Markha Valley Trek
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India, Stok Kangri Climb
INDIA, STOK KANGRI CLIMB A very achieveable 6000m trekking peak tucked into some stunning mountain terrain that is lightly trekked. Trek the wonderful Markha Valley Few people trek this route; peace and tranquility All meals in Ladakh Our small group sizes achieve greater success Access through Delhi offers huge potential for extensions to the Taj Mahal and more FAST FACTS Destination India, Ladakh Difficulty Tough Altitude 6153m Trip Duration 20 days UK ~ UK Nights on Trek 12 nights Nights in Hotels 5 nights Meals All meals in Ladakh, B&B in Delhi [email protected] +44 1529 488 159 +44 7725 943 108 page 2 INDIA STOK KANGRI CLIMB Introduction A very achieveable 6000m trekking peak tucked in amongst some of the most stunning mountain terrain in India. This a real traveller’s trip, accessing India’s least populated region (Ladakh) from Delhi (a 90 min domestic flight). Leh is one of the highest commercial airports in the world (3500m) and we take time to acclimatise here on arrival. We drive out to Chilling and camp besides the Zanskar river before beginning the trek up the Markha Valley. For many days we follow the glacial Markha river towards its source, steadily acclimatising as we go and admiring the sheer scale and variety of geology (as well as colours). The snow leopard genuinely still roams these parts and their tracks can often be seen. The iconic makeshift white parachute cafes are a welcomed sight along this route. Having acclimatised and cleared to 5100m Kongmaru La, there are still a few spectacular high passes to cross before reaching Stok Kangri’s base camp. -
Ladakh Himalayan Homestays.Pdf
Homestays Benefit Local People and Threatened Species - Rinchen Wangchuk The Himalayan Homestays Programme: The snow leopard is more than just a beautiful and powerful symbol – as the top predator in its mountain realm, it is a barometer for the health of its fragile high altitude ecosystem The Himalayan-Homestays initiative emerged out of a series of brainstorming sessions with villagers in Hemis National Park on how best to resolve conflicts with snow leopards and other predators that were killing 12% of their livestock annually. The SLC and local communities developed alternatives that would transform a centuries-old problem into an opportunity. Villagers decided tourism was an opportunity that had potential and one that was giving them little benefit at the time even though some 5000 visitors were passing through the Park and their settlements. Starting in 2000, with initial assistance from The Mountain Institute and later UNESCO’s financial support, villagers and SLC developed a community based tourism program that would generate income and require minimal capital investment on the part of the villagers (see definition below). For all participating groups it was an opportunity to develop and demonstrate how an income generating activity such as ecotourism, could be fully integrated with wildlife conservation, and the protection of one of the Himalaya’s most charismatic and elusive species and an important Ladakhi cultural symbol, the snow leopard. During the workshops that followed villagers defined the Himalayan Homestays in the following way: “A traditional village based Ladakhi Homestay would share their traditional way of life and values with visitors, provide traditional food, in an eco-friendly environment that requires little initial investment.” This definition was a key component of the vision that was the driving force of the Himalayan Homestays programme in Ladakh. -
RTM-February -2020 Magazine
