Unlike any other book so far published on Ladakh – and quite possibly unlike any other travel book published till date – here is a travel story told through high-resolution colour photographs laid out in a comic-strip format. Two lady travellers arrive in Leh one local summer morning. In the course of their journey through Ladakh, they get to know about the war between ‘Nanak Lama’ and a demon and watch masked lamas offer a comic interlude amid serious rituals at the Phyang Monastery festival. On their way to Nubra Valley via Khardung Pass (altitude: 18,380 ft), the travellers meet animals with an identity crisis, and a donkey who will never lend its owner an ear again. In the valley, a 32-metre tall statue of Maitreya Buddha shares the limelight with double-humped camels. The ladies are bowled over by their names. The journey to Pangong Lake (altitude: 13,900 ft) and back has quite a few highpoints – Shey Palace, Thiksey and Hemis monasteries, the Chang Pass, and the curious case of the frozen marmot. A nomadic stay in a tent by the enchanting Pangong with its ever-changing colours reveals a considerable bird population, some with horns on their heads. The Tso Moriri Wetlands combine the beauty of the Lake Districts and the ruggedness of the Wild West. Almost 250 km from Leh, Tso Moriri lake (altitude: 15,075 ft) is visited by very few tourists. Korzok village near the lake helps the ladies peek into the lives of Changpa nomads who do not let the grass grow under their feet. The same cannot be said of their sheep. With its fascinating subject, over 400 crisp photos, and the easy, humorous writing style, this book will appeal immensely to casual tourists, serious travellers, even those keen on armchair travelling.
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