Scenic ride from Lamayuru Moonland to Skur Buhan along the beautiful Indus valley Road - Day 2

The second day of the mountain bike adventure takes you from Lamayuru Moonland to Skurbuchan. The first 5 kilometers are entirely downhill, passing through Moonland and several hairpins turns. The rest of the trip is flat, following the Indus Valley Road along the banks of the river. We had lunch in Domkhar and went to the 4000-year-old ancient Rock Art refuge. We kept cycling after lunch all the way to Skurbuchan, our next campground. From Lamayuru to Skurbuchan, the distance is 43 kilometers.

Lamayuru

Why is Lamayuru called Moonland?

On the previous day, we reached Lamayuru from Leh YHAI campsite. Because of its soil and setting, Lamayuru is a popular tourist destination noted for its monasteries and landscape. Visit the Lamayuru monastery. We set our tent near National Highway One (NH1), just outside the hamlet. On the steep slopes in this location, there is a unique type of mud. Because of this unique type of dirt, the mountainside sparkles on full moon days, earning the name Moonland.

Mountain biking route from Lamayuru Moonland to Skurbuchan

The ride downhill from Lamayuru

For the following five to eight kilometres, the ride from Lamayuru is entirely downhill. The road is riddled with hairpin turns. Because it is the national route One, NH1, which connects Kargil and Leh, expect little traffic. You just require control over the brakes; there's no need to peddle; simply relax in the saddle and enjoy the journey and scenery.

There is a creek to the right and a Buddhist temple on the opposite side of the stream once you've gone all the way down. Continue on the level road until you reach Khalsi's war memorial. Take a sharp left to enter the Indus Valley Road after seeing this monument. The rest of the day's ride is along the banks of the Indus River on the Indus Valley Road.

The region was formerly heavily shelled by our neighbouring country, which was eventually reclaimed by our forces. The scenery along the Indus Valley Highway is breathtaking. There are a few residences along the path, but no stores, cafes, or other amenities. As a result, make sure you drink enough water. The river water is difficult to obtain and is contaminated with silt, making it unfit for drinking. The river water also looks to be dangerous due to the current or the velocity of the water. We came to a halt at Domkar village, where we refilled our water bottles and ate our lunch beside to a creek.

https://youtu.be/V1epLC1OQqs

A visit to the historic Domkar Stone Art Sanctuary

Post lunch we continued for a while after which we visited a historic place known by the name Domkar Stone Art Sanctuary. We continued cycling after viewing this site, taking a mostly level route to our campground in Skurbuchan's settlement. Apricot farm is just next to the campground. At sunset, the vista of gold-colored mountain peaks is not to be missed.

Reaching Skurbucham campsite

We kept riding for a little more, stopping next to the stream for a break while waiting for the rest of the teammates to join us. We kept on till we arrived at a little village surrounded by high mountains and our tent in the center of an apricot field. We spent the evening touring the area and taking in the beauty of the night sky. On the next day, we went further from Skurbuchan to Sakar.

https://youtu.be/T6u1ld4cruw

To get a sense of the location, watch the video above. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter and SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel.

Tarsar Lake - 6 days of intense hike in search of tranquilty

Tarsar Lake is a paradise for nature lovers, one of the most beautiful lakes in India. Untouched, clean, crystal clear water, amazing landscape, no human activities around, and a perfect place for peaceful meditation. Even the locals consider the water at Tarsar lake to be holy. A perfect place for camping, for landscape photographers, for night photography to get those Milkyway and star trail shots. The hiking trail is known by the name Tarsar Marsar lake trekking trail.

Tarsar Lake is almost a kilometer wide and two kilometers long. The view from the nearby mountain pass is breathtaking. From here you can go further to Marsar lake which is another beautiful lake or hike to Kolahoi peak and glacier which is another breathtaking place.

Tarsar trek itinerary

How to reach Aru camp?

