To Sangla, With Love

A journey that takes you through high mountains, pristine river waters and occasional sleepy villages. A journey far from maddening crowd into solitude and peace of innocent raw beauty. Preserved in quietude of mighty Himalayas, lies Sangla valley, where this journey took me to.

Walks through lively apple orchards, wild fir trees, and open grasslands made me forget the pace of city life. As if the soul had found back some primitive connection and had its thirst quenched for knowing itself. A glow of spirit of adventure will make you discover yourself. Barely did constant trains of thought rammed into meditative state, that this beautiful place bestowed so liberally. If art itself was a canvas, then open clear skies with cumulus clouds during the day and dotted with stars at night was masterpiece painted on it. If embrace of love had a physical form, the pure breeze of the valley was its very epitome. If glorious wonderment ever had a definition, Sangla’s hills and woods embodied it.

I will wonder at a heart that will not for once wish to be here and experience those treks into virginal meadows and glades, lazy idling by tributaries of Baspa, wonderful camp fire stories by friends found anew. A part of me will always belong to Himalayas; I wish that this unmatched glory of Earth may stay forever. And that it is not brutally destroyed in name of business, ever expanding population and just recklessness of man’s destructive nature. Its the inheritance that we need to preserve and be proud of.

Though I am not the one to count site seeing options when visiting divine nature, there was aplenty available in Sangla. Apart from aforementioned treks, the last Indian village of Chitkul is worth the visit, and so is old Kamru fort of Sangla and numerous other small monasteries and temples. Stay at Banjara camps will allow you easy approach to any of these places. Owned and maintained under Capt Ajay, its one of the best places away from home to make you feel at home. And hospitality along with delicious food deserves special mention.

The energy of freshness that comes from remembrance of Sangla will stay with me forever. Hope I can revisit soon.