Family Travel: What to Do in Shivamogga

 Jog Falls

Wikimedia Commons | Source

I once accompanied my friend Ramesh's family to Shivamogga. Myself, Ramesh, his wife Sunanda and their son Raghu reached Shivamogga on a beautiful evening.

Jog Falls

We were having breakfast at 9.00 am the next day. “I don’t like waterfalls,” came the wail when I broke the news that we would be spending the afternoon at Jog Falls.

"We can’t come all the way to Shivamogga, with all these wonders of nature, and not even see a waterfall," I pleaded. "Trust me, it's superb."

So, we headed for Jog Falls, the second highest (253 meters) plunge waterfalls in India. After enjoying breathtaking views of the magnificent waterfall with the family for sometime, I read my book "Designing Destiny - The Heartfulness Way" under a parasol. I was glad to see the three of them enjoying themselves.

Eventually they returned, having had such a good time that Raghu would not sit even for a moment. “I don’t want to leave this place,” came the wail when it was time to go.

Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary

"Is there a bird sanctuary nearby? I love watching birds" said Sunanda. "Ok. Today we'll visit Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary. It's around 32 kilometers from here" said Ramesh.

Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary is an island that spans an area of 1.14 acres. It is surrounded by forest and River Tunga.

We all had an absolute blast at this bird sanctuary, which is home to around 5,000 birds. Views and sounds of many birds and the roaring River Tunga were wonderful. Darters, median egrets, and cormorants were in abundance here.

We could also see maiden egret, pied kingfisher, wooly neck stalk, night herons and open-billed storks. "Oh my God! I could spend all my life on this watch tower" gushed Sunanda. We all enjoyed boating immensely.

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Pool Time

I have never been good at hanging out by the pool, but from the moment we arrived at our hotel Raghu was desperate to spend the whole time there. He spent most of the time in the hotel splashing around the pool.

Sakrebyle Elephant Camp

Raghu loves all animals but his favorite is elephant. Imagine his happiness when he saw many elephants at the Sakrebyle Elephant Camp enjoying snacks and playing in the backwaters.

This forest camp for captive elephants is around 14 kilometers from Shivamogga on the Shimoga-Thirthahalli Road. It is located on the banks of River Tunga.

It was fun to watch elephants spray water on each other. Raghu enjoyed his time at this eco-tourism center very much.

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Tiger and Lion Safari

“Amma, why do you keep saying: ‘Oh, God’?” Raghu asked Sunanda. “And why are you holding me so tight?” "Because I’m so excited," replied Sunanda; she loves wildlife.

We were at the Tyavarekoppa Lion and Tiger Reserve. Located around 10 kilometers from Shivamogga, this wonderful reserve covers an area of around 200 hectares.

It was established to rehabilitate lions and tigers that are rescued from circuses across India. It houses lions, tigers, leopards, sloth bear, deer and many other birds and animals.

"Let's visit a temple," said Sunanda.

Shiva Temple

We were at the Shiva temple at 6.45 pm. Located in Gandhi Bazar, KR Puram, Shivamogga, this beautiful temple not only offers you Darshan of Lord Shiva and serene atmosphere, but also gives you an excellent opportunity to enjoy delicious South Indian food.

Government Museum (Shivappa Nayaka Palace)

"Have you been to the Shivappa Nayaka Palace sir?" asked the receptionist. "Not yet" replied Ramesh. We left for the museum after breakfast.

Named after the popular 17th century king Shivappa Nayaka of the Keladi Nayaka dynasty, this museum is located in K R Puram. This two storied building is built of rosewood.

The museum houses sculptures, inscriptions and hero stones from the Hoysala era and later periods.

5 Beautiful Small Towns in Karnataka

Indian Spotted Deer in Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

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Karnataka is home to many charming small towns that are excellent places to settle down in or for weekend escapes. These wonderful towns offer you enchanting backdrops, alluring shops, historic treasures and much more.

