Tso Moriri Blues - Hiking the entire length of Ladakh's Stunning Lake
Monday, February 26, 2018
Moonrise over the many glacial streams that feed Tso Moriri
Sitting alone in silence on a mound overlooking the staggering blue waters of Tso Moriri, while the cold mountain winds froze my face in the searing afternoon heat of high altitude, it felt like life came full circle. Five years before this moment, I was standing at that very same spot where the jeep track ended then, wondering how it might be to walk all the way till the blue lake disappeared at the far horizon where none seemed to want to go. With neither time nor information in hand at that time, I turned back and drove towards another adventure, Tso Moriri to Pangong Lake via Chushul following a wonderfully uncommon route. But who could’ve guessed that the universe was conspiring to make my unspoken (and even forgotten) desire come true? Five years later, I had just hiked from that far horizon where the blue disappeared to reach the said mound, finishing what I had unwittingly started.
Our tents in the designated camping area by the southern end of Tso Moriri, in a campsite aptly named Kiangdom.
Tso Moriri is a brackish water lake situated at a daunting altitude of 4500m in one of the most spectacular regions of Ladakh, the Changthang plateau. Sparsely populated and in a remote corner of the country, Changthang Plateau epitomizes the best of Ladakh’s charm – an awe-inspiring landscape peppered with deep blue lakes, vast plains bound by soaring mountains, home to nomadic tribes who live off the land and a haven for unusual flora and fauna. The cynosure of all eyes in this wonderland is surely Tso Moriri, a vast ink blue blot on the barren landscape of Changthang.
Measuring just over 22kms from north to south and at least 3kms at its widest point, Tso Moriri is barely a fraction of the size of the neighbouring behemoth that is Pangong Tso (135Kms). But what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in unparalleled views. The cherry on top happens to be the unbelievably green marshes and grasslands that dot the boundary on the northern and southern ends of the lake. As if a dash of cobalt blue between earthy browns wasn’t enough to electrify the senses, a splash of green is thrown in that instantly elevates Tso Moriri from yet other high-altitude Himalayan lake to a unique wetland conservation site. It was this exact reason that drew me to undertake the Parang La Trek from Spiti to Ladakh one summer.
Kiangs, Tibetan Wild Asses, galloping in the grasslands beneath a looming Gya Peak
Bar Headed Geese, one of the many rare migratory birds seen at Tso Moriri
Every time I’ve returned to Ladakh, I’ve only ever wanted to go boldly where no Ladakh Tour Packages go. So I was quite happy to reach Tso Moriri is the most unusual way. Parang La was a brutally long trek that required us to stay at altitudes in excess of 4500m consistently for more than a week and cross a 5600m high snow-covered pass. When crossing the furious Pare Chu(River) for the last time, it had already been the seventh day on the hike and fourth since we crossed the pass. The reward of the tribulation was Tso Moriri. It beckoned like a gleaming beacon of hope. Crossing the river meant we had officially crossed the Himachal state boundary and entered Changthang in J&K and the drastic change in scenery was palpable. The thirsty landscape immediately changed from unforgiving soil and stone to a thriving expanse of green marshes peppered with pools of water where flowers grew. There were larger ponds in the distance where flocks of birds swam and flew over.
Crossing several small streams that braided their way through the narrow valley to drain into the lake’s southern end, we had finally arrived at the grasslands of Tso Moriri. Our campsite for the next two nights at the edge of the lake was aptly named Kiangdom(or Kyangdom) – an allusion to the fact that this was the kingdom of Kiangs (Tibetan Wild Asses). I wandered about while curious Marmots and Kiangs examined me from safe distances but the several flocks of Bar-headed geese couldn’t be bothered, they snubbed me royally. Despite that, after 9 days of having seen no greenery, the grasslands bustling with life were a sight for the sore eyes.
The gentle bulges of Chamsher and Lunsger Kangri peaks seen on the other side of Tso Moriri
The world was beautiful once again. The sunsets were gorgeous and the sunrises breathtaking; as was the moonrise in this secluded corner. This vision of Tso Moriri, far away from any hint of civilization was paradise epitomized. The next morning, the ninth since we started trekking, it was time to wash the dust off our shoes and bodies. It was time to return to civilization. Korzok, the only village located by the lakeside was a good 20kms away near the northern end of the lake. So began our long, never-ending trudge by the side of a turquoise dream.
