I have made a few visits to Ladakh in winter months. Having walked the empty lanes of winter’s Leh, admired the frozen high-altitude lakes, walked over a frozen Zanskar River, gawked at the blue Indus flowing between frozen ice-ribbons and seeing the endless snowfields in the high Chhangthang Plateau, I can safely say that Ladakh in cold days is among the finest landscapes that can be found anywhere India. Being there, however, is not for everyone as the temperatures regularly go as low as -30C. Here is an image of a small stretch of this beautiful landscape of Chhangthang Plateau in Ladakh.
Sometimes nature creates things that appear weird to us. Today’s photo is hot-springs of Ladakh in winter covered by an ice-shell!
We found these curious hot-springs during our wanderings in the high-altitude Chhangthang Plateau, Ladakh, during the winter months. Even when the outside temperature remains below zero and drops to -30 at night time, these geysers continue to spit boiling-hot water. Much of the water flows down as a stream, but a few droplets that fall away are instantly turned into snow. The result is this beautiful cone that forms a shell around the spring.
We were able to hear the sound of gushing hot-water inside the ice-cone. The insides are even more beautiful with icicles hanging on the ice-wall and a sulphurous smoke rising from its belly. Beauty PLUS fascination!
Some birds take advantage of these hot-springs. We saw ducks enjoying the stream of warm waters made by these springs. Ruddy shelducks, which generally migrate to lower altitudes in winter, were enjoying staying back here in a small flock. The avian population in the area was unusually dense for winter months in Ladakh.
Shanti Stupa is a popular place for watching the sun set over the mountains surrounding Leh town. A sprinkle of snow on the ground and a colourful sky adds to the view from the stupa platform.