Dandeli

Located in the Uttara Kannada district in the Western Ghats region, this beautiful town is well-known for its jungles, caves and wildlife. River Kali offers an excellent opportunity for river rafting.

The glorious Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is home to a range of flora and fauna. You will find many camps and resorts inside the sanctuary. Camping, kayaking and canoeing are other popular activities here.

Dandeli Tourism

Byndoor

Byndoor is in Udupi district. It is famous for its serene beaches and holy temples. This unique and mesmerizing town has a personality of its own. Gude Mahalingeswara Temple, Sai Vishram Beach Resort, Kubra Masjid, Someshwara Temple and Someshwara Beach are popular tourist attractions in this region.

Byndoor Railway Station

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Horanadu

Located in Chikkamagaluru district, on the banks of river Bhadra, this holy town is surrounded by the beautiful mountains of the Western Ghats. Annapoorneshwari Temple, a fascinating shrine devoted to goddess Annapoorna, is located in this alluring town.

Mahadwara of the Annapoorneshwari Temple

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Horanadu Temple Accommodation

• http://srikshetrahoranadu.com/accommondations/
  

Chikmagalur

This naturally beautiful town is famous for its coffee plantations and Kudremukh National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you like adventures, you can try your hand at rafting in River Bhadra. Mullayanagiri, Kemmanagundi, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Buttermilk Falls are other popular tourist attractions in the region.

Chikmagalur from Bangalore

• Bangalore to Chikmagalur- A Detailed Travel Guide
  

Kapu

Located in Udupi district, Kapu is also known as Kaup. Lighthouse, the three Mariamma temples and Tippu Sultan's fort are major tourist attractions in this region.

Kapu Beach

A Local's Guide to Mysuru

 Ambavilas Palace

Source

Recently I met my childhood friend Vishwajith. We were glad to meet after a long time. During our conversation he told me that he is working as a tour guide in Mysuru. He was born and brought up in Mysuru. After reminiscing about our childhood days he started to speak about his profession and Mysuru. Listening to him, I realized that he knew a lot about Mysuru.

"Vishwa" I said, "I'll interview you about experiences that Mysuru can offer tourists. It will be fun. What do you say?"

"I'm game" replied my friend.

"Tell me how to reach Mysuru?"

"Even though Mysuru has an airport, it is not well-connected by air. However, it is very well-connected by rail and road."

How to Reach Mysore from Bangalore

• https://www.makemytrip.com/travel-guide/mysore/how-to-reach.html
  

"The hill temple is dedicated to which diety?" I asked.

"It is dedicated to goddess Chamundeshwari. It is one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. The 15-feet tall statue of Nandi (bull) is another major attraction in this region. It is located near the 800th step on the hill."

Chamundeshwari Temple

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Mysore Chamundeshwari Temple Sevas

Kumkuma Ashtothara	₹10
Kumkuma Trishathi	₹10
Kumkuma Sahasranama	₹10

For the complete list visit https://templesinindiainfo.com/chamundi-hills-cham...

"Why do so many people go ga ga over Ambavilas Palace?" I asked.

"Ha ha ha ha! Because it deserves all the attention it gets" replied Vishwa. "It is a three storied structure with a 44-meter-tall central tower. It is an excellent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture.

Ambavilas Palace

Source

"Tell me about the zoo. I remember reading somewhere that it houses more than 1,300 animals" I asked.

"Yes it does" replied my friend. "Popularly known as Mysore Zoo, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens covers an area of around 157 acres. Here you will find tigers, lions, jaguars, elephants, giraffes, leopards, rhinos, baboons, crocodiles, hippos, deer and many other animals and birds."

"Experience of Mysuru is incomplete without a visit to Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery. Right Vishwa?" I asked.

