Surrounded by rock, <br />caressed by wind, <br />embedded in stillness, <br />the picturesque Ladakh landscape <br />is truly awe-inspiring. <br /> <br />The magnificent opulence of <br />the formidable Himalayas <br />makes you wonder if it’s real <br />or just a giant picture post-card. <br /> <br />Ladakh – an Indian plateau – <br />with the highest altitude <br />is nestled safely within <br />the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges. <br /> <br />The Indus river flowing <br />merrily through Ladakh <br />infuses life and hope <br />into its civilization. <br /> <br />The lush greenery <br />around its bank <br />seems to wake you up <br />from your reverie. <br /> <br />White clouds engulfing the mountains <br />are reflected in the crystal clear water. <br />The green valley silently <br />bears testimony <br />to Nature’s endless bounty. <br /> <br />Snow-covered, slippery roads, <br />barren mountain ranges <br />and serene, sparkling streams – <br />all embellish Ladakh’s landscape. <br /> <br />With high altitude <br />comes low oxygen concentration <br />making you gasp intermittently. <br />Yet Ladakh is a <br />Heaven on Earth. <br /> <br />The frigid wind mercilessly cuts <br />through your bones and causes <br />goose-bumps to form all over the skin. <br />Yet Ladakh is a <br />Heaven on Earth. <br /> <br />A nature lover’s paradise, <br />a photographer’s obsession, <br />an artist’s inspiration, <br />a traveller’s cynosure, <br />Ladakh is all these and more. <br />Ladakh is truly a heaven on Earth. <br /> <br /> <br />22 June 2010 <br />5: 10 pm<br /><br />Gita Ashok<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/ladakh-a-heaven-on-earth/
