Taking a break from the everyday chaos and surrendering yourself to the surreal and picturesque beauty of Kashmir & Leh is something that your inner traveller has been longing for a while. The snow-clad mountains, uniquely structured and celebrated spots, breathtaking adventures and the calmness of nature all together are set to allow you to witness utter peace and amusement. 

“Every time I backpack, I reach places that make living & wandering a lot worthwhile & exciting.”

Suraj Agarwal, a 27-year-old businessman and a keen traveller from Odisha, who explored Kashmir & Leh along with his friend in its best state are here to share his soothing and enchanting experiences, to allow us to understand the magic these spots hold. 

The trip was split into two parts. The first part covered exploring Leh and its surrounding area, whereas the second part covered Kashmir. They began their trip by taking a flight from Odisha to Delhi which was further followed by Delhi to Leh. The bookings for the stay were made in advance. 

Living the Leh

Day 1 primarily consisted of exploring Leh’s local and vibrant markets that had the best traditional items to take back as souvenirs. After strolling around the market, they set out to explore the authentically celebrated Leh Palace. Leh palace is popularly also known as Lhachen Palkhar. It was built by King Sengge Namgyal. The building of the palace began in the 1500s and was completed by the 17th century. 

Leh: Best for a reason! 

Day 2 of the trip began by renting a bullet bike to explore the unheard parts of the beautiful Leh. They drove to several places together. All those places were celebrated attractions holding immersive significance. A few of them are as follows:- 

• Magnetic Hill
• Gurudwara Pathar Sahib
• Khardung La Road
• Hunder 
• Bactrian Camel Safari
• River Rafting (The Zanskar river rafting) (WORLD’S HIGHEST RIVER RAFTING POINT) 

Hunder, a small village famous for sand dunes, was their home for the next couple of days. 

Turtuk Village 

The next stop was Turtuk village. It is profoundly known for bearing varieties of fruits, especially apricots. The place is very close to the Pakistan border. These wanderers explored every bit of it and then headed back to their stay to prepare for the next day. 

Off to Srinagar, Kashmir

The next day brought them a new territory to explore. This space was equally beautiful and vibrant. India’s very own Switzerland; Srinagar. Before heading to Srinagar, they made sure to visit Pangong lake which is a must-visit spot, when in Leh. 

Pahal Gaon, Kashmir

The first day at Srinagar was all about exploring the nearby areas and fueling themselves with some good rest. The next day brought them real excitement when their foot approached towards exploring Pahal gaon. After walking into the sun and shades of the village they headed back to their stay, the same evening. 

Undescended beauty – Gulmarg, Kashmir

The new morning demanded to witness the beauty of Gulmarg, a popular hill station in Kashmir. So the wanderers set out to enchant their visuals and had their best time while doing so. 

After spending some joyously merry time, the wanderers, Suraj and his friend were ready to wave goodbye to this heavenly place. They lived some of their best memories here that they’re sure to cherish throughout their further walks of life.

Living at Boathouse was one of the finest experiences these travellers have ever had. Apart from all these celebrated places they also visited Mughal Garden, Tulip Garden, Dal lake and more. 

Always Remember! 

As part of the suggestions, Suraj advises choosing your bikes carefully when driving down the roads of Leh. If you’re a single traveller, he suggests picking up 350 ccs whereas if you have a company together then you can go for 500 ccs. Another important point that the traveller makes is to take medicines when heading to Leh as it’s at a high altitude and can cause headaches. Rest you’re all fine to explore and meet new adventures. 

Overview of the trip:- 

For more photos and videos, check out his Instagram page @surajagrawal0012

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Keep Travelling! Keep Exploring!