The first day is all about going from Srinagar to Aru basecamp and the drive that is a part of this lovely Tarsar trek. It's a four-hour trip from Srinagar, including stops at the Saffron Farm and Apple Valley along the way. From Srinagar, there are two ways to reach Aru. The first is via Anantnag, which is the bus route, and the second is via Bijbehra/Apple Valley, which is a shortcut and where most cabs go to Aru. Read more on day 1 - Srinagar to Aru drive.

Hike from Aru to Lidderwat

The second day of my Himalayan trip to Tarsar was thrilling and adventurous, especially because it was pouring. The landscape along the walk was perfect for photographers like myself, with cloud-covered mountain peaks. I got ahead of schedule when I started from the Aru campground, but after rising for approximately a kilometer, the scenery surrounding me forced me to stop every five minutes and photograph everything. It was already dusk when I arrived at Lidderwat camping, and everyone else had already finished their meal. The scenery is breathtaking. Read more on day 2 - Aru to Lidderwat

Lidderwat to Shekwas

From Lidderwat to Shekwas camping, the third day of the Tarsar trek is a moderate rise. From 9100 feet at Lidderwat to 10700 feet in Shekwas, you gain around 1600 feet on this day. For the first hour, there is a strong ascent, followed by a one-hour level stroll. There is a point when you must bridge a creek, walk beside it for a time, and then gradually rise until you reach a boulder-strewn area. The Shekwas camp location is located after crossing these massive stones. Read more on day 3 - Lidderwat to Shekwas

Hike uphill to the beautiful Tarsar lake

The fourth day of the Tarsar walk is a slow ascent from Shekwas to Tarsar, passing through grassland, valleys, streams, and stones. As you ascend higher, the breathtaking scenery surrounding you is simply breathtaking. It's roughly a five-kilometer hike with a 500-meter elevation rise. Finally, you arrive at Tarsar Lake, a slice of heaven on Earth. Read more on day 4 - Shekwas to Tarsar

Exploring Tarsar Lake

Tarsar lake is one of the pristine lakes that you will find in the Himalayas. A day spent visiting Tarsar Lake and its environs is well worth the trek. The weather in the Himalayas changes by the hour, and it is impossible to forecast what will happen in the following hour. Snowfall, rain, bright sunlight, beautiful sky, mountains without snow, verdant meadows, and crystal clear water in the lake could all be seen in a single day. Read more on day 5 - A day at Tarsar Lake

#Sunrise at #TarsarLake in Aru, in #KashmirValley, #JammuandKashmir.

Image: @ravindrajoisa pic.twitter.com/1bncNGGBBp

— lonelyplanet_in (@lonelyplanet_in) March 31, 2016

Hike to Jarsar and back to Aru

Our walk took us from Tarsar Lake to Lidderwat through Jadsar Lake on the sixth day. If you intend on walking in this area, a day of camping at Tarsar Lake is a necessity. We didn't have the choice or permission to continue our journey to Marsar, so we had to return to Lidderwat through Shekwas. To go to Jadsar Lake, we bypassed Shekwas and took the parallel path, which is slightly higher in elevation. It was a hard drop to Lidderwat after spending some time in Jadsar. Read more on day 6 - Tarsar lake to Liddderwat via Jadsar

It took 6 to 7 days to complete the Tarsar trek. Tarsar Lake is reached after a three-day climb from Aru in India's Jammu and Kashmir state. You might continue on to Marsar and Sonasar lakes before finishing your trip in Sonamarg. We had no choice but to return to Aru from Tarsar. A day in Tarsar was fantastic, with camping close to the lake and Kolahoi peak on the opposite side. Jammu and Kashmir feature some of the world's most beautiful landscapes and lakes, in my opinion. The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek and Tarsar Marsar treks are a must-do if you're planning a hike in Kashmir.

