In January 2015, I visited Ladakh for the first time in winter (see photographs here). And I was blown away by how life thrives there despite the extreme conditions. So, I set off again this year
LANDING IN THE COLD DESERT - As we prepare to land in Leh, a brown landscape dotted with dry trees greets us. The bright sunny weather belies the sub-freezing temperatures outside.
SMOKE AND FOG - Rows of trees form a beautiful foreground to the Stakna Monastery as smoke and fog add to the drama.
MAITREYA BUDDHA - At Thiksey Monastery, one of the most calming places I've ever been to
BLUE AND GOLD - We were very fortunate to have beautiful clouds in the sky through most of the trip. This photograph wouldn't have been the same without them.
FORMIDABLE RULER - A Golden Eagle surveys its territory perched upon an abandoned fort wall.
PATTERNS ON ICY LAKE - A thin layer of ice covered the magnificent Pangong Tso. The temperatures were warmer than last year and the lake hadn't frozen completely yet.
HEAPS OF GOLD - A frozen marsh with small grassy patches enroute to Pangong Tso
BALANCING ACT - A yak manages to find its way onto an icy pond. It struggled to keep its balance on the slippery surface before hopping back to safety.
STUDDED WITH GOLD - Dry grass glows in the morning light on a mountainside in the Changthang region of Ladakh.
KYAGAR TSO - This tiny lake is encountered just before Tso Moriri. It was amazing to see the lake completely frozen. And don't miss the green grass in the foreground!
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE VISITORS! A Tibetan Sandgrouse peeks out from behind a rock to assess the visitors to its frozen domain.
PIKA - As I was getting back to the car after a great sighting of the Sandgrouse, something scurried about on the ground and disappeared. A few minutes of waiting and this little furball emerged out of its burrow.
WINDY LAKE - Tso Moriri was completely frozen. And evidence of wind was everywhere. From the huge pile-ups of ice everywhere to the chilling of our bones.
CLOUDS..CONTINUING TO INSPIRE - The ice blocks glowed against the sun, with the clouds adding more drama.
PATTERNS - Some of the ice blocks had beautiful patterns. Here's one set against the frozen landscape.
MAGICAL SKIES - And the clouds continue to steal the show
PALETTE OF COLOURS - Reds, yellows and blues forming a beautiful palette of colours against the brown mountains
ICE SCULPTURE - Frozen geysers dot the landscape in the Changthang region.
AQUAMARINE - A river cuts through the mighty mountains carving valleys and beautiful landscapes. As it has been for millenia.
PRAYER FLAGS - As we were preparing to fly out of Leh that morning, a thick blanket of fog and intermittent snowfall covered the valley giving us another additional day amidst the beauty of the Himalayas.