INSIGHTSIAS IA SIMPLIFYING IAS EXAM PREPARATION RTM COMPILATIONS PRELIMS 2020 FEBRUARY 2020 www.insightsactivelearn.com | www.insightsonindia.com Revision Through MCQs (RTM) Compilation (February 2020) Telegram: https://t.me/insightsIAStips 2 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpoccbCX9GEIwaiIe4HLjwA Revision Through MCQs (RTM) Compilation (February 2020) Telegram: https://t.me/insightsIAStips 3 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpoccbCX9GEIwaiIe4HLjwA Revision Through MCQs (RTM) Compilation (February 2020) Table of Contents RTM- REVISION THROUGH MCQS – 1st Feb-2020 ............................................................... 5 RTM- REVISION THROUGH MCQS – 3st Feb-2020 ............................................................. 10 RTM- REVISION THROUGH MCQS – 5th Feb-2020 ............................................................. 16 RTM- REVISION THROUGH MCQS – 6th Feb-2020 ............................................................. 22 RTM- REVISION THROUGH MCQS – 7th Feb-2020 ............................................................. 28 RTM- REVISION THROUGH MCQS – 8th Feb-2020 ............................................................. 34 RTM- REVISION THROUGH MCQS – 10th Feb-2020 ........................................................... 40 RTM- REVISION THROUGH MCQS – 11th Feb-2020 ........................................................... 45 RTM- REVISION THROUGH MCQS – 12th Feb-2020 ........................................................... 52 RTM- REVISION THROUGH MCQS – 13th Feb-2020 .......................................................... -
23D Markha Valley Trek
P.O Box: 26106 Kathmandu Address: Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal Phone: +977 1 5312359 Fax: +977 1 5351070 Email: [email protected] India: 23d Markha Valley Trek Grade: Easy Altitude: 5,150 m. Tent Days: 10 Highlights: Markha Valley Trekking is one of the most varied and beautiful treks of Nepal. It ventures high into the Himalayas crossing two passes over 4575m. As it circles from the edges of the Indus Valley, down into parts of Zanskar. The trekking route passes through terrain which changes from incredibly narrow valleys to wide-open vast expanses. Markha valley trek becomes more interesting by the ancient form of Buddhism that flourishes in the many monasteries. The landscape of this trek is perched with high atop hills. The trails are decorated by elaborate “charters”(shrines) and “Mani”(prayer) walls. That further exemplifies the region’s total immersion in Buddhist culture. As we trek to the upper end of the Markha Valley, we are rewarded with spectacular views of jagged snow-capped peaks before crossing the 5150m Kongmaru La (Pass) and descending to the famous Hemis Monastery, where we end our trek. This trekking is most enjoyable for those who want to explore the ancient Buddhism with beautiful views of Himalayas. Note: B=Breakfast, L= Lunch, D=Dinner Day to day: Day 1: Arrival at Delhi o/n in Hotel : Reception at the airport, transfer and overnight at hotel. Day 2: Flight to Leh (3500m) o/n in Hotel +B: Transfer to domestic airport in the morning flight to Leh. Transfer to hotel, leisurely tour of the city to acclimatize: the old bazaar, the Palace, the Shanti Stupa, mosque; afternoon free. -
Field Guide Mammals of Ladakh ¾-Hðgå-ÅÛ-Hýh-ºiô-;Ým-Mû-Ç+Ô¼-¾-Zçàz-Çeômü
Field Guide Mammals of Ladakh ¾-hÐGÅ-ÅÛ-hÝh-ºIô-;Ým-mÛ-Ç+ô¼-¾-zÇÀz-Çeômü Tahir Shawl Jigmet Takpa Phuntsog Tashi Yamini Panchaksharam 2 FOREWORD Ladakh is one of the most wonderful places on earth with unique biodiversity. I have the privilege of forwarding the fi eld guide on mammals of Ladakh which is part of a series of bilingual (English and Ladakhi) fi eld guides developed by WWF-India. It is not just because of my involvement in the conservation issues of the state of Jammu & Kashmir, but I am impressed with the Ladakhi version of the Field Guide. As the Field Guide has been specially produced for the local youth, I hope that the Guide will help in conserving the unique mammal species of Ladakh. I also hope that the Guide will become a companion for every nature lover visiting Ladakh. I commend the efforts of the authors in bringing out this unique publication. A K Srivastava, IFS Chief Wildlife Warden, Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir 3 ÇSôm-zXôhü ¾-hÐGÅ-mÛ-ºWÛG-dïm-mP-¾-ÆôG-VGÅ-Ço-±ôGÅ-»ôh-źÛ-GmÅ-Å-h¤ÛGÅ-zž-ŸÛG-»Ûm-môGü ¾-hÐGÅ-ÅÛ-Å-GmÅ-;Ým-¾-»ôh-qºÛ-Åï¤Å-Tm-±P-¤ºÛ-MãÅ-‚Å-q-ºhÛ-¾-ÇSôm-zXôh-‚ô-‚Å- qôºÛ-PºÛ-¾Å-ºGm-»Ûm-môGü ºÛ-zô-P-¼P-W¤-¤Þ-;-ÁÛ-¤Û¼-¼Û-¼P-zŸÛm-D¤-ÆâP-Bôz-hP- ºƒï¾-»ôh-¤Dm-qôÅ-‚Å-¼ï-¤m-q-ºÛ-zô-¾-hÐGÅ-ÅÛ-Ç+h-hï-mP-P-»ôh-‚Å-qôº-È-¾Å-bï-»P- zÁh- »ôPÅü Åï¤Å-Tm-±P-¤ºÛ-MãÅ-‚ô-‚Å-qô-h¤ÛGÅ-zž-¾ÛÅ-GŸôm-mÝ-;Ým-¾-wm-‚Å-¾-ºwÛP-yï-»Ûm- môG ºô-zôºÛ-;-mÅ-¾-hÐGÅ-ÅÛ-h¤ÛGÅ-zž-Tm-mÛ-Åï¤Å-Tm-ÆâP-BôzÅ-¾-wm-qºÛ-¼Û-zô-»Ûm- hôm-m-®ôGÅ-¾ü ¼P-zŸÛm-D¤Å-¾-ºfh-qô-»ôh-¤Dm-±P-¤-¾ºP-wm-fôGÅ-qºÛ-¼ï-z-»Ûmü ºhÛ-®ßGÅ-ºô-zM¾-¤²h-hï-ºƒÛ-¤Dm-mÛ-ºhÛ-hqï-V-zô-q¼-¾-zMz-Çeï-Çtï¾-hGôÅ-»Ûm-môG Íï-;ï-ÁÙÛ-¶Å-b-z-ͺÛ-Íïw-ÍôÅ- mGÅ-±ôGÅ-Åï¤Å-Tm-ÆâP-Bôz-Çkï-DG-GÛ-hqôm-qô-G®ô-zô-W¤- ¤Þ-;ÁÛ-¤Û¼-GŸÝP.ü 4 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The fi eld guide is the result of exhaustive work by a large number of people. -
