MyHimalayas

impressions from

Pictures Nepal

Gallery Ladakh - Likir to Tingmosgan

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Leh and Indus Valley

Likir to Yangthang

Yangtang to Hemis Shakpachen

Hemis Shackpachen - Temisgan

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flight_delhi_to_leh.jpg (140187 Byte)
View from Delhi to Leh out of the right side towards the east - Garhwal Himal and Nanda Devi must be somewhere there.

leh_palace.jpg (141366 Byte)
The old fort and monastery of Leh are a reminder of the town's central location in the Silk Route's southern branch.

matok_against_ladakh_range.jpg (104701 Byte)
The only Shakya monastery in Ladakh is situated on a ridge connected to the dark ranges.
 
thikse_from_mathok.jpg (111392 Byte)
In the fertile Indus valley, dozens of monasteries were built on commanding positions.

mathok_vertical.jpg (134382 Byte)
Mathok monastery stands out against the monsoon clouds that make it over the Ladakh range.
 

 

likir_gompa.jpg (145472 Byte)
Likir monastery is situated 2 hours west from Leh and my starting point for the easy three day trek.

likir_assembly_hall.jpg (119762 Byte)
Assembly hall of Likir monastery.

likirwaytosumdo.jpg (131104 Byte)
A few minutes outside of the village, view towards the Zanskar range.


Fox on the way to the first pass. 
sumdo_portrait.jpg (107890 Byte)
Woman of Sumdo takes a break from working in the barley field.

yangthang_village_2.jpg (151120 Byte)
Yangtang is a pretty village 4 hours after Likir, and a good place to stay for the night.

yangthangvillage.jpg (167962 Byte)
Barley is the staple diet in Ladakh, and women work in the fields most of the day.


yangthang_alley.jpg (247851 Byte)
Inside the village, narrow alleys lead to the center where the monastery forms the middle of the small town.

yangthanggompa.jpg (110238 Byte)
Prayer wheel in front of the monastery.

yangthanghouse.jpg (99657 Byte)
Courtyard and meeting point, the dozen houses of Yangtang are built .

 

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Ghost trap over the entrance, a common sight in remote villages.

yangthang_village_1.jpg (136755 Byte)
The morning sun brings out the stunning colours.

way_from_yangthang_to_rizon.jpg (145808 Byte)
Gentle walk between barren hillsides along the creek.
 
whiteflower.jpg (99085 Byte)
Vegeration along the Wuleh Tokpa surprises with its colours.

blueflower_1.jpg (108836 Byte)
Colourful flowers bloom in the the fields.

rizonggompa.jpg (126625 Byte)
Two hours south, in a hidden sidevalley, lies the large Gelugpa monastery of Rizong.

novices_rizong.jpg (113976 Byte)
Novice monks learn English, math, Tibetan and Buddhist philosophy.

pass_to_hemis_gampachen.jpg (124111 Byte)
Climbing up the pass, looking back to Rizong valley.

kids_guesthouse.jpg (119339 Byte)
Kids in Hemis Shakpachen who helped me find a place for the night.

familyhemis.jpg (111808 Byte)
Family running the guesthouse in Hemis.

 

hemis_shakpachen_chorten.jpg (134917 Byte)
Chorten after Hemis indicates the way.

passafterhemis.jpg (136151 Byte)
From top of the unnamed pass, the next (and final pass of Lago La) is already visible.

pass_to_ang.jpg (132076 Byte)
Tourists on their way up to Lago La, the climb is actually shorter and easier than it looks from a distance.
to_lago_la.jpg (211795 Byte)
It's usually easy to make out the trails, this one leading up to the last one before it goes gently downhill to Ang. 

hemis_shakpachen_pass.jpg (143914 Byte)
Looking back from Lago La towards Hemis and the unnamed pass which I crossed just half an hour earlier.

ang.jpg (126596 Byte)
After the two hour walk in barren landscape, the lush valley of Ang seems like an oasis.

ang_portrait.jpg (112582 Byte)
Local farmer in Ang who takes a short break from work in the fields.

nunrizong.jpg (67305 Byte)
A nun from Rizong nunnery is visiting friends in Ang.

tingmosganggompa.jpg (130275 Byte)
The gompa of Timosgang comes in sight first, the village lies at the bottom of the valley between fields and trees of apricot, apples and walnut.

tingmosgangvalley.jpg (115472 Byte)
Wide fields of Temisgon are a sign of its prosperity.


tingmosgangwool.jpg (102782 Byte)
 The young generation uses motorbikes and cars, their grandparents still live very traditionally - spinning wool is a traditional "past time".