Here are some pointers. Always add a day at the end of your schedule as a buffer. The weather may change quickly, so having an extra day before and after is a smart idea. It should not take more than half a day to go to Aru. So, if you arrive early, circumnavigate Aru. Also, if you haven't used your buffer day and get near Sonamarg on the highway, spend that day touring Sonamarg.

The availability of water is not an issue on any of these days. There are several Gujjar huts along the path, and if you come across one that appears to be abandoned, don't hesitate to peek inside or even stay. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Once you've arrived at the campsite, I don't advocate remaining in your tent. Make the most of your time here by exploring as much as possible.

This location is fantastic for night photography. There is no light pollution in this area. If you bring your tripod, you may easily get star trails and milky way photos. Expect high winds, chilly temperatures, and maybe snow at times. Before you go on a hike make sure to check this out - some of the Absolute mandatory Hiking Accessories to carry.

https://youtu.be/N1T-9NynluE

There are many trekking groups like Indiahikes, Trek the Himalayas, and Youth Hostels (which are for Indian nationals and are cheaper) who can organize the trek or you can go on your own with locals. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

19 Reasons why a Professional Photographer won't come cheap

Photography is not just a click of a button. A professional photographer will know the expenses that are involved in considering an assignment. Unfortunately, professional photographers are treated in a bad way and not given the respect that they really deserve here in India.

There is a famous saying these days - every monkey with a camera is a photographer and this is very much true. Create a page on social media, ask your friends to like it, upload 100 pics and you become a professional photographer. Few even get paid likes. And there are many new photographers who work for free or who undervalue their work.

What I have seen is that these so-called professional photographers do not survive for long. They attend some tutorials, buy a camera, start a business, and shut down their startup in no time. Before, you hire a professional photographer for an important day like a wedding check their website and work. Don't try to save a bit and end up getting poor-quality shots. These are very important events and they remain as memories that will last a lifetime.

Also, read - Hiring Wedding Photographer? 5 common mistakes to avoid

Why a Professional Photographer won't come cheap?

Now getting back to the main topic. Here are a few reasons why a professional photographer will charge a lot.

• Skills - When an image is captured, it is not just a click of a button. The images are made and to make this an interesting shot, the composition, lighting, focusing, quality, etc everything has to be perfect. All these are skills attained over a long period of time not overnight. Professional photographers attend training too, it is a continuous learning process.
• The images that are captured are in RAW and there is much more time involved in editing each of the images. Again, they spend a lot of time learning and updating these skills of photo and video editing.
• Album designing takes a lot of time, with multiple feedbacks and re-corrections in the design and layout.
• Printing each of the images, the cover shot, the paper quality, selection of these takes time. Even if this work is outsourced, a professional photographer has to continuously interact with the third-party company and client.
• Expensive cameras and lenses. Those f2.8 lenses are costlier than the camera body. Each of these f/2.8 lenses can cost around one to 1.5 lac rupees. Even renting a camera, will cost a lot. The rental is on daily basis (24 hours), this is the reason why even if an event is for 2 hours, it will cost more. Insurance cover (not available in India) will have to be paid and if it is not available then the risk is taken by the photographer.
• The camera service isn't cheap.
• Editing software is not cheap. Getting a licensed copy of software like Photoshop, Lightroom, Creative Cloud, etc is important for a professional photographer when he is running a business.
• Has to pay taxes for the income earned out of photography.
• Travel and accommodation costs for an event.

• Assistants - They don't do charity work. Photographers have to pay their assistants as well.
• Studio rental, office space, etc.
• Office expenses - hardware like printers, computers, storage - a lot of storage, cloud storage, backup of those important photos, etc, contracts, agreements, files, etc.
• Client/ Customer interactions before and after the event.
• They make a living out of it.
• Albums are not freebies, it will cost a lot. Even while printing an album there is so much work involved like album design, layout, album cover, paper quality, print quality, etc.
• Deliverables like albums, pen drives, DVDs, DVD cover designs, courier and shipment charges, etc.
• Time of event - Indian marriages happen even at midnight, early morning 3 AM, reception event on the same day afternoon, etc. This is overtime work and photographers are humans and not robots. Marriage happens once and staying overtime is manageable, whereas professional photographers do it on a daily or weekly basis and overtime is not something you should be expecting.
• Website maintenance, money spent on ads, promoting business, etc. A lot of time and money is spent on building a personal brand and on social media.