"True. The 150-year-old Jaganmohan Palace was converted into an art gallery and named as Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery in 1955 in honor of HH Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar. This art gallery is well-known for its exquisite collection, which includes 16 original paintings by world-renowned painter Raja Ravi Verma" replied Vishwa.

Gold leaf paintings of the Mysore, Bengal and European Schools are displayed in Sri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery.

"Which other place do you suggest?" I asked.

"If you want to experience the culture, language and life of people in Mysuru, I suggest that you visit Devaraja Market. Knitted into the heritage of this unique city, this colorful, noisy and vibrant market is oriented along the Sayyaji Rao Road. Here the business starts well before the sunrise and continues for many hours well after sunset" replied Vishwa.

Devaraja Market Mysore History

• Devaraja Market
  Devaraja Market in Mysore is a must-visit for anyone who visits the city.

"What about Brindavan Gardens?" I asked.

Vishwa said "Oh! That is a piece of heaven on earth. It is not exactly in Mysuru, but in Mandya district. It is around 22 kilometers from Mysuru. It is spread over 60 acres.

Brindavan Gardens is adjoining to the KRS Dam, which is built across River Kaveri. It is famous for its musical fountain, colorful fountains, topiary works, pergolas and gazebos."

Continuing, he said "There are many tourist attractions around Mysuru, including Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Kesava Temple and Ranganathaswamy Temple."

What to Do in Lalbagh?

Appa (which means father), today we will go to the lake first," said my son as we entered Lalbagh, the largest botanical garden in Bengaluru. Covering an area of around 240 acres, Lalbagh is a major tourist attraction in Bengaluru. It is a treat to nature lovers.

Ashy Prinia in Lalbagh

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Hyder Ali, Sultan and de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, commissioned the making of Lalbagh in 1760.

Lalbagh Lake

As we reached the lake, we were welcomed by monkeys and kites. My son was delighted to see ducks swimming with young ducklings in tow. “They are so cute know appa!?” he exclaimed. "Yes" I replied.

This lake covers around 40 acres; maximum depth is around 3.5 meters. It has two islands, which were formed naturally while de-silting the lake. The lake and its surrounding areas are home to a large variety of bird species, including black pelican, white pelican, spot billed pelican, egret, night heron, Indian pond heron, grey heron, purple heron, little cormorant, great cormorant, Indian cormorant, oriental darter, white-breasted kingfisher, brahmini kite, parakeet, cranes, ducks, swans and geese.

Lalbagh Lake Is in the Background of This Video

Lalbagh was originally planned over 30 acres of land here, before Tipu Sultan and the British planned it across the 240 acres that we see today.

— Mansoor Ali, founder, Bengaluru By Foot

Master's Tree

"Shall we go to Master's tree?" asked I. My son gave a thumbs up happily. What we, abhyasis of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, call "Master's tree" is actually a 200-year-old Bombax tree.

Raja Yoga Guru Parthasarathi Rajagopalachari preferred to sit under this tree during his walks in Lalbagh in the 1990s. There is a wonderful positive energy around this tree.

I sat on a bench under the tree and meditated for few minutes while my son was feeding peanuts to a monkey.

Master's Tree

Floral Clock

"Where do we go next?" I asked my son. "Flower clock" he replied enthusiastically. It was not the first time that we were visiting Lalbagh.

My son is familiar with various places of interest in this beautiful garden. In fact we have shot many videos for our YouTube channel "Knowledge & Fun" in this garden.

The 7-meter-wide floral clock was gifted to Lalbagh by Hindustan Machine Tools in 1983. It uses an electronic oscillator regulated by a quartz crystal to keep time.

"Appa, aren't they cute"? Asked my son pointing at the statues of Snow White and Seven Dwarfs placed around the clock. I nodded with a smile.

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A Video that We Shot in Lalbagh

The floral clock is always a must-visit in Lalbagh. I still remember the initial days when the clock was set up and people used to come in hordes to see the marvel. Those were not the smartphone, WhatsApp days. The word quickly got around and it was a topic of discussion among students who would rush to Lalbagh during weekends and holidays to see the clock. I hope the clock starts ticking again soon.

