India’s Most Beautiful Lake | Pangong Lake | Hanle Valley | Ladakh
India’s cold desert This is Ladakh. In this dry desert, you will see dry mountains spread far and wide on which there are neither any trees nor any grass. Because in these dry mountains of Himalayas, only about 3 inches of rain falls each year.
Therefore, it is hard to imagine how challenging it would be for water to exist in such a barren landscape. Despite everything, there is a lake in the middle of these dry Himalayan mountains that is larger than any other lake in the entire Himalayas. It is known by the name “Pangong”. Situated between mountains at an elevation of 13,000 feet, This large, sea-like lake is so expansive that its length is comparable to the distance between Pune and Mumbai. Despite traveling that distance, you would still not reach the end of the lake, Because it stretches for an impressive 160 kilometers, this remarkable length is what makes this lake so special.
Nature has bestowed this desert with a vast lake, but on one condition: not a single drop of water from this beautiful lake is fit for drinking. This is why it is known as India's highest saltwater lake. So, right now, behind me is the Legendary “Pangong Lake”. The term "legendary" describes Pangong Lake because it truly embodies a legend because in such a cold desert-an entirely dry area having such a vast lake is remarkable.
With a length of 160 kilometers, Pangong Lake is not just a lake but feels like an ocean within itself. It's so expansive that if you walk along its shores for 25, 30, 40, or even 50 kilometers, you'll encounter numerous villages and an ever-changing landscape, while the lake itself remains a constant presence. What can be seen in India is merely 30-40% of the entire lake, as its vastness requires the cooperation of two countries to manage it. The striking blue waters stand out beautifully against the pure brown landscape, it looks stunning. From an aerial view, one can appreciate the vast expanse of this stunning lake.
Originating from the Karakoram range in East Ladakh, it stretches all the way to western Tibet. Throughout this journey, the lake is known by various names on the Indian side, it is called “Pangong”, while in Tibet, it is referred to as “Tso Nyak ”and “Rum Tso”. But the villages along Pangong Lake further enhances its beauty.
Despite the popularity of Pangong, there is a beautiful village that remains unknown It is known by the name “Merak”. This small village consists of only a few houses, set against the backdrop of towering, snow-covered mountains that define its character. and it makes every landscape look so beautiful.
and because of the lake there is greenery here too, that brings a unique vibrancy to the otherwise dry mountains. Right now, I am in a very beautiful village in Ladakh, which is “Merak” village. To tell you the truth, the most stunning aspect of this place is that on one side, you can see not just one but many magnificent snow-capped peaks. And right in front of these mountains lies the beautiful Pangong Lake. What more could you ask for? I mean the view of the village is simply spectacular.
It truly is a beautiful place. In Ladakh, it is generally difficult to find trees, but at this place, there are numerous trees and patches of grass creating a surprising amount of greenery compared to the rest of the region. This area near Pangong Lake is somewhat offbeat, as it is the last village in the vicinity, and few people visit it. I highly recommend coming here, as it is a very beautiful place.
I am currently walking through this village, looking forward to meet locals and to learn about the lifestyle of the people here. If I discover something interesting, let’s take a stroll. In Merak, several mud houses have been constructed at a distance from one another. The reason for their construction, as you may know, is that this area is a cold desert with an abundant supply of soil. Consequently, all the houses are made primarily of clay, featuring some wooden elements like windows and doors, which help keep the interiors warm.
You can observe how strong the summer winds can be, and if they're this harsh in summer, you can only imagine how cold it gets during winter. To provide insulation, the houses have thick clay walls, and in addition, bushes are placed on the top to enhance insulation even further. And right behind this house, the view is stunning but it is so cold here. The special thing about “Merak” is a stunning beach near the lake characterized by a sandy path that runs between the Pangong lake, with water on both sides, creating a beautiful view. I don't understand why Pangong Lake is often underestimated Calling it just a lake seems inaccurate because it is so vast that you can actually see the water, with waves rising like those in the ocean. Which lake has a beach? which has so many unique features that it cannot simply be called a lake.
It is a complete ocean. Either it is an Ocean-Lake or an Ocean it is not merely a lake. While watching these waves, I did not even realize when it became night, and after a starry night, these mountains started looking like gold in the morning light. This beautiful mountain from the Karakoram range is “Kangju Kangri”.
Looking at it from here, it feels like I could reach out and touch it. However, its height is over 22,000 feet. On the other side of the mountains, when I looked toward the lakeside, I was truly amazed. At this moment, there is such a sense of peace. A gentle breeze is creating small waves in the lakes, producing a soothing sound.
In the distance, the chirping of birds can be heard, and in front of me, the sunrise is unfolding beautifully. This moment is filled with tranquility. As I walked away from the lake and headed toward the village, I saw something amazing. While exploring Merak village, I came across a small stone house and I know what it is called, that is a "Rantak." Let me show it to you from inside how amazing it is. Julley!(Hello).