Even after reading all these, there are many who will still go with a photographer who has no clue how the camera works and charges less. Remember one thing. You get what you pay for. A cheap car is a cheap car and a Benz is a Benz. Don't expect Benz quality when you are ready to pay only for a cheap car. Photos and events are once in a lifetime. Opt for the best professional photographer that you can afford.

Hope you have learned something today by reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

Use Leading Lines to capture stunning photos

What are Leading Lines?

When it comes to nature photography, one of the most efficient methods to create a striking composition is to use leading lines. The employment of visual features to guide the viewer's attention into the scene is known as leading lines. Lines, curves, zigzag lines, form progression, and other components can be used as leading elements in an image.

Why are leading lines important?

The most compelling images have leading lines that run from foreground to background, driving the viewer's attention into the picture. You're actually teasing the viewer's imagination. Consider yourself the viewer of a picture as you capture it. How you may examine the image and travel across it. It's wonderful to have something at the end of these lines as a subject.

Types of Leading lines

To utilize lines effectively, it is necessary to first grasp the various types of leading lines and how they should be applied. These lines fall into several types, some of which are as follows:

Horizontal Lines

Horizontal lines appear frequently in nature and landscape photography. Horizontal lines are commonly utilized when shooting with a wide-angle lens since they typically span over the whole width of the image.

Curved lines

Curved lines, on the whole, appear more natural than straight lines. Leading lines are most commonly employed in nature pictures to emphasize key points. This is ideal for nature photography.

Vertical lines

Vertical lines are used to convey authority and hierarchy. They attract attention up and down the frame and may be utilized to express status in your photograph. Vertical lines are frequently used in fashion and street photography.

Converging lines

If you have converging lines in your frame, it's ideal to place the subject of the photograph on the axis of these lines. Converging lines are particularly efficient in drawing attention to the point of convergence and may be a powerful compositional feature in your images.

Diagonal lines

Diagonal lines are used to convey movement and change. Diagonal lines are used to highlight distance and frequently trail from foreground to background. If you have a big depth of field, play with diagonal lines to enhance the sensation of depth in your image.

Intersecting Lines

Intersecting lines may be both beneficial and detrimental. On the one hand, if you're not cautious, they may entirely derail a shot's flow. However, when used correctly in a composition, you may frame objects purposely in fascinating ways to increase tension in an image or add an element of misunderstanding.

How to Use Leading Lines in Photography?

Learning how to utilize leading lines properly will assist you in creating dynamic and dramatic photographs that showcase your chosen subject matter. Using the approaches listed below can help you polish your photography abilities and increase the quality of your final product:

Search any natural lines

Scan the region where you'll be filming for natural and man-made features that might be used to generate powerful leading lines. As you can see in the above image, the trails formed by the livestock in this region from their grazing ground to the hut.

Identify your focal point

Your environment may be brimming with possible leading lines, but it is up to you to decide which ones would best suit your subject matter. You may be shooting along train tracks or a hiking trail, but unless you can align these lines with the focal point of your shot, they will just confuse the viewer.

Position yourself

Once you've decided which leading lines to add, position your camera such that the lines bring your attention to the image's main point. Take your time, but keep in mind that if you're utilizing shadows as leading lines, you'll need to account for their movement over time.

Have a subject

It's great to have anything as a subject at the end of these lines. When you have these lines that guide the human eye, there will be something lacking if there is no subject at the end of these lines.