1 Jonathan Demenge
Jonathan Demenge (IDS, Brighton) In the Shadow of Zanskar: The Life of a Nepali Migrant Published in Ladakh Studies, July 2009 This article is a tribute to Thinle, a Nepali worker who died last September (2008) in Chilling. He was a driller working on the construction of the road between Nimu and Padum, along the Zanskar River. Like most other similar stories, the story of Thinle could have remained undocumented, mainly because migrants’ presence in Ladakh remains widely unstudied. The story of Thinle has a lot to tell about the living conditions of migrants who build the roads in Ladakh, their relationship to the environment – physical and imagined – and their relationship to danger. Starting from the biography of a man and his family, I attempt to understand the larger social matrix in which this history is embedded. Using the concept of structural violence (Galtung 1969; Farmer 1997; 2004) I try to shed light on the wider socio-political forces at work in this tragedy. At the same time I point to a striking reality: despite the long and important presence of working migrants in Ladakh, they remain unstudied. In spite of their substantial contribution to Ladakh’s history and development, both literally and figuratively, in the field and in the literature, migrants remain at the margin, or in the shade. The life of Thinle Sherpa I started researching road construction and road workers in Ladakh about three years ago. Thinle was one of the workers I learnt to know while I was conducting fieldwork in Chilling. Thinle and his family were very engaging people, and those who met them will surely remember them. -
Figure 3. Terrace Sections
Quaternary Research (2018), 89, 281–306. Copyright © University of Washington. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2017. doi:10.1017/qua.2017.92 Quantifying episodic erosion and transient storage on the western margin of the Tibetan Plateau, upper Indus River Tara N. Jonella,b*, Lewis A. Owenc, Andrew Carterd, Jean-Luc Schwennigere, Peter D. Cliftb aSchool of Geosciences, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana 70504, USA bDepartment of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA cDepartment of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221, USA dDepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Birkbeck College, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom eResearch Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, United Kingdom (RECEIVED April 13, 2017; ACCEPTED September 27, 2017) Abstract Transient storage and erosion of valley fills, or sediment buffering, is a fundamental but poorly quantified process that may significantly bias fluvial sediment budgets and marine archives used for paleoclimatic and tectonic reconstructions. Prolific sediment buffering is now recognized to occur within the mountainous upper Indus River headwaters and is quantified here for the first time using optically stimulated luminescence dating, petrography, detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology, and morphometric analysis to define the timing, provenance, and volumes of prominent valley fills. This study finds that climatically modulated sediment buffering occurs over 103–104 yr time scales and results in biases in sediment compositions and volumes. Increased sediment storage coincides with strong phases of summer monsoon and winter westerlies precipitation over the late Pleistocene (32–25 ka) and mid-Holocene (~8–6 ka), followed by incision and erosion with monsoon weakening. -
2000 Ladakh and Zanskar-The Land of Passes
