AFTER FUMBLING TO FIND MY PHONE TO CHECK THE TIME, I roll back into bed and try to remember what could have caused me to wake up at 2:30 am. I wasn’t having a bad dream, nor am I restless. And yet somehow, I’m awake at this unearthly hour.
That’s when I remember that I’ve been sleeping in a canvas tent in what many consider to be the most miserable and unforgiving place in the entire ‘Ladakh circuit’. Perched at an elevation of over 14,500 feet, Sarchu — at the border between Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh — is infamous not only for its piercingly cold and fierce winds but also for the notoriously low levels of essential oxygen in the air. It is a haven for Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and many a brave adventurer has fallen (quite literally) victim to harsh conditions of this barren and seemingly vengeful locale. I quickly try taking a deep breath and exhale slowly — my breathing seems to be in order. I don’t have a headache and pinch myself to make sure that I’m not hallucinating. The altitude hasn’t gotten the better of me, yet!
I slowly (and somewhat reluctantly) pull aside the three blankets that I’ve slid into in a desperate attempt to stay warm and grasp around to find my jacket, beanie, gloves, and shoes. I stumble clumsily to the door and reach out to find the handle but end up only swiping at thin air. Blame it on the altitude!
Better sense eventually prevails as I find the zip and open the piece of fabric that acts as a door to the tent. A bitter, cold wind sweeps in, instantly jolting me into my senses, but I still can’t see very much. All the other tents are cloaked in darkness, lying still and motionless.
Denne historien er fra October 2021-utgaven av Outlook Traveller.
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Denne historien er fra October 2021-utgaven av Outlook Traveller.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Can The Himalayas Outlast Tourism?
Love The Himalayas, But Worried About Its Future? Hear From Three Experts On The Future Of The Region And How It Can Be Protected
EATING MINDFULLY
SUNITA NARAIN FROM THE CENTRE FOR SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT DISCUSSES HER NEW BOOK WHICH COMBINES THE JOYS OF EATING WITH CARE FOR THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE WHO TILL THEM
The Jewels Of Costa Rica
A Long-time Birdwatcher Describes His Travels To The Lush Rainforests Of Costa Rica
WINGED WONDERS
The story of migrating birds is the story of a promise to return, flying thousands of miles beset with dangers.
THE LOOMINARIES
THE ROLE OF THE GREAT REVIVALISTS WHO GAVE INDIA'S TEXTILES A NEW LEASE ON LIFE CANNOT BE STATED ENOUGH. WE TRACE THEIR CELEBRATED LEGACY
KEEPERS OF THE CRAFT
FROM REVIVING TRADITIONAL WEAVES TO CONTEMPORISING THEM WITH MODERN SILHOUETTES, THESE DESIGNERS ARE COMMITTED TO KEEPING THE LOOM TURNING WITH A FRESH TAKE ON HERITAGE TEXTILES
SONGS OF THE SOIL
WITH INDIGENOUS TEXTILES FACING THE WRATH OF FAST FASHION AND CLIMATE CHANGE, INDIAN DESIGNERS ARE RALLYING TO REVIVE AND PRESERVE THESE PRECIOUS WEAVES
CRAFT CRUSADER
THROUGH HER TEXTILE EXPLORATIONS ACROSS INDIA, DR PRITHA DASMAHAPATRA HAS BEEN PRESERVING ANCIENT CRAFTS, EMPOWERING ARTISANS, AND INSPIRING TRAVELLERS TO DISCOVER THE BEAUTY OF HYPERLOCAL EXPERIENCES
ON THE GRID
THE VIBRANT MADRAS CHECKS, NATIVE TO SOUTHEASTERN INDIA, HAS NOT JUST TRANSCENDED BORDERS BUT ALSO TRADITIONS AND STYLES
GOLDEN SILK
THE PROPERTIES THAT MAKE MUGA SILK UNIQUE COULD SEE IT BEING USED IN THE BIOFUELS AND MEDICINES OF THE FUTURE
