Pangong :: © 2010 Sriparna Ghosh
After the almost-three-months long hiatus from this blog, one would expect us to come up with something fresh. But that expectation will not be met this time around, as I am about to post a blog which was published on travelwell (Lonely Planet India’s online presence). Yes, it also became a pick-of-the-week and yes, I was also supposed to win a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife for that (but that never arrived). One of my photographs currently adorns the travelwell homepage. But I don’t know for how long. Here is the direct link to the post, or you can read it below:
“First view of world famous Pangong Lake”, is what the sign reads as you approach the lake, 4 kms before it, marking the viewpoint. This viewpoint is a respite for us travellers, whose parched eyes are searching for the colours blue, having had enough of the brown and its many hues. This sight is enough. The next 4 kms are full of frenzy. Getting the cameras out, checking for the memory card and battery. And further we just latch on to our window. The first view of the panorama of Pangong isn’t so much a pretty sight as one would imagine. Strewn with SUVs and people who were in those SUVs, the banks of the magnificent lake seem littered and not so much out of the coffee table book we had expected. Pangong is world famous now, as we see. And it is all thanks to the movie 3 idiots (as our travel agent informs).
We ponder whether this fame is a good thing or not and travel far from the crowds and nearer to isolation. Our day is planned at Spangmik, where we have Pangong just to ourselves. The quiet waves, the cobalt blue and the multi-coloured prayer flags are ours for the day. And that day will always be famous.
I want to stop gloating, but I missed a point. Photo no. 2 was also printed in the Lonely Planet India Magazine. That’s all : )
Pangong :: © 2010 Sriparna Ghosh
Pangong :: © 2010 Sriparna Ghosh
Pangong :: © 2010 Sriparna Ghosh