As I tugged into the layers of blankets and quilts covering me, the morning brightness touched my face and I felt a numbing pain run down my knee at the thought of the trek that lay ahead. At first I said, “No, I won’t come” but the very thought of staying back in the guest house and missing all the fun was a bigger pain and I readied myself for the most adventurous trek I have ever had. Leh is situated at a height of about 13,500 feet above sea level which means thinner atmosphere and as we walked through the mountainous terrain, the cold breeze hit at our face and threatened to freeze the lungs as we breathed.
As we walked on and on, the roads grew rougher and more difficult. But above everything, the beauty that lay around us became more charming and pleasant to the eyes. Wherever the eyes took us, there were mountains and from whichever direction the breeze blew, it was colder and more menacing than the previous one.
Walking through the road that had been taken a million times before wouldn’t have been such fun as it was when we walked through the road less taken or may be road not taken. The beautiful Shanti Stupa beckoned us to set foot on its holy grounds and we started climbing the hill to reach the tip of it, i.e. Shanti Stupa. Hardly, had we walked for fifteen minutes than we started puffing. We realized that the hill was a bit too steep and there were too many loose pebbles. But when we turned to see if it was possible to return and then take the road most taken, we were daunted by the mere sight of the distance we had already covered and so our journey ahead began – huffing and puffing, sitting down at whatever big rock came our way, having a drought, removing our sweaters and then putting it on again, falling and rising again, standing like a statue in one place when pebbles would start rolling down carrying us with them, trying to help each other but then finding oneself in a still tighter spot.
Somehow, with a lot of help from our trekking guide, we reached the Stupa and we were appalled by its breathtaking serenity and reposeful ambience. We felt thankful that we were off-season tourists because the place wouldn’t have been too quiet and just for us. After a short stay in the lap of the stupa, we resumed our trek, again tumbling and getting strengthened.
It was a long trek and I am so glad that I was amongst the three (Me, Arun and Karthikeyan) who actually completed the trek. Because, if I hadn’t I would have missed so many beautiful things. We passed by differently sized chortans and the huge gallery like place where the local festivals are organized. We passed by a stream and through the fields. We walked through narrow passage ways between rocky hills and believe me, it was terrific. And it was tiring too.By the time, we were done with the trek and we were back on the metalled road walking back to ALIMJAN, we were hoping desperately to get a lift back to the guest house. The entire landscape was deserted and so we trudged along our tired feet and bodies. However, after a long while, we got a lift and we drove up to Gezmo for a hot cuppa. And that was the end of the trek... finally.