What are you doing right now? What are you doing? Barley! Barley it is. You are grinding Barley. It is from your farm? From your farm? Yes. This is Rantak, a type of natural mill that operates on water power. Water flowing from glaciers is diverted towards this stone house.
Below the house, a turbine is installed, which rotates with the force of the flowing water. This rotation also turns a stone attached to the turbine. Atop the stone, there is a cone-shaped basket that holds barley. A sheep's horn is attached to this basket, which, by vibrating, causes the barley grains to fall into the stone below.
This process allows the mill to continue grinding barley for many days producing what is known as “Sattu(Barley)” in this region. But only in summer because in winter this stream also freezes. After walking some distance further into the village, at the top of a hill, there stands the “Merak Monastery”. And when I see the prayer wheels of the monastery I can never stop myself from turning them.
I was expecting to find a monastery in a remote place like Merak, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover a government school there. This is a government school of Merak. Bell ringing! Stand at ease. Attention. Fold your hands. Start Praying.
Children praying. It’s striking to think that in such a secluded area, where a water supply was established only in 2021, I was delighted to see such a well-maintained school. Children Praying. Julley! After saying goodbye to the school children, Bye. I set out to explore another beautiful location in Ladakh far from Pangong.
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A village located in the south of Ladakh, approximately 250 km from Leh lies “Hanle”. This village sits at an altitude of 14,000 feet. with a population of just around 300 people, Visitors are drawn to this remote location not only to experience the village itself but also to explore the wonders of the sky above it. Hanle is home to India’s highest astronomical observatory, which was established here because there is no better place in the country than Hanle to observe the galaxy.
That is why this area is home to India's first Dark Sky Reserve, where several telescopes are installed. Among them, the Himalayan Chandra Telescope is situated at the highest altitude. The large dome you see houses this telescope, which is controlled from 3,000 kilometers away in Bengaluru. All the data collected by the telescope is sent to ISRO, which conducts research based on this information. Establishing a large research center in this location is not feasible.
Another unique aspect of this place is that it is a cold desert. This means it enjoys sunny weather most of the time and experiences very little rainfall. When the weather is clear, the sky is unobstructed, allowing us to observe the cosmos and sky and the vast universe beyond our reach, which is often obscured in cities and towns. By visiting this location, we can see all that. And the best thing is that you can see this telescope from inside also. Ohhh! Wow! How big it is.
I mean, after coming to this area it feels like you have come to a space station. Really. The telescope is housed in a shed that opens at night. When it becomes dark, the telescope comes out after going through all the necessary mechanical procedures, and records everything, No one is allowed inside during that time. There are large suspensions installed that control all the movements, allowing the entire telescope to rotate. It’s an impressive sight.
I’ve never seen anything like it before. And with the presence of this observatory here, one thing that we understand is that there is no better place in India than Hanle to see the “Milky Way”. Right now, the Milky Way looks incredible to me from here because the place I'm in is completely dark. This allows me to see the Milky Way easily.
However, I keep wondering how should I make you see it while talking, it’s actually behind me. It’s difficult for me to capture the beauty of the Milky Way in a video, as the technology to do so hasn’t been developed yet. Instead, I’m just taking photos, which can give you an idea of how beautiful it really is. It’s important to note that the view with the naked eye is much clearer than what you see in the pictures. The position of the Milky Way changes with each season, and in India, it is clearly visible from March to October. Not only the Milky Way is visible from here, but auroras have also been seen multiple times in this region, which are typically visible near the Earth's poles.
In fact, auroras have been observed here three times in the past year. The sky above Ladakh holds many secrets, and so does the ground beneath it. In this region, gushing water emerges from the ground, This is “Chumathang Hot Spring”. The water is extremely hot. you can see, it is gushing out just like we boil milk or water at home.
similarly the water is gushing out completely, The temperature is so high that I can only touch it briefly, otherwise, my hands would burn. This is another hot spring from which hot water is flowing. You can hear the sound of the water as it rushes out. When the water emerges, the stones placed on it tremble and shake due to the pressure.
The water is coming out so rapidly from this spring. This water emerges from the ground due to geothermal activity, which is truly a wonder of nature. In Ladakh, nature reveals itself in many unique ways, from beautiful lakes nestled among dry mountains to a sky filled with stars. Here, one feels that there is still so much left to explore. The vast openness stretches far and wide, making us feel like a very small part of this immense world.
All those significant issues under this expansive sky, seem insignificant, even the sense of being affluent in the city, cannot match the tranquility that comes from feeling small in these mountains. In reality, our problems in the city are not as substantial as we often perceive rather, the constricted world we create for ourselves is what limits our perspective.
2024-11-26 01:30
