Repost This ArticleHIGH ON THE NORTHERN PLATEAU in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, Ladakh — located in far northwestern India between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Chinese-Occupied Tibet — has sat quietly for centuries behind a shield of nearly impenetrable mountains. Famous among visitors for its high-altitude trekking and traditional Tibetan Buddhist culture, Ladakh is incredibly open and accepting to the open-minded traveler. 
Ladakh from above
Flying in over the Himalayas from Delhi to the city of Leh, you get the immediate sense that Ladakh is a special place.
Life in the valleys
The lush river valleys, most above 11,000ft, are covered with small plots of terraced farmland, gardens, and traditional homes.
The bike
Royal Enfield bikes are everywhere, and are the go-to type of transportation for locals and travelers alike.Intermission
Ladakhi market
The Ladakhi and Tibetan people are some of the warmest and friendliest I’ve ever met. Their sense of Karma means you’ll never have to haggle -- they simply tell you a fair price and you decide whether you’re willing to pay it.
The Shanti Stupa
Make time to watch the sunrise from the top of the Shanti Stupa above the city of Leh, while listening to the resident caretaker monks chant their morning prayers.
Geshe Lobsang at the Jamyang School
The West can learn a lot from Tibetan and Ladakhi culture. The people, from carpenters to highly educated monks, emanate this incredible sense of peace and well-being -- and man you should hear them laugh!
Dalai Lama’s birthday celebration
The Dalai Lama has a summer retreat in Ladakh, and even though he wasn’t there for his 77th birthday, a large group of Ladakhis and Tibetan refugees got together for a three-day party, camping in the large field next to His Holiness's humble house, which was opened to the public.
Confluence of the Indus and Zanskar Rivers
The Zanskar river valley is one of the most remote and beautiful places I’ve ever been.
Monks at the Likir Monastery during a summer puja
Coming from all over the region, monks gathered at the Likir Monastery for three days of prayer and mediation. You could feel the immense wisdom and knowledge present as they all sat together.Intermission
From the top
The view from the top of Likir Monastery.
Recycled greenhouse
Working with the Jamyang School, I helped build this greenhouse using discarded water bottles, the first of its kind in India! It was an amazing project to be a part of, and the kids were psyched on the results.
Distance
A moment of quiet reflection high in the mountains at the Rizong Monastery, which means "Mountain Haven" in the local dialect.
Teatime in Ladakh
After a long day of trekking, a cup of delicious mint tea -- or, if you’re feeling up for it, yak butter tea -- is just what you need.
Passage
The roads in Ladakh are sketchy at best, and fall victim to landslides, avalanches, and floods often.
Lamayuru
Lamayuru Monastery, the oldest in Ladakh. Yogis were meditating and preforming miracles in the caves on the cliff face where the monastery now stands over 1,000 years ago.Travelers Stoked on this Gallery
Kitt Doucette
A self-described jack-of-all-trades, master of none, Kitt Doucette is a renaissance man with unyielding positivity. Groomed in the mountains of Idaho, he revels in exploration and new experiences, striving to keep his life in a permanent state of adventure. Kitt is a life long skier and kayaker, enthusiastic surfer and award-winning journalist whose work has been published in Rolling Stone, Men’s Journal and Dossier, among others. A passionate environmentalist, Kitt uses his media savvy to create powerful messages with hopes of igniting change. His recent work on plastic pollution was nominated for the prestigious Grantham Prize for environmental journalism and syndicated internationally in Rolling Stone magazine. When not tracking polar bears in Norway, surfing empty waves in Indonesia or sipping coffee in Central America, Kitt can be found busting out signature dance moves at wedding receptions throughout the American West.
I’m heading to India next year and this has convinced me to make Ladakh a must-see. Cheers, Kitt!
Great stuff Kitt!
Going to Ladakh makes you realize how biased nature can be. Ladakh is the land of opposite. Desserts, Rivers, Arid Mountains, Snow clad Mountains, Greenery all combined in one. Here’s a picture that I took in Nubhra Valley: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151094839139911&set=a.10151094810694911.460149.847434910&type=3&theater.
Supriya Thyagarajan #8 #10 #15 —-
Loved reading about Ladakh- especially the plastic bottle greenhouse for the monks! xox