We recently concluded our 2014 edition of our and highly successful photography tour to capture the snow-filled winter landscapes of Ladakh. This land of high passes wears a completely new look in the winter months. The lakes freeze over and their surface morphs into a solid plane of glass in which you can peek into pretty air bubbles and incredible crystalline formations. The mountain surface, which remains brown in the summer months transforms into alternating palettes of white and brown.
Every winter, we conduct a photography tour to see and capture the glorious landscapes of Ladakh. This is perhaps India’s ultimate landscape photography experience. Travel to the highlands of Ladakh in winter, when Ladakh is at its pristine best — with its snow-clad mountain landscapes, frozen lakes, resilient nomads with their herds of sheep and yaks and endless fields of snow. Explore photography on the roof of India on this mentored photography tour in a season when the earth is covered in a carpet of snow. See details and sign up today: A Snow-filled Ladakh in Winter — Photography Tour
When there is good precipitation, entire earth appears white with foot-high snow. The views are magical, despite the cold harsh weather. But even in this weather, life continues to flourish. People of Ladakh, who are used to these climates, continue to live their everyday lives. The sheep and yak they herd in the high mountains continue to forage on tiny grass blades, now dry and brown and sometimes buried under snow. The sky is purest and bluest at its best on the days when it is not snowing. The rivers are deep blue, reflecting the mood of the sky with a creamy-looking frozen layer on either edges. Its a land of beauty that will fill your sense, and at the same time leave you yearning for more of it! Here is a collection of images of Ladakh from winter, some of them made during the photography tour last week and some a year before.
Click on the images to see them large
A journey to the land of high passes begins from an even higher plane. In the winter months, all roads leading to Ladakh are buried in snow. Only way to get there is to fly in. The roads within Ladakh, however, are kept open all through the winter by venerable Border Roads Organization. Here is a view of sunrise over the high mountains, as seen from the aircraft.
On a good, snowy year, the entire landscape turns white while the vegetation that is green in summer months morphs into different shades of brown.
The waterbodies – lakes and rivers across Ladakh freeze completely as the temperature dips well below zero. In some places, it goes down to 25 below zero and even colder!
And of course, the cold weather means everyone is completely covered up!
A view of frozen Tso Moriri Lake that almost appears like glass with a lot of patterns!
Air bubbles form fascinating patterns beneath the surface of the frozen lake!
Shanti Stupa, the most well-known landmark in Leh during sunset, with a sprinkle of snow on the ground.
Driving through the high passes… 
Sheep graze on the now-dried up summer’s grass. Life goes on in the highlands of Changthang Plateau in western Ladakh, no matter how the weather is. 
…and horses too 
…and as the day is about to end, it is time to go home. 
In the villages, there isn’t much work to do in winter months. The busy farming days end after summer, and children have plenty of free time after school.
Women walk on the snow-filled slopes, prayer wheels in hand. On summer days, they would be busy working in the fields tending the only crop they can grow during the year. 
The first views of a frozen Pangong Lake, with snow sprinkled on the mountains around it. 
A photographer attempts to capture the beauty of a frozen Pangong Lake. 
Driving past the frozen Pangong Lake. 
A frozen Pangong Lake. 
A frozen Indus River reflects the beauty of the snowy mountains. 
The resident wildlife–kinag or Tibetan Wild Ass–are equally home in these landscapes summer as well as winter months.
Stars shine under a clear winter sky, while the snow-filled peaks of Ladakh are lit by the moonlight. 
Brilliant pattern of icicles formed next to a gently flowing brook. 
Stakna Monastery on a snow-filled slope and a bridge over Indus River. 
Another view of Stakna Monastery and Indus River 
A partially frozen Indus River. 
Another last look from 30,000 feet up in the air
Every winter, we conduct a photography tour to see and capture the glorious landscapes of Ladakh. This is perhaps India’s ultimate landscape photography experience. Travel to the highlands of Ladakh in winter, when Ladakh is at its pristine best — with its snow-clad mountain landscapes, frozen lakes, resilient nomads with their herds of sheep and yaks and endless fields of snow. Explore photography on the roof of India on this mentored photography tour in a season when the earth is covered in a carpet of snow. See details and sign up today: A Snow-filled Ladakh in Winter — Photography Tour
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