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.

Anmod to Tambdi Surla - Truly blissful experience in the dense forests - Goa Trek - Day 7

The seventh day of our YHAI Goa trip was a hard climb. Starting from a hamlet in Anmod, Karnataka, and continuing through the lush rain forest to Tambdi Surla, Goa. A location is well-known for its ancient temple and historical significance. The seventh day of our trek was largely in the jungle, which is ideal for folks who conduct bird study. From Anmod to the Tambdi Surla campground, the journey takes around half a day and covers about 10 kilometers.

Anmod Village

On day 6 we had an adventurous hike from Kuveshi to Anmod via Castlerock. The seventh day of our walk began at the Anmod campground. We packed our belongings and hiked via Anmod village's paddy fields (local cricket venue). Away from the city, we could get a feel of how this place is and how the people are with minimal resources.

The location is conveniently connected to the highway on the opposite side of the hamlet. This is the final water bottle filling station before reaching the next base camp. The settlement is within a few hundred meters from Anmod camp, and the water source is near a government school.

Checking of Forest Permits

Hike on past the village and paddy fields. You can even follow the towering power lines and a few fenced-in farms all the way to the freeway. Take a left and walk for approximately 200 meters down the highway until you notice a mud path to the right that leads into the forest. Ascertain that you have all of the appropriate forest permits. As of this writing, the Karnataka forest entry fee was Rs. 275 per person. At this point, forest department authorities may examine your forest admission ticket before allowing you to continue your journey through the dense forest.

Crossing the dense rain forest

As you continue your journey into the forest, you will hear several types of birds, making it a perfect location for bird lovers. It's a level hike with a few ups and downs until you get to a man-made pit. This pit marks the end of the Karnataka forest region and the beginning of the Goa forest area.

YHAI goa trek

The track from here is hardly visible, covered in dried leaves, and extends all the way down. Continue hiking for around 90 minutes until you reach a level spot where we had a rest. The best thing about the Goa trek organized by the Youth Hostel Association of India is they make sure to get all the required permissions in advance and we did not have to pay anything extra.

Tambdi Surla temple

We were close to the next campground. We resumed our journey after eating our packed lunch, and after a kilometer, we could suddenly see the major tar road that connects the city to this location. As this is a tourist destination, you will notice a few stores. The road to the left leads to a dead end with a bridge and an entry to an old Hindu temple, Tambdi Surla, which was established in the 12th century.

The temple is being adored today and is managed by the ASI - Archeological Survey of India. Right beyond those businesses is a public restroom that was clean (honestly, I didn't expect it to be nice) and even had a bathroom, which is useful for hikers. Behind the stores, there is a stream that can be easily crossed.

Camping at Tambdi Surla

Continue hiking for around five minutes till you reach your Tambdi Surla campground. The alternative route to go to this temple is from behind Tambdi Surla. The campground resembled a resort, complete with accommodations, a dining hall serving a variety of drinks, and a massage center. After finishing the seven-day walk, a handful of our trekkers received a much-needed massage, which was a pleasant way to unwind.

It was enjoyable to take a bath in the cool water of a local stream and to visit the Tambdi Surla temple, where we sat in the dining hall (which had no walls) close to our tent. The next day, we proceeded in the deep forest and had a fantastic time in the stream crossing near to the ancient monument before continuing and later returning to Panjim.

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.

Day 6 - Tarsar Trek - Tarsar lake to Liddderwat via Jadsar

Day 6 of our trek was from Tarsar Lake to Lidderwat via Jadsar lake. Camping at Tarsar Lake for a day is a must if you have plans of trekking at this place. We did not have an option/permission to explore further and continue our trek to Marsar, instead we had to go back to Lidderwat via Shekwas. Instead of Shekwas we took the parallel route which is at a slightly higher altitude to reach Jadsar lake. After spending some time at Jadsar, it was a steep descent to Lidderwat.

