Julaaay!

Traversing the cold desert of Spiti Valley

Worldwide | Friday, October 21, 2011 | flickr photos

The remote Indian cold desert, Spiti valley, in the state of Himachal Pradesh is an extension of the world renowned Ladakh and Tibetean plateau. While planning a vacation in the month of August this year, I stumbled upon this gem and without any hesitation I packed my bags and set out to explore this region, which also happens to be the land of the Snow Leopard.

Though the leopard seemed elusive, we did come across a host of other wildlife. The image of the scavenging Griffon vulture is an example of the biodiversity in these parts.

Clouds are manufactured in the Himalayas, literally. The 2nd and 3rd images epitomize this statement of mine. Sometimes they resemble harmless cotton pods and at other times, they converge upon a peak and mimic the smoke billowing out of an active volcano!

Little ones here live a very carefree life. School time is all about learning and getting one with the environment they live in. This innocence is carried forward to their adult lives as well.

A photograph that gives me goose bumps is Ansel Adams’ ‘Tetons and the Snake River’. At the confluence of the Pin and Spiti Rivers in Dhankar, I paid tribute to my all time favorite photograph.

Spiti has all the ingredients to turn an amateur photographer like me into a master behind the lens. Every stone here is a piece of art! It has evoked the wander lust in me like no place else! If presented with the South African opportunity, I am keen to experience a new culture and the diverse African wildlife that is on offer and of course better the Spiti wanderlust! Julaaay!