The author embarks on a winter trek to the Kiagar Ri peak in Ladakh, drawn by the allure of solitude in a region often crowded during summer. The journey begins with acclimatisation in Leh, amidst snow-covered landscapes, before proceeding to Korzok village, where the harsh cold of winter is palpable. Despite the challenges posed by extreme temperatures, altitude sickness, and a few group members dropping out, the trek continues. After persevering through difficult conditions, the author finally reaches the summit, experiencing a profound sense of achievement. The trek concludes with a return to Leh, filled with memories of the arduous yet rewarding adventure.
Rosy pipit and exhausting tiptoes…
Musing on rendezvous with rosy pipits (Anthus roseatus)-a species of montane regions-while hiking in high altitudes of Uttarakhand, India.
Clock towers beyond time…
In Tbilisi’s old town, the leaning clock tower stands defiantly, a reflection on time, art and decay… Reno Gabriadze Clock Tower, Georgia 🇬🇪
Foxes and fleetingness
Musing on foxes… a white-footed fox, a small, Asiatic subspecies of red fox found in the Indian subcontinent, Rajasthan, India
Mauritius and an island reverie…
Travelogue of a week wandering through Mauritius… its forests, peaks, and colonial echoes… from Black River’s trails to Le Morne’s sombre cliffs, from island musings to everyday rambles… a journey through nature, memory, and quiet revelations on a volcanic outcrop finding its identity as it heals the bruises of the past…
Dholavira and its austere relics
Dholavira lets its history rest unencumbered… an island forsaken by water aeons ago, yet still trying to come to terms with its degeneration from a thriving fluvial landscape to an arid panorama, draped in white, a cremation of sorts… and amidst this geological rollercoaster lie the latest vestiges of one of the oldest civilizations… an …
Panpatia and its frigid portals…
Trek report from Panpatia Col, a high-altitude Himalayan trail connecting the valleys of Badrinath and Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, India
Kapileshwar Mahadev and unperturbed histories…
Kapileshwar Mahadev temple near Almora, Uttarakhand is an ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, built by the Katyuris around 9th century…
Going gentle into that good night: The Great Indian Bustard
Musing on the Great Indian Bustard, a ground-dwelling bird species found only in the Indian subcontinent which is critically endangered today.
Forests in their fecund reveries…
Musings on forests 🌳🌲 and the tumult of countless natural processes brewing beneath their static facade… meadows at Devsu, Uttarakhand 🇮🇳…