If you have not gone through my previous five days of Tarsar trek, then check the following links:

Tarsar Trek – Day 1 – Srinagar to Aru drive Tarsar Trek – Day 2 – Aru to Lidderwat Tarsar Trek – Day 3 – Lidderwat to Shekwas Tarsar Trek – Day 4 – Shekwas to Tarsar Tarsar Trek - Day 5 - A day at Tarsar Lake

After spending a day and experiencing all kinds of weather from bright sunny day to snowfall and rain, we camped next to Tarsar Lake and explored the place around this lake. The lake is approx 2 km's long and the other end of the lake had mountain peaks covered with snow. Lovely place for landscape photographers. Before heading to Jadsar lake,  we saw the sunrise that was spectacular, with the mountain peaks appearing orange next to the lake during golden hours. It cannot be explained in words and you definite need to visit at least once in a lifetime.

The peak that you see in this image is the Kolahoi Peak which is 17,799 ft high. Right next/below is the Kolahoi glacier... Posted by Ravindra Joisa Photography on Monday, September 21, 2015

From Tarsar we were supposed to go to Marsar lake which is another beautiful lake, but we were unfortunate that we had to return as we were not allowed to go and there was no permission given to go further. We could 've returned to Shekwas, but instead climbed up a bit. But reaching on top isn't that easy and you need to cross the huge boulders. This route was exploratory and was not as per our plan. Even though other trekkers followed their camp lead all the way down to Shekwas, few of us took the parallel route which was much higher and full of boulders. While climbing up the mountain full of boulders and wild plants, we had reached multiple dead ends with no way to go. Had to explore a bit and finally reached the meadows. We could see other trekkers far below and they appeared like ants. The trail ahead appeared like waves in the mountain slopes, we had to climb up and down multiple times. Finally, we reached Jadsar lake. A much smaller lake and there was hardly any water in it and was disappointing after spending a day at Tarsar. But our camp leader informed us that when there is rain and once the snow melts, the Jadsar like is equally good, with snow on another side of the lake.

We spent some time sitting next to the lake having snacks and hiked further down. On the way down, I happened to see an abandoned shepherd's hut. The view from this hut was just amazing and no words can describe that. You may check the Youtube video to get an idea of how it was. On the way back at Homwas we get a small window of 5 to 8 minutes where you get to see Kolahoi peak and the glacier. The peak that you see in this image above is the Kolahoi Peak which is 17,799 ft high. Right next/below is the Kolahoi glacier which is the source of Lidder river. We went further down and joined our original trail near Homvas and continued our trek back to Lidderwat. We were not allowed to campfire but the locals did and we enjoyed the evening having hot soup and we were lucky to hear some local Gujjar songs. Had a great evening at Lidderwat campsite.

Check out the video below and don't forget to subscribe to my channel and also to follow me on social media for more of my photography and travel updates. Leave a comment on what you think about this place or the photos that I had captured.

Day 7: On day 7 we continued our trek back from Liderwatt to Aru and completed our trek by noon. After lunch we continued or jeep ride back to Srinagar and back home.

 

Best lens for Wedding Photography | AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens review

I have been using AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II for a while now with the full-frame Nikon D610, D750, and D810, and the image quality is incredibly awesome. After using this lens for a while, I can say that this is the best lens for wedding photography. This telephoto zoom lens has the best low light capability, the build, the sharpness, clarity, and the output color is what make this lens special. I have been using this for candid wedding photoshoots, outdoor photoshoots, travel photography, portraits, etc. I will not be mentioning the technical specifications, which you can always find on the Nikon website. This post is more about how I felt about using this lens.

Best lens for Wedding Photography - AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens

What is special about AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens

The AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens features seven extra low dispersion glass elements. This makes the image output full of true colors. The AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II comes with a vibration reduction system which makes it easy to capture shots without a tripod. The f2.8 makes this a fast lens with exceptional low-light capabilities. You can hardly find any kind of chromatic aberrations. The ghosting and flare are taken care of by the nanocrystal coating.

