Hello wonderful people and happy Sunday! I woke up feeling real good this morning. It could be because it’s Sunday, or because we have amazing (rainy) weather, or simply because today is the anniversary of my maiden trip to Kashmir, Leh, Ladakh in 2013.
If I call Paris my teenage crush, then Kashmir is definitely my first love! I undoubtedly have the travel bug, I fall in love with places in an instant. I was 8 years old when I first discovered the beauty of Kashmir while participating in an art project. It was on my travel list for a long time before I finally got the chance to experience it in 2013. In August 2013, I joined a group of 9 amazing people for a 10 day trip to Srinagar, Leh and Ladakh. That trip was and will continue to be the crown jewel among all my travel experiences.
It is difficult to describe all the emotions and experiences I had on this trip, but one thing is certain, this place touched my heart like no other has! We saw nature in it’s purest form – pristine, wild and fascinatingly beautiful. We experienced zen like peace each time we passed a monastery. Each army station helped us realize the importance of hard work, faith and patience in our lives. On this trip, I realized how small our troubles actually are as compared to our blessings! The entire landscape is untouched and free from commercialization, which makes it the perfect place to unwind, detach and introspect. This was also where the idea for my blog originated, as if the mountains were inspiring me to believe in my dreams and follow my passion. Whenever I want to lift my spirits, I think about this place and almost magically, I start feeling positive, happy, blessed and at peace.
It is tough to summarize the entire trip in one go, so I will publish a series of posts to cover details from the 10 day period. But meanwhile, here are my favorite shots of the mesmerizing landscape of Srinagar, Leh and Ladakh. If you ever get the chance to visit India, then definitely visit Jammu & Kashmir. I promise you will learn something new about yourself, and come back a changed person with a new perspective on life.
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