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Ladakh - Planning The Trip

Over 2000 Km by road, in around 10 days. Stunning landscapes, wonderful people. That sums up our Ladakh trip. But how did it actually work? How did we make it happen? Read on to find out!  Leh, the capital of Ladakh , is accessible by air and road. Flying into Leh is the easiest, and time-saving option, while the road is the time consuming one, but with the added advantage of driving past some of the most beautiful landscapes in our country. Each option has much to recommend it, and we chose the road for just one reason – altitude sickness. Altitude sickness was one of my biggest concerns, since I suffer from motion-sickness. Yes, I do travel a lot, but that is despite my condition, and, over the years, have learnt how to handle it. I struggled with it when we visited Nathu-La in Sikkim, and wondered if I would be able to manage a week at the even higher altitudes that we would encounter in Ladakh. This was the reason we stuck to a basic plan, of only 9 days in Ladakh, thoug...
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Vaishnodevi

A week has gone by and I have not been able to write anything. A weekend looms ahead, and at the moment, I have nothing interesting to look forward to. Going over my photographs, wondering what to post, these were the photos that leaped out..... making me wish I was back there, right now! 

The mountains....








the lush greenery.....








snow clad mountains peeking through......




Nature at its best...






Flowers galore...





Shrines all along the way reminding me that I was not on a nature trek, but a pilgrimage...




These were clicked at Vaishnodevi, while I was labouring my way to the shrine......





Our Pilgrimage to Vaishnodevi was the result of months of planning - booking tickets, trying to make arrangements for staying there as well as going there by helicopter, etc. etc. etc.

As it turned out, I had to cancel all my tickets at the last minute and book new ones! While the goddess decided to call us to Jammu in all comfort, by flight instead of train, she refused to oblige us with Helicopter tickets (of course, it might also be thanks to the fact that we refused to pay a huge amount to buy the tickets from the agents ). We ended up walking the 14 Kms up the mountains, which is why I have been able to take all those beautiful photographs!!! It was worth every ounce of the effort we had to put in, though!! Thanks to an uncle with influential contacts, we did manage to get rooms at Bhavan, near the temple, which turned out to be the highlight of our trip!!! We shivered through the night in spite of the clutch of blankets and sweaters we had! And this was in the month of May!! 

Darshan was a cake walk compared to the walk uphill... the arrangements were excellent and we waltzed through the queue without a hint of trouble, pushing, or elbowing!! And this was in spite of a sizable crowd!

For more information about the Vaishnodevi Shrine, and bookings for rooms / darshan / helicopters, visit the Mata Vaishodevi Shrine Board Website. 


Wish I was there now! *Sigh*

For more beautiful skies from around the world, visit Skywatch Friday


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Comments

  1. HansHBJuly 20, 2012 at 10:44 AM

    Great post. So good for Sky!
    Have a nice weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  2. JoyfulJuly 20, 2012 at 11:18 AM

    Wow, I can't imagine such a trek but I'm glad you made it and were able to share these lovely photos with us. I love snow covered mountains and the terraced hillsides are so lush looking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJuly 20, 2012 at 3:34 PM

      Thanks so much, Joyful!! It wasnt so hard a trek actually... there is a road and we can walk along it.. just thats its up and down mountains, so there is quite a bit of slope... i love snow covered mountains too..

      Delete
  3. AswathiBabuJuly 20, 2012 at 12:15 PM

    Thanks for sharing such beautiful images....

    ReplyDelete
  4. JimJuly 20, 2012 at 12:19 PM

    Great scenery.
    Sydney - City and Suburbs

    ReplyDelete
  5. P.N. SubramanianJuly 20, 2012 at 1:35 PM

    It is said that only the fortunate souls get invited. Photographs are wonderful The first few remind me of places en route.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anuradha ShankarJuly 20, 2012 at 3:44 PM

      Thanks so much, PNS!! we had been planning this trip for years, but it worked just this year!! and we had planned a completely different trip... all tickets had to be cancelled and re booked! !thats how she probably wanted us to come!

      Delete
  6. R Niranjan DasJuly 20, 2012 at 1:53 PM

    Magnificent captures. Nature at its best.

    www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownJuly 20, 2012 at 10:31 PM

    Beautiful series!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  8. VetirmagalJuly 21, 2012 at 8:25 AM

    This is so clear and descriptive!How magnificent the peaks look and how welcome the flowers are. The goddess is in Paradise.
    Thanks a lot for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. FolkTalesUrbanLegendsJuly 21, 2012 at 9:40 AM

    Absolutely stunning. Makes me want to go there now.

    ReplyDelete
  10. muthuJuly 22, 2012 at 6:40 PM

    Wow.... Simly wow.

    The snaps are great.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Vishal RathodDecember 25, 2012 at 3:59 PM

    Jai Mata Di,

    Travel with me with complete detailed information on Vaishno Devi in two heavy duty posts on my blog

    http://www.aboutomkaar.com/2012/09/vaishno-devi-hotel-helicopter-booking.html

    http://www.aboutomkaar.com/2012/10/vaishno-devi-trip-bhawan-darshan.html


    ReplyDelete
  12. Vaishnodevi YatraApril 13, 2015 at 11:10 PM

    Very nice and vivid photos.

    ReplyDelete
  13. vaishno devi tripAugust 29, 2018 at 2:02 PM

    it is like sona pa sona , first of all kashmir is like heaven and vaishno devi trip that give it more spritual bliss

    ReplyDelete
  14. Trip to kashmir my parentsMarch 12, 2023 at 12:25 PM

    Amazing or I can say this is a remarkable article

    ReplyDelete
  15. AnonymousNovember 13, 2025 at 4:59 PM

    This was such a wonderful and informative post about Vaishno Devi! The way you’ve described the journey, temple details, and spiritual experience truly captures the divine essence of the place. Visiting Vaishno Devi is not just a pilgrimage but a deeply emotional experience for every devotee. Your blog gives a clear picture of what travelers can expect and how to make the most of their visit. Really appreciate the detailed information and inspiring writing — keep sharing such meaningful travel content!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nixtour HolidaysNovember 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM

    This was such a wonderful and informative post about Vaishno Devi! The way you’ve described the journey, temple details, and spiritual experience truly captures the divine essence of the place. Visiting Vaishno Devi is not just a pilgrimage but a deeply emotional experience for every devotee. Your blog gives a clear picture of what travelers can expect and how to make the most of their visit. Really appreciate the detailed information and inspiring writing — keep sharing such meaningful travel content!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Antra BodhNovember 19, 2025 at 4:02 PM

    As a tourist who has experienced last-minute travel surprises, your story feels incredibly relatable. Sometimes the journey unfolds in unexpected ways, and walking the 14 km up to Vaishno Devi truly sounds like an adventure filled with devotion, effort, and unforgettable memories. The photographs you captured must have made the climb even more rewarding. Best Travel Agency in Mumbai often reminds travelers that sacred trips can be unpredictable, but those unplanned moments become the most cherished. Staying at Bhavan near the temple, despite the chilly May weather, must have added a special touch to your pilgrimage. Your experience beautifully captures the spirit of faith, resilience, and divine grace.

    ReplyDelete

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