1 LADAKH AND ZANSKAR -THE LAND OF PASSES The great mountains are quick to kill or maim when mistakes are made. Surely, a safe descent is as much a part of the climb as “getting to the top”. Dead men are successful only when they have given their lives for others. Kenneth Mason, Abode of Snow (p. 289) The remote and isolated region of Ladakh lies in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, marking the western limit of the spread of Tibetan culture. Before it became a part of India in the 1834, when the rulers of Jammu brought it under their control, Ladakh was an independent kingdom closely linked with Tibet, its strong Buddhist culture and its various gompas (monasteries) such as Lamayuru, Alchi and Thiksey a living testimony to this fact. One of the most prominent monuments is the towering palace in Leh, built by the Ladakhi ruler, Singe Namgyal (c. 1570 to 1642). Ladakh’s inhospitable terrain has seen enough traders, missionaries and invading armies to justify the Ladakhi saying: “The land is so barren and the passes are so high that only the best of friends or worst of enemies would want to visit us.” The elevation of Ladakh gives it an extreme climate; burning heat by day and freezing cold at night. Due to the rarefied atmosphere, the sun’s rays heat the ground quickly, the dry air allowing for quick cooling, leading to sub-zero temperatures at night. Lying in the rain- shadow of the Great Himalaya, this arid, bare region receives scanty rainfall, and its primary source of water is the winter snowfall. -
Mountain Weasel Mustela Altaica Records in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir State, India
SHORT COMMUNICATION Mountain Weasel Mustela altaica records in Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir state, India Tomer BEN-YEHUDA1 1. Mammal Watching Around the Abstract. World. 14355 Rainy Lake Dr. Distribution maps for Mountain Weasel Mustela altaica do not include Ladakh in the Chesterfield MO USA 63017 north Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. However, it is common knowledge that this species occurs there and that it is observed on a weekly basis by nature guides and eco- Correspondence: tourists. This is an account of my sightings with exact coordinates and altitudes where Tomer Ben-Yehuda this species has been observed, along with referenced reports of colleagues who have seen the species in the area. Based on this information, the distribution maps for this [email protected] species should be corrected to include the locations specified; this information was used to update the 2016 account of this species in The IUCN Red List of Threatened Associate editor: Species. Daniel Willcox Keywords: Hemis National Park, Mustela altaica, Ladakh, Northern India, Altai Weasel, Mountain Weasel http://www.smallcarnivoreconservation.org ISSN 1019-5041 Mountain Weasel Mustela altaica, also known as the Altai Weasel, is found throughout central Asia and in the Himalayan mountain range. According to the previous distribution map (Abramov 2016) this weasel is very localized in India (Figure 1) and was thought to be restricted to a small area near the tri-point junction with Tibet (China) and Nepal. It was not recognized to occur within 420 km of Hemis National Park or the city of Leh. Lariviere & Jennings (2009) did not include Ladakh in their distribution map for this species. -
Ladakh Subsate BSAP
DRAFT BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY & ACTION PLAN: SUB –STATE LADAKH 8. STRATEGY & ACTION PLAN The Action Plan below spells out detailed sets of action, jointly elaborated by the main stakeholders, which are meant to translate the strategies presented in the previous chapter into actual biodiversity protection on the ground. The underlying approach has been to design actions that are SMART, in other words Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Bound. No systematic attempt has been made to define priorities between actions, locations and actors. However the sequence of actions as they are presented under the different strategies is broadly indicative of priorities agreed by the participants in the BSAP process. I. STRATEGIES & ACTIONS FOR CONSERVATION OF WILD FLORA AND HABITATS DIVERSITY Strategy: Ensure conservation and sustainable management of natural forests and indigenous tree & shrub