Stillness unstilled…

India’s cold desert, Ladakh predominates in endless stretches of picturesque hills, streams, and barren grassland. Its fair share of flora distinctively offsets its elusive fauna, such that the sight of anything living, breathing and scampering naturally becomes a rewarding experience for travellers meaning to take back rare vignettes of their time spent in the far-flung hillscapes of Ladakh. The rocky trails leading to Ladakh’s major attraction, the immaculate Pangong Lake, whose changing hues of blue far outshine a chameleon or any camouflaging creature, holds the promise of at least two such representatives of the wild. One of them is the docile, shy and fuzzy marmot that peeks from behind the boulders at the travelling cars, hoping to be fed with what their natural habitat fails to offer. Playful and snuggly, marmots easily capture hearts with their frolicking and scurrying. They are a curiously enlarged version of the squirrel. 

Next comes a rather rare species of the zebra, now reduced to four in number, and to be found only in Ladakh. Resembling the zebra only in its shape and characteristic black mane at the nape of its neck, this mammal has a light chocolate body contrasted with pristine white at the bottom, which can be likened to the lightly torched shades of a luxuriant meringue. Unfortunately, both of these species are endangered, owing to the inadequate vegetation of Ladakh, and the threat of predators.

A visit to Pangong Lake of course, remains incomplete without a close encounter with the geese and ducks that are endowed with the prowess to float blissfully in the freezing waters of this mysterious lake, disturbing its tranquility with their delightful calls, the fluttering of their magnificent wings, and their proud strutting!

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