Northern India

Kashmir is in the Northwestern region of India. It's an area with rich fertile agricultural valleys and snow-clad mountains. Kashmir borders Afghanistan, Pakistan and China. 

   The locations for my photos in Kashmir were Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Martand. I have seen many changes from 1973 to 2012. In 1973 it was a quiet peaceful area with rich agricultural fields and small villages. As the population grew the people began building houses and shops along the roadsides and have encroached on the agricultural areas. On my last trip there I saw many large houses that were at least 5,000 square feet, so there is a lot wealth in the area.   

   The Lehi/Ladakh area is now known as the Leh District and is unlike any other part of India. It's a Buddhist area and has many monasteries throughout the area. The largest is the Hemis Monastery. 

   The Hemis festival takes place in June/July and is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche.) The monks ware colorful costumes, masks and dance to music played by musicians to traditional Tibetan music with four pairs of cymbals, large pan drums, 5 small trumpets and large size wind instruments. 

   Leh is 11,500 ft / 3524 m above sea level and you must give yourself a few extra days to acclimatize before you climb the steps to the monasteries. It's my recommendation to start your journey in Srinagar as its 6,600 feet above sea level. Stay there for three nights then drive to Leh with an overnight stop along the way. Rest for one day in Leh then drive to the Nubra Valley. You will pass over Khardung La pass at 18, 380 ft / 5606 m then to the Nubra valley. The Diskit and Samtenling monasteries are the main ones to see. When you return to Leh you should be acclimatized to visit the Leh Palace & Monastery, Thiksey, Shey, Thesey and Hemis Monasteries. I highly recommend The Hotel Royal in Leh. 

   The Nubra Valley is about 93 miles (150 km) north of Leh, India. The Shyok River meets the Nubra or Siachan River to form a large valley that separates the Ladakh and the Karakoram Ranges. The average altitude of the valley is about 10,000 ft. / 3048 meters above sea level. 

   Like the rest of Ladakh the Nubra valley is a high desert with rare precipitation and scant vegetation except along river beds, and on high slopes. The villages are irrigated and very fertile, producing wheat, barley, peas, mustard, for oil and a variety of fruits. Most of the Nubra Valley is inhabited by Ladakhis who speak Ladakhi; the majority of them are Buddhist.

   Nagakot is a village about 32 km east of Katmandu, Nepal in the Bhaktapur District. The elevation is 2,195 meters, it is considered one of the most scenic spots in the Bhaktapur District. Its renowned for its sunrise views of the Himalayas including Mt. Everest as well as other snowcapped peaks of the Himalayan range of Eastern Nepal.

    Darjeeling is a city in the Indian State of West Bengal and was a part of Nepal until the British took it from Nepal under their rule in India. It's internationally known as a tourist area with beautiful tea plantations and monasteries in the area. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railroad connects Darjeeling (6,812 ft. / 2011 meters) with Siliguri (600 ft. / 183 meters) it has 919 curves, 556 bridges, 3 loops and 5 Z sections.

   I did a trek from Darjeeling to Kalimpong, it's a great way to meet local people and visit the tea plantations. My trek took me to the Peshok Tea Plantation and the Bhutia Busty Monastery along the way to Kalimpong. I highly recommend hiring a guide which will help you navigate the trails.