Traveling solo to Ladakh wasn’t a decision—it was a calling. I had been yearning for stillness, for space, for something that would shake me gently awake. Ladakh did all of that and more.

From the moment I landed in Leh, the air felt different—not just thinner, but clearer, purer. I spent the first couple of days acclimatizing, sipping endless cups of butter tea, and watching the town unfold around me. The silence in the mountains is loud in the best way—it makes room for your thoughts, your fears, and your wonder.

I joined a shared taxi to Nubra Valley. We were strangers at first, but something about freezing together at Khardung La and laughing over Maggi noodles made us feel like old friends by the end. Pangong Lake took my breath away—literally and figuratively. I stood by its shimmering blue expanse, completely alone but feeling more connected than I had in months.

What I learned? You’re never truly alone in Ladakh. The mountains watch over you, the locals smile with quiet warmth, and every curve in the road feels like it's leading you back to yourself.