Some of the Most Beautiful Lakes I have Seen in India

Two things prompted this post. One, a beautiful post on water bodies by Arun. Then we were discussing Lansdowne at Indiamike. We started discussing Bhulla Tal (Lake), a man made lake.Shashank and I were of the view that this Tal is not out of the ordinary. That is when I started thinking of the really beautiful lakes (all high altitude) I have seen in India.

Bhulla Tal, Lansdowne, Uttrakhand

Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh

Obviously one such lake is Prashar Lake and you have seen better pictures of it taken by Anil on my blog.

Changu Lake with Yak in Sikkim

This is Changu Lake in Sikkim. I clicked this picture on the way to Nathu-La and while coming back the fog was so thick the lake was not at all visible.

Dhankar Lake, Spiti

I got lucky when I took this picture in Dhankar, Spiti. It was 9.30-10 in the morning and there were a lot of clouds in the sky. But for a moment the sun came out and I got this perfect reflection.

Pangong Lake, Ladakh

Pangong Lake is such a beauty. This is one place that is even more beautiful than this picture suggests and Ladakh remains one of my all time favorite destinations.

More Pictures from Ladakh

Yellow Flowers- Blooming in the Cracks, Ladakh

This picture was taken near Ganda-La base, when we were trying to trek the Markha Valley. I am partial to flowers and these two caught the eye all the more because of the bleak surroundings.

Sunset at Leh, Ladakh

This picture was taken from a height while the sun was going down. Now sitting in the concrete jungle of New Delhi this looks so exotic.

Kids at Pangong Lake, Ladakh

I met these two kids at the Pangong Lake. They posed for me quite willingly. I wish, we were closer to the lake when I took this photograph.

Spitok, Ladakh

The picture below is another one of my favorites and this was taken near Spitok, after we returned from our aborted trek. This is the viewfrom the tea stall where we sat to have a cup and wait for our pickup van to arrive.

The People of Ladakh: Toni and my Husband pose for me

Pangong Lake, Ladakh

What I enjoyed most in Ladakh was the conversations with the locals, when it happened. My husband was buying a second hand 'down' jacket. He asked the shopkeeper, "Mein kaise maan lun ki ye down hai?" (How do I believe you it is actually down). The shopkeeper's reply still rings in my ears. He said, "Mere paas kuch he aur din hai fir upar jana hai, mein aapko dokha kyon dunga?" (I have only a few days left here then I have to go from this world, why I will cheat you). Can't remember when I heard such a conversation in my daily life!

The name of our young driver on the trip from Leh to the Pangong Lake was a Toni (In the picture above, with goggles). He has a colorful personality and he drove the jeep like a rally driver. I wonder why nobody things of training these chaps for F1, no seriously. But behind the colorful personality is an extremely composed mind.

He was telling me he takes the jeep from Leh to Manali and they have to come back empty, because from there Himanchal Pradesh drivers come full (and they go back empty from Leh). So I asked him why doesn't he gets some passengers and take the money, on the way back (tourists know that JK number vehicles will take them for less if they are somehow approached). He said, "Jeep wala naa bhi dekhe tou kya, uparwala tou dekhta hai" (Even though the jeep owner may not know, but the One sitting above can see). I was completely taken aback.

Now that I am back to my usual grind, I thought I should write this down, before I forget.

A View of the Pangong Lake in Ladakh, India

Pangong Lake, Ladakh

The Pangong lake is 150 km away from Leh. One has to hire a taxi (preferably shared, as it reduces the cost) for this journey. One the way one crosses the mighty Changla pass, the second highest motor able road in the world at 17800 feet. The lake forms a border between India and China. One third of the lake is in India and the rest in China.

I can only wonder how the other lake in Ladakh , Tso Mo Ri Ri would be like? I could not visit it but I will go back someday.