offbeat travel Archives · SandeepaChetan's Travel Blog

Post Tagged with: "offbeat travel"

Cha village seen at a distance surrounded by the green farms with a rickety wooden bridge over river Lungnak to cross over to Purne is a homestay option for the first night halt on the trek to the remote and isolated Phuktal or Phugtal monastery or gompa passing through a deep gorge or ravine formed by the Lungnak, a tributary of the Indus river between the brown, golden and barren Greater Himalayan and Zanskar mountain ranges in the offbeat Zanskar valley in Jammu and Kashmir in North India.

Trek to Phuktal Monastery in Zanskar, India.

January 9, 2014 in India, trekking, Zanskar 80 comments

Zanskar valley, in the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir, is probably the most isolated valley in India and Phuktal is amongst the most remote places in Zanskar. A few hours of drive from Padum, the biggest town in Zanskar, brought us to the “end of the road”. After this, a compulsory […]

Dudhsagar waterfall on the border of Goa and Karnataka in India are four tiered waterfalls resembling a cascading fall of milk.

A guide to visit the majestic Dudhsagar waterfalls in Goa

August 4, 2014 in Goa, India, Karnataka 60 comments

In the last few years, the Dudhsagar waterfalls have become a popular weekend destination, especially for those travelling from cities like Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore (all thanks to a certain Bollywood movie). Most tourists to Goa these days make the Dudhsagar waterfalls a part of their itinerary for Goa. Because […]

Lamayuru is a small village 100 km before Leh on the Srinagar-Leh highway. Its claim to fame is the moonlike landscape surrounding Lamayuru. So much so, that Lamayuru and moonland have become synonymous. They even have guest houses named Moonland in Lamayuru! The best view of this "moonland"; is from the top of the meditation hill in Lamayuru. As you get to the top and proceed to the edge, a surreal landscape awaits you!

Lamayuru, the moonland of Ladakh

October 10, 2014 in India, Ladakh 31 comments

“Where can we find moonland?” “It’s right behind this hillock.” That’s a normal conversation in Lamayuru! Lamayuru is a small village in Ladakh, midway between Kargil and Leh on NH1-D, the Srinagar-Leh highway. Moonlike landscapes carved into the Greater Himalayas are its claim to fame. Mountain pass of Fotu la […]

Guide for offbeat travel to Kashmir

May 30, 2017 in India, Kashmir 48 comments

Or a guide to alternative travel to Kashmir. Where can you go other than Srinagar, Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam when you travel to Kashmir? We spent almost 6 weeks travelling in the Kashmir valley, using the local Tata Sumo jeeps to places totally-off-the-tourist-trail. Travelling in public transport helped us connect […]

Monks wear masks symbolising Gods and demons and perform a dance called Bapa in a trance like motion.

Colourful monastery festivals in Ladakh and Zanskar

March 31, 2016 in India, Zanskar 34 comments

A two-day riot of colour, dance and music, a monastery festival is an important event in the social life of the people of Ladakh and Zanskar. These monastery festivals are the perfect way to build a social camaraderie among the far-flung villages of the high altitude regions – Ladakh and […]

Clouds descend on the pine forest surrounded by the sun-lit golden Himalayas with a stream flowing by in the lush greenery.

Chatpal, an offbeat gem hidden in Kashmir

June 9, 2014 in India, Kashmir, trekking 61 comments

“Feel free to stay as long as you can manage without electricity” was the memo. Chatpal was slated to be touted as mini-Pahalgam. A fully furnished tourist bungalow built by the Jammu and Kashmir tourism department would be all ours. A caretaker would be sent with us. The catch – no electricity. We […]