It was our day 11th and we left Pangong lake and started our journey towards Hanle.
We had been advised by a localite that we should go back to Tangtse and take turn for Chushul, by this we will get good road and we did the same. Roads were good to some extent but I think, I have to take the words. Roads are actually in real bad condition.
Till 50 km from tangtse we saw an unknown water stream which join to Shyok river in Nubra valley (later I got to know this) and with this stream we also discovered two big wet land on the route and along with these some villages.
As soon as the stream changed there way, the sight of villages also stop and we entered to the no man-land area. Frankly it was treat for the heart. Brain is always in turmoil, nothing to talk about it. So I had given rest to it, road is bad and nothing can be un-done now. All I wanted was to enjoy this never ending drive.
Road till chushul is yet to be named. We reached Chushul with all internal organs dislocated, for once I thought my heart was on right side and my left kidney at right side and right kidney at left side. My stomach was at neck and lungs were in place of liver. God knows what else had happened. I am certainly not going to tell you guys about my bones.
We reached to a place where we saw a road which was coming from Pangong and for a once I thought, may be we should have came from here.
Talking about Chushul, it is indeed a beautiful village and we also saw Chushul war memorial park, but it was closed by the time we reached, so we just crossed it. We filled our car tank with Petrol again to empty the remaining Can and I was thinking that after Chushul, road much we nice, and I was so so so so so wrong. We filled the petrol absolutely in desert where there is no sign of a dog, forget homo sapiens. However, due to this, the landscape became equally beautiful.
We were three and still I guess we all felt so alone there.
If I say it was a road, it would be wrong, it was actually nothing, we were making our own path and the so called road on Google map is named with Tsaka la road.
Soon we reached to Rezangla war memorial which was made in remembrance of 120 brave soldiers who fought till their last breath during Indo-China war sand they saved Ladakh from Chinese invasion.
After we crossed Tara pass, there comes which I could say is a road. We immediately took our lunch from the very first road side Dhaba we saw. Ofcourse it was just maggi.
What to say about scenic beauty which we saw after Chushul till Loma check post. It is indeed out of world. We were silent when crossing these parts of our country. Though we did saw some wild ass called Kiang which were enjoying there grass :P
We were so close to Indo-Tibetan border, it was like, Just one mountain is in between us. Soon we were along with Indus river and came to Loma check post and surprisingly we saw a Lady chief was operating it.
Rhongo is just 15-20 km from Loma check post and it took my heart. It is a fairy tale land and to see it closely, I will come again to ladakh. I fallen in love with this places in first sight and don't get me wrong. After Rhongo the journey is even more beautiful.
Sun was setting that time and few mountains started emitting gold, some were like oozing blog from them and others seems green, still full of life. This 50km from check post to hanle was an incredible experience. First Rhongo and then this magnificent view.
We reached quite late in evening at Hanle and it was an evening of lifetime. We were at 4500 meters above sea level. Night sky was so clear in Hanle and we once again got the opportunity to shoot milky way. It was the clearest milkway we shooted so far in Ladakh. We stayed at homestay which belong to our host JIGNET and he was wonderful and he made food for us which reminded me of home.
Our day 12 started with amazing morning and it given tough competition to Pangong lake morning. After leaving homestay we straightaway went to the place for which we came here. India's Astronomical Observatory which is situated at Hanle and at the height of 4500 meters from sea level, means making it India's highest observatory system and World's 2nd highest. Amazing, isn't it ;)
We cannot do photography inside the observatory but must say it was also a life time experience to see it. A staff there who is looking the observatory given us quick lessons about it and told us how this machine is commanded from Banglore.
Hanle also have a monastery which belong to Tibetan Buddhism, but we did not went there due to shortage of time.
However, it was a the teacher's day and Hanle have a government middle school and a hostel. We spoken to the teachers and they invited us heartfull to see it and kids were quite excited just like we were. Three happy go lucky kind of aliens were in their school with big cameras.
Some were shy and some given us their best poses. We enjoyed our every second with them. And the school is pretty good in shape. They have good hostel and seems nothing is missing in it. A recces ground where we also been the part of their prayers and our national anthem.
Some of the selected students came up and shared their love for teachers. Later they went inside the classroom for further ceremony and we got a chance to meet the head master.
Dhhundhup Dorjey, head master of this school told us the brief history of this school and of Hanle.
According to him, school was opened in 1990s and used to be the primary school. It is recently converted to middle school and people of Hanle who were kind of nomadic in nature and nearby villages now wants their kids to get educated.
On asking how life style of Hanle changed in past years, He said "People used to the shepherds but now all getting into farming and tourism also started here from past 3-4 years and from this year that is from 2019, govt. even allowed foreigners also, and expecting more tourist to come here so the living standard of this small village also increase and they too walk with same pace as world is moving.
At the same time they are worried and concerned about their own life style which may change in coming time.
On asking about Ladakh changed to Union territory, how they are taking it. He said "We are very happy for it since it was our demand from Indian govt. from long time, way back from 1970s. How ladakh suffered in years because of Jammu Kashmir, now we are hoping that all fund will be used in for the benefits of Ladakh"
Well, we kept on talking about lifestyle, the history when finally we said goodbye to each other with a group photo with all staff members and kids.
So this is all about of our Day 11th and 12th morning. I hope you liked the video and content of this blog. If you still need any information, just msg. me at Insta or Fb. I'll be glad to help you. And plz do subscribe my youtube channel. In next chapter will take you all to Tsomoriri lake. Until then, have a wonderful time.
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