Hampi, KA, India captured using AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f28G ED VR II lens + Nikon D610

The AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens is a sharp, durable, and versatile telephoto zoom lens with a fast f2.8 fixed aperture making it an ideal choice for most the professional photographers. The vibration reduction VR II in this lens takes away any kind of motion blur while capturing handheld. While capturing at 200mm f2.8 makes the image background blur and gives perfect focus on the subject. A longer focal length when used in this lens, compresses the background an ideal option for portrait photographers to get flattering images.

What does VR II mean on the Nikon lens?

Nikon's latest image-stabilization technology, Vibration Reduction II (VR II), is used to minimize blur caused by camera shake. The VR II is touted to correct for up to four stops, allowing the photographer to shoot handheld at shutter speeds up to four stops slower. The longer the zoom lens, the more camera wobble there will be while shooting handheld.

How far can a 70-200mm lens reach?

When used with a 1.4x teleconverter, a 70-200mm lens becomes a 105-300mm equivalent. When combined with a 2.0x teleconverter, it becomes a massive 140-400mm lens! If you need more reach but don't want to invest in a super-telephoto lens, this might come in useful.

How far can you see with a 200mm lens? - This lens is frequently used for: Wildlife - When on safari or birding, your subject may be as far as 50 to a few hundred yards away, and if you want to fill the frame of your shot with that subject, you will need a strong magnification. The 200mm lens contributes to this.

What is a 70 to 200mm lens good for?

A 70-200mm lens is a flexible optic that may be used by photographers working in wildlife, wedding, sports, landscape, and even portraiture. The ability to have short, medium, and long telephoto focal lengths in one lens with a fast constant aperture provide photographers with many creative possibilities. I've mostly used it for wedding photography, and it's a lens that any professional photographer should have in their camera bag.

Best lens for Wedding Photography

Usage of AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens would be for a candid weddings, portraits, sports, and travel. There are circular polarizers and ND filters available for this lens. I use Haida filters (which was the only option that I had at the time of purchase). In short, this is a must-have lens if you are a professional photographer and is worth the money. Other than being a bit bulky, I could hardly find anything negative in this lens.

Best lens for Wedding Photography

Is 70 200 lens good for landscape?

A 70-200mm lens, believe it or not, maybe quite beneficial for landscape photography. Most people choose wide-angle lenses for this, however, if the subject is at a reasonable distance away, a wide-angle lens leaves a lot of empty space around the edges.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWfHm_yHPNg

You might also want to check - Review of the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lens. 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.

Adventurous hike via the famous Castlerock to Anmod | Goa Trek – Day 6

Day six of Goa's trek organized by YHAI was more of a hike in the forest crossing a few streams and dry grassland via the famous Castlerock. Despite the fact that this was a Goa trip, we spent the entire day in Karnataka. We traveled from one hamlet to a little town called Castlerock, then back into the woods to another community called Anmod. We had traveled roughly 17 kilometers in total. On the previous day, we had covered from Dudhsagar camp to Kuveshi.

Kuveshi Campsite

The campground at Kuveshi was the highest point of our whole Goa Trek, and it was reached via a dirt road/jeep track. We spent the night in a rice field, which was well notorious for its venomous snakes. We visited with the people in the morning, and after a little warm-up activity and breakfast, we packed our bags and were ready to go on the climb.

The first kilometer was a jeep track that we followed, and as you climb along the route, you can witness village life. After that, we turned left and entered the forest. As we approached the jungle, we came upon a man-built bridge constructed of wooden sticks. As we continued walking, we came across a couple of additional bridges of this type.

We kept on till we came to a brook that we had to cross. It was deep, but there was a man-made concrete bridge to cross it. A great spot for some selfies. We went on till we arrived at the grassland, where we spent some time taking shots.

We entered the jungle and began our ascent. Our entire trek was in the center of the Western Ghats forest, which is constructed entirely of volcanic igneous rock. We ascended the not-too-steep slopes and continued our journey through meadows and wooded areas until we came to a school that popped out of nowhere.

