Photos

This is the first of the next few pictures taken in Nubra Valley in Ladakh region.

Nubra Valley has an average altitude of 10000 feet or more above MSL. It is known as the 'Cold Desert' due to extreme cold situations and remains cut of from the rest of the world for almost 7-8 months during the year. To reach Nubra Valley one has to cross Khardung La (World's highest motorable pass), to meet Shyok river. One then crosses Shok river to reach the huge valley created by this river which at most of the places is nothing but huge expanse of white sand like desert. Foreigners as well as Indians need "Inner Line Permit" to visit here. During winters, the temperature falls down to as low as -40 degrees celcius. Nubra Valley separates Ladakh region from the Karakoram range.

This picture shows the famous cold desert camels also known as bactrian camels or double hump camels. One can take a ride on these camels and walk across the desert and between the famous villages of Deskit and Hundar. Most of the people in this area are of mixed Tibetan and Central Asian origin.Local lore has it that they were a Greek tribe who came in search of Jesus Christ's tomb and settled here.Here one can suddenly find beautiful people boys and girls with startling blue eyes, auburn hair and ruddy cheeks as against the typical mongoloid features of the Ladakhis.