— Subramanya, an old-time visitor to Lalbagh

Glass House

Our next destination was Glass House, an excellent artistic structure in Lalbagh. Me and my son started walking towards it, enjoying our churmuri, a popular local street food item which I had bought from a vendor.

Built in the year 1890, Glass House was inspired by London's Crystal Palace. It is the center of attraction during the flower shows held around 26th January (Republic Day) and 15th August (Independence Day) every year in Lalbagh.

On these occasions more than 350 varieties of flowers are displayed decoratively enough to attract attention of tourists from all parts of the world.

Glass House Bangalore

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Inside the Glass House During the Flower Show

Kempegowda Tower

"Shall we climb the hillock now?" I asked my son. He started running joyfully towards the Kempegowda Tower, which is on top of a huge rock in Lalbagh.

This watch tower was built by Kempegowda II 1597 to mark the limit to which he had predicted Bengaluru would expand in course of time. It is another matter that the city has now grown beyond his expectations.

This well-maintained artistic structure stands on a stretch of rock known as peninsular gneiss, which is 3,000 million years old. Me and my boy sat on the rock near the tower, enjoying the breathtaking views of the city while munching on roasted corn laced with red chilly powder, salt and lemon.

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Kempegowda Tower Wikipedia

• Kempe Gowda Four Towers
  

Bonsai Garden

"Shall we go and say "Hi" to our little friends appa?" asked my son. I understood that he was referring to the bonsai garden. I nodded and said "Sure." Covering an area of around 2.5 acres, the bonsai garden in Lalbagh is home to more than 700 bonsai plants aged between 5 and 35 years.

We ended our trip to Lalbagh by exiting through the K H Road gate.

Five Can’t-Miss Experiences in Karnataka

Karnataka is an amazing all-rounder. Bengaluru enchants you with its beautiful gardens and amusement parks. National parks (like the famous Bandipur National Park) house endangered species like tigers and elephants. There is a religious aspect to Karnataka as well: many pilgrimage sites attract streams of devotees to this South Indian state. 

Lalbagh

Located in Bengaluru, this beautiful botanical garden is an internationally renowned center for botanical artwork, scientific study of plants and conservation of plants.

What was started as a 40-acre garden by Hyder Ali is today a world famous garden that covers an area of around 240 acres.

In addition to indigenous plants, rare plants from Iran, Afghanistan, France and other nations, this large garden has a completely carbonised trunk of a 20 million year-old coniferous tree, which was brought from Tamil Nadu.

A Bird in Lalbagh

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Lalbagh Bangalore Timings

6.00 am to 6.00 pm on all days of the week.

Wonderla

This amusement park offers you roller coasters, ferris wheel, water rides, virtual reality experiences and more. This world of breath-taking charm is located in Bengaluru. While here, don't miss Recoil, Maverick, Y-Scream, and Mission interstellar. These rides are very popular among visitors.

Wonderla Timings

• Normal Season Weekdays: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Normal Season Weekends/Holidays: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Peak Season : 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
• Water Park Timings on Normal Season Weekdays : 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM
• Water Park Timings on Peak Season and Normal Season Weekends/Holidays : 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Bandipur National Park

Located in Chamarajanagar District, this national park covers an area of around 874 square kilometers. This well-managed national park is surrounded by the mountains of the Western Ghats.

Source

Murdeshwar

Located in Uttara Kannada district, this town is famous for the 123-feet-tall statue of Shiva. Murdeshwar temple is another popular tourist attraction in this beautiful coastal town. The gopura of this temple has 20 stories.

Ambavilas Palace

This magnificent palace, which is the official residence of the Wodeyars, is a treat to history buffs. It is located at the heart of Mysuru city. Also known as Mysore Palace, this three storied structure has a 44 meter central tower. It was built in Indo-Saracenic architecture in the 19th century.

