visit the place:)
Pictures are lovely!

#OpenNTalk #CrossBorderSisters

    Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 9:19 am

    Yes, Aditi the place is inviting and holds you captivated. Do plan to visit it.
    Thanks for visiting me.

Rupali · June 23, 2018 at 11:33 am

Wonderful post Anagha.

    Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 12:14 pm

    Thanks Rupali

Shilpa Garg · June 23, 2018 at 11:45 am

This made me do the time travel. We went to Leh via Srinagar and saw all this too. The drive to Leh via Srinagar is one of its kind. Great captures and looking forward to travel with you to Leh in the next post!

    Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 12:16 pm

    Leh Ladakh is one such region where I would love to travel again and again… even the memories are enough to rekindle my romance with the region!
    Thanks Shilpa for dropping by.

BellyBytes · June 23, 2018 at 11:53 am

I can imagine how your heart must be bursting with pride and joy seeing the tricolour at Kargil. Truly it gives me goosebumps to see out flag flying high. Lovely pictures of your trip too!

    Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 12:18 pm

    You worded my feeling cent percent Sunita.
    Thanks for visiting and appreciating!

mammaspeaks · June 23, 2018 at 1:30 pm

Such lovely pictures and vivid description, Anagha!…Though have visited Kashmir when I was a child, I still have to visit Leh. It’s on my bucket list..very soon!!

    Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 2:47 pm

    And once you tick it, I will await your post on it Anshu!
    Thanks dear for visiting.

      mammaspeaks · June 23, 2018 at 3:11 pm

      Sure

        Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 8:00 pm

        🙂

Ila Varma · June 23, 2018 at 3:16 pm

Interesting post & beautiful pics. #BlogAMile #OpenNTalk

    Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 7:59 pm

    Thanks Ila.

pushpendra پُشپیندر (@pushpendra4acti) · June 23, 2018 at 3:24 pm

fabulous travel diary thanks for sharing

    Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 7:59 pm

    Thank you Pushpendra ji for dropping by and appreciating.

Alok Singhal · June 23, 2018 at 6:43 pm

Who wouldn’t want to romance those mountains…I loved those different colors. I guess one of the best times you would have had in your lifetime.

    Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 7:58 pm

    Absolutely true! One of its kind!
    Thanks Alok ji for visiting and sharing your thought.

      Alok Singhal · June 23, 2018 at 8:19 pm

      You don’t have to call me ‘ji.’ I am probably just about your age ?

        Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 8:46 pm

        Hahaha… may be younger than me! Point noted Alok!

Sachin Baikar · June 23, 2018 at 9:54 pm

One more nice post 🙂 Anagha
All pics are so beautiful, really liked the clicks.
Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Anagha Yatin · June 23, 2018 at 9:59 pm

    Thank you Sachin.
    The pics were clicked by my son and daughter as both were entrusted with the duty of clicking the snaps for the tour. Thanks for appreciating their efforts!

Priyanka · June 23, 2018 at 10:20 pm

Mesmerising! You, with your writing, make the travelogue more enjoyable than the travel. ?

#CrossBorderSisters #OpenNTalk

zainab · June 23, 2018 at 10:44 pm

This really looks divine- I just feel like going there right now :))

Snigdha · June 24, 2018 at 1:27 am

OMG, this is heaven in earth.. Beautiful pictures. Ladakh is in my wishlist since long. #jamss2018 #OpenNTalk

rituprapanna · June 24, 2018 at 6:32 am

It seems you are having really a great time. beautiful pictures and lovely discruption. covered all points so well. #OpenNtalk #RoarwillRock

Princy Khurana · June 24, 2018 at 11:31 am

i think i took a tour with you too. i was lost in thoughts while reading and the pictures were beautiful. a window from my side to yours.
– Princy from #InvincibleGang for #OpenNTalk #Week3

Bhawna Shah · June 24, 2018 at 12:23 pm

Write up is no doubt an interesting one but pictures have captured my attention more. Our India is really a heaven.
#crossbordersisters #openntalk

    Anagha Yatin · June 24, 2018 at 1:14 pm

    Incredible India!
    Thanks Bhawna.

An@m! · June 24, 2018 at 2:37 pm

Loved the pictures. 😀 Another awesome post Anagha.

– Anami from #InvincibleGang for #OpenNTalk #Week3

    Anagha Yatin · June 24, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    Thanks Nami!

mahekg · June 24, 2018 at 9:21 pm

Have been to Sonmarg 3 yrs back Anagha however while going through your experience I almost relived mine. There is something about nature and beauty it mesmerises you always and thr peace and calmness which it gives is heartfelt cant be explained. #CrossBorderSisters #OpenNTalk

DiaryOfAnInsaneWriter · June 25, 2018 at 12:53 am

Loved the post! The pictures and description won my heart. #RoarWillRock

    Anagha Yatin · June 25, 2018 at 4:31 pm

    Thanks dear!

Customwriting · June 25, 2018 at 1:23 pm

Anagha Yatin on June 22, 2018, thanks so much for the post.Really thank you! Keep writing.

    Anagha Yatin · June 25, 2018 at 4:21 pm

    Thank you.

sayeridiary · June 26, 2018 at 11:41 am

Its an amazing place…I will visit this soon. Nature has poured all its beauty here. #BloggerBabes #OpeNTalk

Varsh · June 26, 2018 at 5:28 pm

Tough to decide what is better, the pictures or your description. Loved this post, Anagha! So much of sunshine and positivity in this. #OpenNTalk #BloggerBabes

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