On the other side of the school, there was a well-kept rubber road that led us to the little town of Castlerock. We came to a halt in front of the Castlerock post office and entered someone's home, where they were selling buttermilk and other cold beverages. We ate our packed lunch here and bought some toffees before continuing on our way. There were three or four stores close to Castlerock station.

We proceeded on our trek till we arrived at Castlerock railway station and crossed the overbridge. This location is well-known for its railway station and training facilities for railway employees. The area appears to be desolate as if we had visited some historic places containing only antique structures (concrete buildings here). Castlerock is located within the Dandeli Tiger Reserve, but according to our guide, there are no tigers in the jungle during our hike. We proceeded on the tar road path for approximately a kilometer before turning left into the dirt road.

We returned to the woodland area, and despite the fact that it was late in the day, it was excessively dark in the forest, making it look as if it was already 7 p.m. We eventually made it out of the jungle and into an area with rice fields and a few human dwellings. We spent some time speaking with the villagers before continuing our journey till we came to a brook. We had a swim here and then went inside the palm plantation.

Our Almond campground was on the other side of the plantation. We could use our cell phones to contact home from this camping. In the evening, we spent time around the campsite, particularly on the land behind our tent and also near the creek. It was a lot of fun.

Castlerock Karnataka to Dudhsagar train timings

There are multiple trains and the latest updates can be found on the IRCTC website. Another alternative to find trains is - here.

Can we trek from Castlerock to Dudhsagar?

The railway station at Castlerock Karnataka represents the beginning of the Braganza Ghats, a mountainous portion that stretches between Goa and Karnataka. Castlerock is the closest railway station to the four-tiered cascade known as Dudhsagar Falls or the Sea of Milk. The Waterfalls are one of the highest Indian waterfalls and are located on the Mandovi River in Goa. It is 100 feet wide on average and 1017 feet tall.

Ravindra Joisa at Castlerock, Karnataka crossing the overpass bridge at the railway station.

The trekking length from Castlerock to Dudhsagar Falls is particularly appealing to individuals who enjoy the adventure. A sequence of rail tunnels may be found over this 11-kilometer journey. Tunnel 2 is the longest rail tunnel, lasting over 2.4 kilometers.

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.

Asia's largest and heavenly alpine meadows above 10,000 feet | Ali Bedni Bugyal

You may have encountered meadows (bugyals) on your hiking trail, but did you know that India has the most beautiful, picturesque, biggest alpine meadows? The Bugyal (Auli bugyal, Bedni bugyal) in Uttarakhand, India, is Asia's biggest high-altitude meadow. If you walk via Didina village on your Roopkund or Bedni Bugyal hike, you will be able to glimpse beautiful high-altitude meadows. Check out my earlier postings about the Roopkund trek via Didina village to learn more about it. The Auli, Bedni, Dayara, Tungnath, and Gorson bugyals are among the prominent alpine meadows. The majority of these bugyals are above 10,000 feet tall.

Auli Bugyal Meadows, Uttarakhand, India

Where is Bedni Bugyal located?

Ali Bedni Bugyal's magnificent swirling meadows are among Uttarakhand's most picturesque alpine meadows. It's in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, on the boundary of Garhwal and Kumaon. There is no direct access to this location. This walk takes two days and maybe started from either Lohajung or Wan. To go to Roopkund this is the common point whether you start from Wan or Lohajung via Didina village.

The fascinating hikes lead you through beautiful valleys, quiet hamlets, and coniferous and oak woods. One of India's most beautiful meadows is Bedni Bugyal. The Trishul peak is visible from Bedni Bugyal, and one cannot not but capture the gorgeous snow-covered peak with their camera. Bedni Bugyal provides several options for wildlife and nature photographers to capture nature at its finest.

Why are these bugyals significant?

The treacherous walk to Bedni Bugyal and Ali Bugyal winds through velvety grasslands and heavy coniferous woodland clinging to the steep slopes and peaks. The villagers revere Bedni Kund in Bedni Bugyal for its sacred significance. Even an old temple and a few religious artifacts may be seen in the centre of Bedni Kund (pond).