species Actions By whom Where When Finance Complete inventory & conduct thorough ecological re- Forest Department, SKUAST Whole of La- Starting No addi- search on distribution/status/conservation/propagation of FRL, WII dakh (Leh & from spring/ tional funds indigenous trees & shrubs focusing on rare & threatened Kargil District) mid-2003 required species like Juniper, Birch etc. (see Appendixes 2 & 3) Identify key areas of natural wood/shrubland & incorporate LAHDC/Forest, Wildlife Deptt/ -do- By 2003 -do- them in Protected Areas & Community Conserved Areas SKUAST/WII/loc. communities 1. Identify, list & map natural forests areas & transmit the Forest Department -do- First half of -do- information to LAHDC and other key stake holders (Wild- 2003 life Deptt, PWD, Armed Forces, loc. com. representatives) 2. Investigate legal status of selected forest areas LAHDC/Forest, Revenue Deptt. -
Migratory Birds of Ladakh a Brief Long Distance Continental Migration
WORLD'S MIGRATORY BIRDS DAY 08 MAY, 2021 B R O W N H E A D E D G U L L MIGRATORY BIRDS OF LADAKH A BRIEF LONG DISTANCE CONTINENTAL MIGRATION the Arctic Ocean and the Indian Ocean, and comprises several migration routes of waterbirds. It also touches “West Asian- East African Flyway”. Presence of number of high-altitude wetlands (>2500 m amsl altitude) with thin human population makes Ladakh a suitable habitat for migration and breeding of continental birds, including wetlands of very big size (e.g., Pangong Tso, Tso Moriri, Tso Kar, etc.). C O M M O N S A N D P I P E R Ladakh provides a vast habitat for the water birds through its complex Ladakh landscape has significance network of wetlands including two being located at the conjunction of most important wetlands (Tso Moriri, four zoogeographic zones of the world Tso Kar) which have been designated (Palearctic, Oriental, Sino-Japanese and as Ramsar sites. Sahara-Arabian). In India, Ladakh landscape falls in Trans-Himalayan Nearly 89 bird species (long distance biogeographic zone and two provinces migrants) either breed or roost in (Ladakh Mountains, 1A) and (Tibetan Ladakh, and most of them (59) are Plateau, 1B). “Summer Migrants”, those have their breeding grounds here. Trans-Himalayan Ladakh is an integral part of the "Central Asian Flyway" of migratory birds which a large part of the globe (Asia and Europe) between Ladakh also hosts 25 bird species, during their migration along the Central Asian Flyway, as “Passage Migrants” which roost in the region. -
Hemis National Park, Ladakh, India
Hemis National Park, Ladakh, India. “In search of the Snow Leopard” Phunchok Tsering <[email protected]> Participants. Dalida Innes and William Andrew Innes (from Australia), Exotic Travel Team members Dorjey, Sonam, main spotters),Takpa, Tharpa (Assistant Spotters),Thinlay and Tundup (Chef and assistant). Introduction Exotic Travel Leh-Ladakh, India have been organizing Snow Leopard trips since 2005. We have been successful, and our snow leopard trips have achieved almost a 100 percent sighting success record. Trip description Dalida and William Andrew Innes (from Australia), arrived into Leh on 26 November 2017. They rested on the first day to help acclimatize to the 3500m altitude. The next day we went birding around the Shey Marshes and the Indus belt. We saw many birds including Solitary Snipe and Ibis Bill, among the most sought after birds in the world. From 27 November til 3 December the Innes family took a cultural tour of Ladakh visiting the Alchi, Kamayurá and Pangong regions. From 4 December to 16 December we went in search of the elusive cat in Hemis National Park and Saspochey Village to the west of Leh. We saw an incredible total of nine Snow Leopards! Five Snow Leopards were in Hemis National Park including a mother with two cubs and two individual Snow Leopards. A further four animals were near Saspochey Village. Here we found a mother with two cubs and also a male leopard. All this between 6 to 16 December 2017. During trip we observed other wildlife including Tibetan Wolf, Red Fox, Blue Sheep, Ladakh Urial, Ibex, Golden Eagle, Lammergeyer, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Himalayan Snow Cock, Tit Warbler and Finches etc.