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Mind Blowing Facts About Karnataka

Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha in Bengeri is the only unit in India that is authorized to manufacture and supply the Indian national flag.
Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill still figures on the list of defaulters of the Bangalore Club.
R.K. Narayan’s fictional Malgudi town was named after Malleswaram and Basavanagudi, two localities in Bengaluru.

Top 5 Heritage Hotels in Karnataka

 Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel

Wikimedia Commons

History and heritage are scattered all over Karnataka. Some hotels in this South Indian state reflect its rich heritage. Some royal mansions have been converted to heritage hotels. These hotels are ideal if you are seeking glamorous staycation.

Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel

Located in Mysuru, the city of palaces, this excellent palace-turned-heritage-hotel exudes an old-world charm.

Built in 1921, this architectural masterpiece was designed to be similar to the St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

It has hosted national and international celebrities for over four decades.

Wikimedia Commons | Source

Shiv Vilas Palace

This exquisite palace-turned-luxury-hotel is located in Sandur near the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hampi. It covers around 20 acres. Your stay in this palace and its lush green resort is sure to be a memorable experience.

Royal Orchid Metropole

This upscale 1920 hotel is located in Mysuru. Spread over 2.5 acres, it is a perfect blend of old world charm and modern elegant design. This 30-room hotel is recognized as a Grand Heritage Hotel.

Perfect hotel for business stay in Mysore. Clean air, good ambience, spacious and well appointed rooms. The breakfast spread was extensive and tasty. Very satisfied with the stay and would recommend everyone to stay here once and experience luxury.

— Vijay Mhapsekar

Nehru Nilaya

This heritage hotel is located on top of Nandi Hills. It offers modest rooms, suites, cottages and patios. Built in British architecture, it was the summer retreat of Sir Mark Cubbon, who was the British Commissioner of Mysore state in the 1830s.

Wikimedia Commons | Source

Vajra Heritage

This heritage hotel is located in Rajaji Nagar, Bengaluru. It is well-known for its cleanliness and service.

Top 20 Indian Destinations for Solo Female Travelers

 Lake Pichola in Udaipur

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Solo travel gives you many opportunities for self- reflection. India offers amazing destinations for solo female travelers. Here are some of them. 

SRCM Meditation Center

Located in Chennai, this wonderful meditation center attracts visitors from all over the world. Stepping into this place is like crossing the threshold into another world.

Here you can learn techniques to relax, rejuvenate and to realize your true potential. Meditation is the main activity in this wonderful place. You need not pay anything to learn meditation here.

SRCM Heartfulness Meditation Centre

Amer Fort

Located in Jaipur, Rajasthan, this fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 16th century fort is located on Cheel Ka Teela on Aravalli hills. It was built by Maan Singh, a trusted general of Akbar.

Amer Fort Timing

10.00 am to 5.00 pm daily.

Cavelossim Beach

This beautiful beach is in between the Arabian Sea and River Sal. It is well-known for its black rocks, white sand and beach shacks. It is around 15 kilometers south of Margao.

Cavelossim Beach Shacks

Dom's Beach Shack, Sam's Beach ShackShack and Q-BA Beach shack are popular beach shacks in this region.

Kanha Shanti Vanam

Located in the suburbs of Hyderabad, near the Bangalore highway, Kanha Shanti Vanam is magnificent in its conception and design.

Great Raja Yoga Master Daaji resides here. Daaji is leading thousands of seekers onto the path of self-discovery through meditation and other simple techniques.

Kanha Shanti Vanam Images

Kovalam

This breathtakingly beautiful small coastal town is in Kerala. It is famous for its three curve shaped beaches, which offer many leisure options including sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes and catamaran cruising.

Kovalam Leela

Officially known as The Leela Kovalam, this is the only cliff-top beach resort in India.