Role of wide angle lens

A wide-angle lens allows you to record a large picture, allowing you to place leading lines towards the bottom of the frame and then let them flow into the photo, gradually drifting farther and farther away until they disappear. In contrast, in a telephoto composition, the leading lines often begin near to the subject and end abruptly. It's less lively, fascinating, and three-dimensional. For this reason, many landscape photographers use ultra-wide focus lengths. They frequently discover a leading line, highlight it with a wide-angle lens, and create a strikingly deep composition.

Image captured using Nikon D610 + Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G lens

Take many pictures

When it comes to editing your photographs and selecting your preferred shots, it's always vital to give yourself alternatives. Vary your camera angles and settings to cover all of your bases.

Conclusion

To summarise, leading lines work best for any type of picture, however, I've been focused on nature photography. These lines are important compositional components that guide our attention across an image. They can be used to convey a tale, emphasize a point, or link two items. So, wherever you go, start thinking about leading lines. Experiment with discovering guiding lines in the midst of the daily bustle.

Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post on photography tips. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more content of this kind.

Hike from historic Tambdi Surla in the dense forest - Goa Trek – Day 8

After the day-long journey from Anmod the day before, the stay at Tambdi Surla was relaxing. We were relieved to have completed seven days of the hike with only one day remaining. We were still in the thick of the rain forest, but we were quite close to the excellent spot since there was road access.

The old temple, a stream next to our campsite, a massage center in the middle of nowhere near our campsite, and a cabin where we all sat together the entire evening conversing non-stop gave us a sense of contentment. It was the last day of our journey, so it was a mixed bag of emotions. Day 8 consisted of more forest walking via an old Shiv mandir (Mahadev temple) adjacent to the stream.

Morning at Tambdi Surla campsite

The morning sunlight at Tambdi Surla began with our camp leader blowing a whistle and instructing us to hike up to the top for morning tea. After packing our belongings and taking a few group photos, we began our journey towards the Tambdi Surla temple. We filled our water bottles at the entrance and continued on the main road. We took a sharp left after roughly a kilometer of walking on the asphalt road and through a settlement. We left the rain forest and returned to the cultivated plain.

Few questions answered on Tambdi Surla

Who made Tambdi Surla?

According to history scholar Prajal Sakhardande, it was erected by the Kadamba queen Kamladevi and is composed of grey-black talc chlorite schist soapstone rather than basalt, as is often assumed. When was Tambdi Surla was built? - In the 12th century.

How old is Tambdi Surla?

Tambdi Surla, Goa's oldest temple, is a Shaivite temple of Lord Shiva. Because of its distinctive building style, this temple is a visual pleasure. It is the only Kadamba-Yadava architectural landmark. During the period when this temple was built, the Kadamba dynasty ruled.

Hiking to another historic place

It was hot outside, and we had to cross many nearly dry streams. We made a lot of noise as we went through the leaves. We continued our journey, investigating the path till we arrived at an ancient Shiv mandir (this is not Tambdi Surla but 1 or 2 kilometers from this historic famous place and is not approachable by road).

A jump to the cool stream

The route runs parallel to the stream, with the main road on the opposite side. We took a stop at Shiv or Mahadev Mandir, and there is a stream right next to it. Camping near a stream was fantastic and fun at practically every campground. It was a scorching summer day, so we jumped into the cool stream right away. We had a lot of fun there, but we had to leave soon after because we had packed lunch.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ravindra Joisa (@ravindra_joisa)

End of YHAI Goa trek

Continue trekking for a few more hours, first by the jeep route, then back to the forest up and down the hill, until we reach the main road. YHAI had arranged for us to be picked up from this spot and returned to Panjim. The one-hour bus ride was enjoyable once more, and we were greeted at our Panaji YHAI campground. We stayed an additional day at the YHAI campsite to celebrate the new year, and the celebration was well-organized by YHAI.

https://youtu.be/MZx33laBmeQ

Check the complete details of 10 days Goa trekking expedition. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter. Consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.

