Day 183, India, Laddakh / Baltistan, Turtuk, Enfield Day 2
In the morning I explore the sand dunes of Hunder. It is such a strange feeling to be in a desert that lies in the middle of the Himalayas. I stand on the sand of the dunes, look towards this impressive and huge green valley with a river passing through, surrounded by red and grey rocky mountains with snowy white peaks. It seems completely surreal. After the dunes I visit a cute monastery, which has been built on the rocks of a mountain. The views are impressive. Since 2009 you can access up to Turtuk with the special tourism permit and so I decide to ride the 90 kilometers towards the last village of India. All the way long I pass through army fields and several check posts, where I have to identify myself and show my permit. Finally I arrive in Turtuk. Up to 1971 this area belonged to Pakistan. Indian has captured it in that year. People living here belong to the Balti tribe. Baltistan is home to 55 villages, only for of them are in Indian territory. The tribe has an own language, is muslim and looks quite Mongolian. I do a homestay and people are really lovely. I am nearly the own tourist in the whole village. The views are amazing! In the back the mountains of the Himalaya range, in front the K2 range, left the mountains of Pakistan and on the right the bridge towards the rest of India.
In the morning I explore the sand dunes of Hunder. It is such a strange feeling to be in a desert that lies in the middle of the Himalayas. I stand on the sand of the dunes, look towards this impressive and huge green valley with a river passing through, surrounded by red and grey rocky mountains with snowy white peaks. It seems completely surreal. After the dunes I visit a cute monastery, which has been built on the rocks of a mountain. The views are impressive. Since 2009 you can access up to Turtuk with the special tourism permit and so I decide to ride the 90 kilometers towards the last village of India. All the way long I pass through army fields and several check posts, where I have to identify myself and show my permit. Finally I arrive in Turtuk. Up to 1971 this area belonged to Pakistan. Indian has captured it in that year. People living here belong to the Balti tribe. Baltistan is home to 55 villages, only for of them are in Indian territory. The tribe has an own language, is muslim and looks quite Mongolian. I do a homestay and people are really lovely. I am nearly the own tourist in the whole village. The views are amazing! In the back the mountains of the Himalaya range, in front the K2 range, left the mountains of Pakistan and on the right the bridge towards the rest of India.
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