Chandigarh to Leh With Milli Moonstone

Known as the roof of the world, Ladakh remains covered with snow for a major part of the year. The paradise on earth located in extreme north of Jammu & Kashmir, thus remains isolated and aloof. Come summers in the plains and Leh too sheds its blankets of snow and metamorphoses to the world’s largest cold desert on the rocky peaks of Himalayas. The versatility in geographical and cultural offerings of this place has been responsible for many different names that are given to Ladakh in the past. Some people call it La-Dags meaning "Land of High Mountain Passes", some call it "Cold Desert in the Skies" and some refer it as “Land of Moon” etc.

Ladakh was not a properly known place a few years back, until some curious foreigners explored it and turned it into a potential tourist spot. The cold deserts of Ladakh became centres of tourist attraction mainly due to its Buddhist culture that breathes here and due to the options of thrilling adventure in this trans-Himalayan region. Amir Khan’s film “Three Idiots” added to the popularity of the place as he chose the Pangong Lake of Ladakh to shoot the climax of the movie.

Keeping in mind the tourist season, the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre (MIMC), Leh, one of the largest NGO working on humanistic, scientific, rational and non-violent principles for the eradication of illiteracy and poverty through providing holistic education for children and adult alike, announces several programmes beginning June 1. The programmes continuing till September 15 includes several 3 day meditation camps. Similarly, the 10-days Vipasna Meditation programmes will begin on June 8 and 22. MIMC founder Bhikkhu Sanghasena, who has just returned from Srilanka, said, “It’s a pity that domestic tourists are not paying attention to this beautiful part of our country, however, foreigners come here in a large numbers. I wish to see more Indians here which not only will lead to spiritual grooming of our countrymen but also help us in developing a more matured society and a better nation, based on one-ness of mankind.”

The MIMC campus, spread in 250 acre land surrounded by high mountains, is popularly known as Devachan. It has a Global Family Home, where all the facilities of food, meditation and lodging are available at a very nominal cost. British singer Milli Moonstone stayed there recently and liked the place very much, “It is a most beautiful place I have seen anywhere ever. Staying and meditating here is bliss.” 

Narvijay Yadav, founder, SpecttrumPR  said, “The trees of apple and apricot were without leaves in April, however the campus is lush green now. You can enjoy the view of snow-clad mountains from Mahabodhi campus. Don’t forget to carry sunscreen lotion with high SPF and some lip balm too, as the sun rays can harm your skin badly.”

The air journey from Delhi takes only 70 minutes, but if you chose to travel by road via Jammu-Srinagar-Kargil route or Manali-Leh road, you will find the scenic beauty mesmerizing. There are three morning flights from Delhi to Leh being managed by GoAir, KingFisher and Air India. Flying planes can be dangerous in the noon or later, thanks to the low density of air in the Himalayan region.