Fourteen years ago I went up to Ladakh, in the Northern Indian Himalaya. Crikey, fourteen years! Where did that go?
This is a painting I made in ink and watercolours of an area of the Old Town of Leh, the Main Town of Ladakh. It shows part of a Buddhist shrine, next to another old building. Most of the buildings are a mixture of stone and wood, the wood frequently carved and / or painted.
Although there were quite a few new buildings in the town, the majority of them were old and the whole town had the feel of belonging to another century. I travelled in early April, before most visitors arrive and when Ladakh is still bitterly cold and wintry – certainly overnight. During the day the temperature just sneaked a little above freezing. This meant that I seemed to be the only Westerner there – I certainly don’t remember seeing any others – and I was never hassled by touts of any description, possibly because it was still too early.
But, above all, the people were among the friendliest I have ever met.
Regretfully, I doubt I’ll get another chance to go there, but it is certainly a very special place!
Picture available on my Etsy shop site here
Very beautiful drawing!
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Thank you!
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Great painting, you really are a man of many talents aren’t you? I can’t paint to save my life (or anyone else’s).
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Jack of All Trades and Master of None, many would say, Jonno! But, thanks!
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Absolutely beautiful … I love it.
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Thanks, Katy.
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Even if you can’t get back there again, you have your memories and that lovely painting.
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Lovely drawing I bet that was a fantastic experience
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Thanks. Yes, one of the most remarkable places I have been to.
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I was there nine years ago, feels like forever! It’s a beautiful, rugged landscape…
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Yes, once I’d walked out of Leh it was like a moonscape in places.
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True. The hills seemed painted in places…
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Cool painting. The ink work is especially nice.
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Thanks, Dave. I might try some more, sometime.
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Good one, Mick. I doubt you will like the transformation of the city into a touristy place now. But I hope you do get to visit this unique place.
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I was afraid it might have gone that way. When I was there, the authorities appeared to be attempting to limit the impact of development in all its forms, but that is obviously a herculean task nowadays.
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true. Tourism in Ladakh has grown phenomenally during the last few years
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I suppose I was lucky in going when I did.
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you were!
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14 years is a long time. I am 14 now. The roads back then must have been dangerous. Did you happen to travel to the Nubra valley or to pangong tso?
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No, to neither, sadly.
The roads were…shall we say…interesting…
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They have improved a lot lately due to increasing tourism.
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