Nainital

This beautiful Himalayan town (elevation: around 2,000 meters) is in Uttarakhand. It is a popular hill station. This glittering jewel in the Himalyan necklace is famous for its scenic natural spledour and many natural resources.

Rishikesh

Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, this holy city is famous for its temples and ashrams. Ever since the Beatles rocked up at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Ashram in the late 1960s, this unique city has been a magnet for spiritual seekers.

Lake Pichola

This beautiful artificial fresh water lake (maximum depth: 8.5 meters) is in Udaipur. Created in 1362 CE by Pichhu Banjara, it is the oldest lake in Udaipur. This picturesque lake is famous for its island palaces. The City Palace complex, including the gardens at its southern end, extends nearly 1 kilometer along the lake’s eastern shore.

Lake Pichola Boat Ride Charges

	Adult	Child
Regular Boat Ride	₹300	₹150
Sunset Boat Ride	₹500	₹200

Ambavilas Palace

Also known as Mysore Palace, this popular tourist attraction in Mysuru is famous for its various exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. It is the official residence of the Wodeyars, the kings who ruled Mysuru between 1399 and 1950.

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Located at No. 9, Near Junction of Manakula Vinayagar, Kovil Street and Marine Street, White Town, Puducherry, 605002, this ashram was founded by philosopher, yogi, guru, poet, and nationalist. Sri Aurobindo in 1926. It is a vibrant centre of life in a modern urban setting.

Thoseghar Waterfalls

This scenic spot is a popular tourist attraction in Maharashtra. It is located near Thoseghar, around 20 kilometers from Satara.

This 500-m-waterfall is a seasonal waterfall, so it is advisable to plan your trip between July and October.

Bodh Gaya

Located in Bihar, this village is a Buddhist pilgrimage site. It is famous for the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, which was built to mark the place where prince Siddhārtha Gautama attained enlightenment under a Bodhi Tree. This is where he became Buddha (the 'Awakened One') 2,600 years ago.

Wikimedia Commons | Source

Mandarmani

This beautiful seaside resort village is in East Midnapore district, West Bengal. Some locals told me that the Mandarmani Beach is the longest motorable beach.

Kasol

This hamlet is in Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh, on the banks of the Parvati River, in Parvati Valley. Kheerganga Trek, Tosh, Malana, Rasol, Chalal, Parvati Pin Pass, Sar Pass Trek, and Manikaran Gurudwara are some popular places to visit in and around Kasol. Trekking, camping and stargazing are popular activities in this region.

Majoli

Also known as Mājuli, this island is the biggest river island in the world. The island is formed by River Brahmaputra in the south and the Kherkutia Xuti (an anabranch of the Brahmaputra) joined by the River Subansiri in the north.

Shimla

Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, this beautiful city is surrounded by snow-capped Himalayan peaks and green pastures. Traffic is banned from the central part of the city. This is what I like most about Shimla.

Packing List for Female Travellers

Travel line
Diva cup
Microfiber towel
Packing cubes
Sarong
Sleeping bag liner
Headlamp
Lock
Personal safety alarm
Hanging toiletry bag
First aid kit

Varkala Beach

This stunning beach is in Kerala. It is backed by palm-covered red cliffs. Some restaurants here play innocuous world music. There are stalls that sell T-shirts and silver jewellery.

Kaziranga National Park

This protected area is home to various animals including tigers, Indian one-horned rhinos and elephants. This park houses two-thirds of the world's Indian one-horned rhinos. This UNESCO world heritage site is located in Assam.

Hampi

This ancient town is in Karnataka. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Magnificent ruins (from the Vijayanagara Empire) of this unique town dot an unearthly landscape that has captivated travellers for centuries.

Ladakh

This Buddhist ex-kingdom is in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh means land of high passes. It is 11,400 feet above sea level. Even though it is a land of jagged peaks and barren landscape, it is alluring and awe-inspiring.

Aerial View of Ladakh

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