The walk was strangely both mind numbing and mind blowing at once. Mind numbing because it really felt like work done was equal to zero. Flanked by the omniscient Chamsher(6620 metres) and Lungser(6665 metres) Kangri on the east, Mentok Kangri(6250 metres) on the west and the imposing Gya Peak(6794 meters) of Himachal Pradesh on the far south, the setting is already quite lofty and remarkable. But when you are just a speck in a site this expansive, neither the lake nor the mountains seem to change position perceptibly. It gave an impression that I got nowhere despite walking for hours at a stretch.
On the other hand, it was mind blowing to be walking along the shores of the one of the most beautiful lakes surrounded by massive mountains, in such palpable solitude where one may be forgiven to truly believe they were the sole witness and audience to the whimsies of the blue waters. The occasional clusters of small bushes with yellow flowers breaking the maddening tedium of a monotonous walk brought on a special kind of childish joy in me. It was a bunch of flowers in the desert after all! When the scenery changed intermittently, whether the sudden appearance of desert vegetation¬ or the sudden awareness of how clear the waters beside me were, the mind was always justifiably tickled. The entire hike from Kyangdom to Korzok was a constant battle between wonder and languor.
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The barren and slightly monotonous hiking trail from Kiangdom to Korzok
Heaps of Mani Stones by the lake side
One of the great joys of tedious walking is that the mind wanders. On a hike like this, there’s little danger that one would trip and fall off a mountain. Jagged edges have no place in Changthang’s landscape, neither precarious slopes nor rocky outcrops. It is all mostly flat and well rounded; there is no roughness to the edges around here. So I could actually let my mind wander while my feet moved on autopilot mode. Even though the heat and dust made it feel like I was walking in the plains of south India on a hot summer day, I drifted into a rare kind of unencumbered state of mind where neither the din of buzzing civilization nor the worry of brutal nature weighed me down.
Perhaps it is acceptable that after 9 days of hiking in arid mountains where colors were a constant throughout, I was slightly numb to the beauty that surrounded me. Korzok couldn’t come sooner; it represented freedom from dust above everything else. After hours of feeling like I was stuck in a time loop walking on the same stretch, piles of Mani stones with Tibetan prayers etched on them appeared as cairns and haphazardly thrown heaps extending well into the water. A distant mound with prayer flags appeared on the horizon too. In the high-altitudes, our grasp of time and distance, both stretch considerably. It was a long time before I reached the mound.
Korzok village, the only permanently inhabited settlement situated on the northwestern side of the lake
The inescapable beauty of Gya Peak situated at the tri-junction of Himachal, Ladakh and Tibet, as seen from Tso Moriri
Several Cairns were piled atop that mound. Gya Peak looked calm and resolute behind me and the mirage of Korzok was ahead of me. The end was nigh. It was then that gratitude washed over me. It was the exact same spot I stood five years ago wondering what lay ahead. Only this time I knew the answer. At times, life does come full circle!
Travel Advisory:
I did this hike as part of the 10-day Parang La Trek from Kibber to Korzok. The entire distance from one end of Tso Moriri to the other end lengthwise is 20kms at least and took me about 8-9 hours. The altitude is above 4500m and there is neither shelter nor water source along the way. The temperatures can be deceptive in Changthang. While the afternoons may max out at 35°C, the nighttime temperatures can go well below freezing in the same day. The hike is best attempted only after sufficient and proper altitude acclimatization.
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12 comments
Wonderful post; the photos are rad as usual!
ReplyDeleteYour writing inspires me to travel and write, Neelima! You have a gift for making the landscape alive with your words. Thank you for sharing your stories with us.
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It was awesome experience reading your blog. Keep sharing such amazig experiences of yours.
ReplyDeleteVisiting the Ladakh is like living a dream. It is in the top list of most of the travelers. Your blog describes how mesmerizing and wonderful experience one can get there.
ReplyDeleteLove the way u have described the trek, seems i get one addition to my bucket list
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ReplyDeleteI read your blog and love it.
Keep sharing such experiences.
I've always seen the pics of Ladhak in day time and it was so awesome because my cousin brother always visits there once a year but your first pic of moonrising over the glacier gives me the goosebumps that how awesome it looks at night. This time I surely convince my parents to go with them to Ladhak. Please check our blog too on travel blogs
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ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing..
Great POST, it is showing beautiful ladakh...keep sharing
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sushmita kapoor
Great post really showing the beauty of Ladakh.Stunning picture of beautiful environment of Ladakh.
ReplyDeleteA great place indeed! I love how you perfectly captured these photos!
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