After visiting Ladakh in 2016, I came back from this mesmerizing journey and couldn’t stop talking about my experiences with family and friends. I immediately resolved to go back the next year. There was some invisible power that beckoned me again to the Land of the Lamas. This time, it was a gang of 9 girls set on a mission to explore the hidden mysteries of the Cold Desert.
The moment we landed in Leh, our driver told us that His Holiness Dalai Lama was in Ladakh that year. He was preaching in the Diskit Monastery in Hunder. We all were very excited and hoped that we get one glimpse of the Dalai Lama. Our initial plan was to go through from Leh – Khardung La – Hunder (overnight stay) – Nubra – Pangong Tso (overnight stay) – Leh. However, due to heavy rainfall, the road from Nubra to Pangong Tso had been washed away. We were left with no choice than to return back to Leh from Nubra and then travel to Pangong Tso and back in a day. This was a little disappointing as we would not be able to experience the serenity of the Pangong Tso overnight.
Little did we know that this would turn out to be a blessing in disguise for us. We had decided to visit the Diskit Monastery while returning back from Nubra. The moment we reached the monastery, I noticed that the place had different vibes and was buzzing that day. I could say this due to my experience from last year’s visit when I was calm and peaceful. It was then we realized that this was going to be one of the greatest experiences of our lives. We all scaled up the grounds next to the monastery. I could not believe my eyes and more than that my luck.
There he was – His Holiness Dalai Lama preaching to a crowd of thousands of disciples. Even though I could not understand his words as it was an unknown language, it was soothing and peaceful. There were people from different countries and walks of life all gathered to catch a glimpse and hear this great man preach.
I didn’t want to return but had to follow the schedule. Taking the blessing of Dalai Lama was indeed once in lifetime opportunity for me. Those visuals are still fresh in my mind and I still can’t believe it happened to me. So, the next time you set on a journey, all I would say is – Expect the Unexpected!
For a detailed itinerary of my Ladakh Adventures, checkout my blog on – Ladakh Travel Guide.
