Images of Ladakh

Ladakh lies on the Himalayan plateau, uncomfortably close to Kashmir, Pakistan, and China. I went to Ladakh in November, when the highways were closed and the Kashmiri touts had headed to Goa for the winter. Stripped of the tourist economy, Ladakh was bundling up for the winter.

Despite the freezing temperature, being in Ladakh was like being in a traveller's pipe dream. Luck was on my side, and I was invited to two weddings and the Cha'am festival in Tikse. Both events were colourful spectacles, full of joy and celebration.

Yet, I could not help wondering where the future of Ladakh would be. I saw a culture being eroded in the name of progress. The old ways were slowing disappearing, and reverence to Buddha was being replaced with the almighty dollar. I found it very tragic, as the world seemed to be trading Ladakh away and getting MTV in return. Most tragic of all, was that myself, and people like me, were the ones doing the trading.

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