Cycling at Turahalli Forest - A captivating weekend getaway

Turahalli forest is ideal for a quick weekend getaway. It is situated on the outskirts of Bangalore. A great place for morning walks or first-time riders. The region is within the jurisdiction of the forest department and is thus protected. Other than peacocks and a few smaller animals, there is no wildlife here.

What to expect in Turahalli forest?

This location is around 16 kilometers from the Silkboard overpass and is great for getting away from the traffic and crowds without leaving Bangalore city. There are two hills, and after you reach the top, there is a temple on each of them. The view from the summit is both magnificent and soothing. This is the ideal area to begin if you want to practice advanced-level mountain riding on the Himalayan slopes or in the western ghats.

How to reach Turahalli forest?

This was my first ride on my brand new bike (Polygon Premier 3 mountain bike). It was the morning of Saturday. I had a great time riding till I got to Turahalli forest since we had to go on nice level tar roads past Banashankari. It was the weekend, so there was less traffic than usual. If you're only passing through, you may also take a public bus from Banashankari. People gather here for morning and evening walks from surrounding apartments.

Cycling uphill at Turahalli forest

Once you reach the forest, the route is entirely dirt and ideal for mountain bikers. We dropped the gear and pedaled all the way uphill till we reached the top. We took a stop and parked our mountain bikes in front of the temple, close to a banyan tree, to enjoy the scenery. We walked around and looked around. We shot some pictures while sitting near the pond.

Visiting the nearby hill and the temple

We paused here for a while before heading downhill to the entrance, where we took the path to the right, which brought us to the second hill. We ate some snacks in front of the second temple, under a banyan tree. The view from this point is once again breathtaking. It's a great place to meditate because it's peaceful and not too crowded, in my view.

We toured the area and were on our way downward by midday. It's a great destination for a quick weekend getaway or a team adventure. Check out the video below to see me cycling around Turahalli Forest. Because I was testing with my new Yi action camera, the movie is a little wobbly.

https://youtu.be/CUbt7tzGUSs

What MTB should I buy or rent?

If you're wondering what MTB I'm riding, look no further. Polygon is the brand name, and it is not commonly accessible in India. The brand is fantastic, and the build quality is fantastic. You might also check out the MTBs from Decathlon or Firefox Cycles. Nowadays, there are many more brands to choose from. By the way, I utilized Firefox MTB throughout my National mountain riding adventure to Leh, which lasted over a week and began and ended at the line of control at Lamayuru.

Is Turahalli forest safe for cycling?

Because the Turahalli forest area is on the outskirts of Bangalore and people from all over the nation visit, I would recommend coming with a group of friends rather than going alone. At times, the trekking journey may feel lonely. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Cycling Expeditions

If you want to embark on bike trips, the Turahalli forest riding workout is a great place to start. Cycling trips conducted by the Youth Hostel Association of India, which Indian people can join, can be found in India. These bike trips are generally a week long. The one I chose is the Leh Mountain Biking Expedition, which begins and ends in Lamayuru, crossing the Foto La (pass), and was one of the nicest experiences I've ever had.

https://youtu.be/OcnmXTOkjuE

Mountain Biking Expedition you should try next

The journey from Manali to Leh is 15 days long and can be exhausting. The landscape is rough, and you had to cross Rothang pass back then; also, the road was under construction and was mostly dirt. The road conditions have improved, and there is now the Atal tunnel. This needed substantial training because mountain biking lasts two weeks and requires high stamina as well as the proper cycling clothing, primarily shorts with a built-in saddle or cycling shorts.

Update: Forest officials will not allow any cycling activities inside the Turahalli reserve forest, which is spread over 500 acres on the city outskirts. Check the officials for the latest updates.

Arrival at the beautiful Leh campsite (Lamayuru Mountain Biking Expedition)- Day 1

Day one of the Lamayuru mountain biking expedition or the YHAI Mountain biking expedition in Leh was more of going around Leh and the travel from the main base camp at Leh to Lamayuru camp. On reaching Lamayuru camp we practiced biking for a while uphill and went for an acclimation ride to Lamayuru village, just before sunset. The Lamayuru mountain biking expedition event was organized by the Youth hostels association of India.

