Unlike the rest of India, which is predominantly Hindu, Ladakh is a Buddhist region with more in common with the old Tibet than its mother country. The Markha Valley is full of Buddhist signs, both old and new: giant prayer wheels to spin for good luck, stupas, mani walls and the remains of ancient citadels perched on hillsides.
We passed many as the valley narrowed on the third day of our trek, and the steep cliffs on either side became needle-like pinnacles thrusting extravagantly into the sky. We had our first view of Kang Yatze at the head of the valley, guarding the Markha River’s fork. A snow-capped cone, it was volcanic in appearance from that angle - an easy snow-plod, the like of which I’ve completed many times (appearances were to prove deceiving, however).
For a trip report see: www.markhorrell.com/blog/2022...
For related photographs see: www.flickr.com/photos/markhor...
Music: Passing by Doxent Zsigmond Ft: Kara Square (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license: dig.ccmixter.org/files/doxent...
Thank you to Edita Horrell for additional video footage
1 мар 2024
