DOCC Diaries: Turtuk, where nature came alive!

We had crossed the white sands of Hunder, driving along the river Shyok, on the endless roads of the vast and mountainous Nubra Valley. It was Kapuria, Raj, Smoky, Rahul, Thakral and me in our Xylo. And we were starting to wonder where in the world this Turtuk was. The terrain in front of us was at odds with the serene picture people had painted in our minds.

The endless roads of Nubra Valley along the river Shyok

The Xyloterians (sans Smoky and Kapuria)

Turtuk is the penultimate town before the de facto LOC. It became Indian in 1971 and was opened for tourism only in 2010. It belongs to an ethnic region known as Baltistan. We were told it is a must-visit. And we heeded popular advice but now were beginning to doubt it. Some of the lunatics among us, namely Kapuria and Rahul, wondered if Turtuk even existed. Just kidding. 


Nonetheless, we stayed true to the course, and after crossing a couple of water bridges and army checkpoints, we started feeling that we were, in fact, getting somewhere. Shyok also suddenly seemed more lively and blue. And we finally reached Turtuk. But I was still waiting to be impressed. It was just an uphill road. But then we came across a wooden footbridge and slowly the little place began to unfold.

The Village!

The unparalleled rustic beauty

Turtuk is a village on a plateau, whose two parts are connected by a footbridge. It a beautiful place with patches of green farms and scores of apricot trees. More you walk across the settlement, the more of the village you see. It is a refreshing terrain we city folk are not used to. It’s just such a wonder to see farms and trees on plateaus with mountain backdrops. We were actually quite early, first week of April. Come June, when the trees reach full bloom with green leaves and apricots, flowers would paint the ground white. That would be some sight. Going around the place doing nothing is pleasurable in itself. And the weather was just lovely.

The inhabitants are Muslim, unlike other parts of Ladakh where people are mostly Buddhist. The people are very helpful and industrious. The women, well, are beautiful. And the kids are just adorable. Their innocent weather beaten faces wondered at the new people in their village. They were camera-shy but some kids did follow us, curious as to what we were up to in the first place. We did eventually get a few pictures.

The Turtuki Kids!

The Polo match!

Our historian guide there was an old man whose ancestors had once been kings of that region. As our homestay rooms was being prepared (we were the first tourists that season), he briefed us on the entire history of Turtuk and the Baltistan region.

The future stars...

It was about 2:00 PM then, when he invited to a seasonal game of Polo! Yes, Polo! And we actually witnessed a match. Horses, helmets, sticks and all. We even placed bets on which team would win but they were subsequently dissolved since we could not make out who scored what. We then roamed around the place posing and clicking. Rahul and I wandered to the Shyok river nearby, throwing flat stones in the running stream. Others went to check out the natural refrigerators made of stone. Actually, if you search, you should be able to buy some utensils and carvings made of stone there!

By the time we returned, our rooms were made cozy and comfortable. The kids nearby were playing their usual evenings games. Some played a dumbed down version of Polo followed by some Cricket (even here!). Smoky and Kapuria tried their hand at Cricket but upon failing miserably were content to posing with bat in hand!

Failing and subsequent posing

Bhayya, ye phool kab ugega? #neverendingQs

Our guide, the ‘raja’, then showed us some of his ancestral belongings at his house. And after some more loitering around, we assembled for dinner. Our host served us basic but tasty food with rice, egg, potatoes and curd. We followed it with a good night’s rest.

Morning views are always great and Turtuk was only better. It was sparkling, serene and full of nature. A place you would wish to seclude yourself away from the interminable urban buzz. But sadly, we had to leave, retracing our way along the banks of Shyok.

If you get a chance to visit Ladakh, do make sure that Turtuk is on the list. It is a visit you will surely cherish. That serenity still lingers in my mind today.

PS: Trips to Turtuk can be planned from Leh itself. It can be easily included in your visit to other places in the Nubra Valley in Ladakh. You’ll get to the valley from Leh by crossing the Khardung La (The World’s Highest Road!). You’ll need an inland permit for these visits, which Indian nationals can procure easily from the District Magistrate in Leh. The stay and dinner at Turtuk cost us 900-1000 per room, each room accommodating three. There is also a hotel called Balti Residency which offers better services. But mostly homestay should do it. When in season, you should have more options. June-September would be the ideal time to visit. Turtuk will be the last point in your journey passing the white desert of Hunder, famous for its double humped camel!

Phoenix Aspire!