Auli bugyal is considered the most beautiful meadows in Uttarakhand, India by National Geographic and Bedni bugyal is the most beautiful campsite on the entire trail. This place is like paradise for trekkers and looks more like a golf course.

The landscape is just too good and cannot be described in words, you need to be there to get a feel of it. Also, this is the last place where you get something to buy. There is a small hut serving local buns, maggie, egg, biscuits, hot tea, snacks, etc. Try this food if you are sick of the food provided by the trekking group. Most of us just entered this place while coming back from Roopkund.

From Auli bugyal, you get to see the snow-covered Himalayan mountain range. The view is just too good. You get to see government-built bunkers soon after you leave Auli bugyal and enter the Bedni bugyal. You can camp there or at Bedni Bugyal. There is an old man-made structure, old temples, and a huge pond. Sunset is spectacular and the sunrise is, even more, making the snow-covered mountains change their color to bright orange and Mt. Trishul's plume high above is the god of all mountains in this region.

Camping in Ali Bedni Bugyal

On the hike to Roopkund, Ali Bedni Bugyal, one of the largest and most beautiful meadows, is met. Camping on meadows is not permitted at a height of more than 3,000 metres, thus locating a guest home or lodge is impossible. Previously, trekkers would camp on the meadow, but today they must camp in the forest or in adjacent communities such as Didina or Pattar Nachauni. It is recommended that you pack or hire a tent before beginning your walk.

Exploring around the lake

We continued to explore the place around the campsite. We climbed the ridge which was to the right of our camp. It was approx one hour climb and was steep, but was worth the climb. We could see the top view of Tarsar lake and also, the other side of the pass. This was the highest point in the entire trek.

Don't forget to capture the panoramic shot from this place. Spend some time on top and enjoy the view. If you continue further, it will take you to Sundarsar lake. You can also see the trail from Tarsar to the pass on the other side of the lake. From that point, you can see Marsar lake far away which is another half-day trek from that place.

View from the ridge next to Tarsar lake. The lake is almost 2 km long.

In the evening we spent time going around the campsite and the lake. You are not allowed to take bath or clean your cloth or vessels at Tarsar. You may use the water that goes out as a stream for cooking. We hardly spent time inside the tent and at night it is an ideal place to do some astrophotography. I managed to get some timelapse of the galaxy and a few galaxy shots. If you have plans to do timelapse then don't forget to carry some additional batteries.

An award-winning shot of mine at Tarsar lake

The next day morning was a perfect one. The sunrise behind the Kolahoi peak, the shadow of the nearby mountain, the sun rays, the clear sky, etc made it the perfect day to start our hike back from Tarsar to Jadsar. Follow my blog to know more about what we did on day 6. Check out the video below.

Where is Tarsar Lake and how to reach Tarsar Lake?

Tarsar Lake is located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, in the western Himalayas. It is situated in the Aru Valley of the Anantnag district. Tarsar Lake is at an altitude of 2,400m/7,950ft.

• Pick-up location - Tourist Reception Center, Get into a bus or shared taxi.
• Drive:- 4 hrs, Srinagar to Aru via Apple valley.
• Srinagar to Pahalgam 100 km to Aru 12 km.
• Aru is on the bank of the Lidder River.

If you have not gone through my previous four days of the Tarsar trek, then check the following links:

Tarsar Trek – Day 1 – Srinagar to Aru drive
Tarsar Trek – Day 2 – Aru to Lidderwat
Tarsar Trek – Day 3 – Lidderwat to Shekwas
Tarsar Trek - Day 4 - Shekwas to Tarsar

Tarsar lake camp is ideal for galaxy photoshoots as there is hardly any light pollution and is away from the city. Hope you liked this incredible hike to Tarasar Lake, if you have liked this post then consider subscribing to my newsletter and follow me on Instagram - @ravindrajoisa.