Shanti Stupa in Leh, India

Acclimatization walk to Shanti Stupa Leh

We reached Leh airport and the YHAI campsite is about 10 minutes ride from the airport and is near Leh youth hostel. You may reach the youth hostel a day earlier to get acclimatized well and would cost approx. ₹ 300 per day in a dorm. I would recommend coming to Leh 2 days in advance as this is high altitude and there are chances of high altitude sickness. You need at least 2 days to get acclimatized to this altitude.

Shanti Stupa Organic Cafe

Soon after having breakfast, after the initial briefing, we were asked to go for an acclimatization walk all the way to Shanti Stupa. After a long walk for about 2 kilometers and a steep climb up the stairs, you reach Shanti Stupa Organic Cafe. An awesome place, best known for its view and herbal tea or coffee at a very reasonable price.

Leh palace

View of Stok kangri and the Stok village

We continued further and spend some time at the meditation hall. A few steps from here is the huge Shanti Stupa which can be seen from a far-off distance and is a nice place to photograph. Go around the Stupa in a clockwise direction and enjoy the view from the top. You get to see the monastery, Leh palace, Leh city, the mountain range that includes the Stok kangri, and the Stok village. By noon we had lunch at our campsite and enjoyed the evening playing cards.

The mountain range includes the Stok Kangri and the Stok village.

Leh Magnetic Hill

We boarded the YHAI organized bus which took us to Lamayuru. Lamayuru is about 120 kilometers from Leh and is on the way to Srinagar on National Highway one, NH1. The landscape is just awesome. Straight roads and greenery in between. We stopped at a place named magnetic hill, the phenomenon that defies gravity. You can park your vehicle in the middle of the flat road where there is marking and it will start moving on its own.

Near magnetic hill

Sangam formed by Zanskar river and Indus river

We continued further till we reached a place near the Sangam where the Zanskar and Indus rivers meet and flow together as Indus. This place is known for river rafting and also a road goes to Zanskar village where the Chadar (frozen river) trek takes place at the beginning of every year. On our return, we completed the truly adventurous Zanskar river rafting.

We continued further till we reached Lamayuru. Our campsite is just before the start of the village, a place called Moon Land. The landscape at this place is unique and hence the name. It is said that on a full moon, the mud in the mountain slopes glows or appears different/brighter. The entire route was next to the Indus river and on NH1.

Lamayuru Biking expedition starts from Moonland

The cycles/mountain bikes are of Firefox, Trek brand with gear and disk brakes, given at our campsite. We checked our gear and went out for an acclimatization ride all the way up. The route goes to Fotola pass, but we did not go all the way to that place, instead cycled for about five kilometers to the viewpoint, near the TV tower. Spent some time out there at the viewpoint and enjoyed the view till sunset. Consider visiting the famous Lamayuru Monastery if time permits. We returned to our campsite,  downhill and hardly took 15 minutes to reach.

Lamayuru Mountain biking

Lamayuru Cycling expedition cost

The total cost of the Leh cycling expedition was approximately ₹ 7500. The cost includes transportation to and from base camp to Leh, cycling rental, food, tent stay, guide, entry and permits, and guide charges for all 8 days, plus 2 buffer days of acclimatization. For this cost this is totally worth it, isn't it? What do you say?

https://youtu.be/OcnmXTOkjuE

The next day we take our bikes from Lamayuru Moonland to Skur Buchan, cycling next to the Indus River along the Indus valley road crossing the famous historic Domkar rock art sanctuary. To get a sense of the location, watch the video above. Hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Buy me a coffee to support my work or you can go to my store to buy some of my images. Also, do not forget to join my FriendZone by signing up for my newsletter and SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube channel.