So I started this new voyage

Always with that cheerful visage,

All those dreams in my sack

With anticipations on my back

All I expected was a merry sail through

those waters wide and blue,

Least did I know that the simplest gale

would put me decisively off my trail

Dejected and dispirited I trudged back,

bringing back the empty sack,

to the days dry and bare,

stacked only with regular fare

But time filled me with better dreams,

and told me I am more than what seems

That failures renew your vigour,

Elevate your spirit and rigour

So, fully armed, again, I burst

with a renewed and unquenched thirst

Sun on the horizon, I raise the sail

This time I will be there, without fail!

dawn to dusk

unpatient try, modest outcome...

Guess the legendary legend...

 Chalo, picture recognition....for bitsians only, preferably gults.....he recently turned 23......every right answer gets a chocolate*

*chocolate to be bought by answerer for self

PS: mildly inaccurate representation, but the effort counts doesn't it! Picture smudged due to bad storage......

the (sorry)state of affairs....

just like life and peace,
death and danger are always around,
but what affects me is
the rate at which they now abound.
the world has seen a lot,
so have its members,
but damage in the new millennium,
insolently defies numbers.

lets dwell on the new decade, with
hope anew and optimism of a new age
but what it also ushered are
human loss and nature's rage.
though we will always grow
with belief in human ability,
once a while we look helpless
against powers that expose its futility.

earth shaking with almighty fury
left an already poor people bare,
so did the aircraft and railroad accidents,
even the angry floods didn't spare.
we spilt oil all over
with seriously negligent fare,
factor in dubious wars and terror
to give yourself a real scare.

a timely anniversary of a nuclear disaster
shows man's excellence at a dangerous art,
why? our mother herself is in strife
unrest at the head and insurgency at heart.
So i wonder if all this is
a signal to humanity, a source,
to realise the outcomes of selfishness,
of the existence of a greater force.

but hard though it may seem
if we relegate our bitterness
and as an earth's inhabitants,
strive to protect its liveliness,
we can prosper gay and guilt-free.
and though an end will still come your way
you'll have strode a noble path
doing the right thing come what may.

For those smiles, a thousand times over....

my favourite photo's sketch....

supposed to be my dad and sis....but somewhat close....original pic by mom....
.

Its "Common Wealth" and "Soap Cricket"!

Two passers-by along a road in Delhi were eating peanuts and discussing mundane stuff. They come across a construction.

So one guy asks, “Whats that? That place’s been frantic for months now and seems like it'll be a long time”

The other replies, “Oh you don’t know?! That’s one of the stadiums for the Common Wealth Games.”

 “But that’s in two months!” the first guy says, his peanut missing its intended target and hitting his nose.

“I know. We are under-prepared. We can only hope for the best. And hope the administration is doing much more than just hoping!” he responds, laughing heartily at his own profound sarcasm.

Elsewhere, a minister opens a new stadium for the Games. And sloppily, the stadium was leaking due to multifarious reasons not understandable to common folk. The minister notices this and says to his company, “Oh, it seems there is a provision for continuous supply of rain and groundwater”, obviously missing the point. He was then silently taken aside and explained that they were having some plumber issues.

He later declared to the media, “This is one of the world class state-of-the-art facilities being built for the Games” covering his nose to avoid the stench of leaking drainage.

The Games committee was also reported considering applying for Guinness Book for most number of stadiums constructed in the shortest time, provided they stand without collapsing for the duration of the games. An episode of Extreme Engineering is also being planned as per rumours.

As of now their hands are full with the on-going corruption allegations regarding the funds for the Games. The administration seems to have taken the meaning "common wealth" too literally.

Late in the evening yesterday an anonymous official was seen at a pub, and under the sublime effects of booze talked freely to the public around.

“.....you guys(the public) are really gullible. This is just the tip of the iceberg. After this, we will apply for Olympics. Just imagine the money we’ll earn then!” he told, mocking at them with his hands at his ears and his tongue lolling.

But he did not realise others were drunk too and as per eye-witnesses, he escaped with his clothes barely on.

In unrelated news, a PIL was filed for banning broadcast of soap cricket. It was argued that so-called “daily soap” cricket matches of India-Sri Lanka were having an adverse effect on public. It observed that a new phobia of cricket between India and Sri Lanka called “Indolankophobia” was being detected by doctors. Symptoms ranged from falling unconscious to tendency to jump from rooftops on being told another match was scheduled.

The recent test match did not help matters with 50% of patients additionally wanting to tear their clothes and pull their hair off. Doctors recommended seeing matches between England and Pakistan, especially those with IndoLankophobia.

Also, the recently concluded test between England and Pakistan offered newspapers juicy stuff. It will be fun to see who comes first with the clichéd headline “Pak of cards!”. Some observers told that Kamran Akmal was trying to catch with the back of his hands and that it was great he did what he did, forget what he dropped.

And till further rumours come forth, be well.