Takling La

To Triumph and Butter Chicken

It was the summer of 2017 and I had decided to spend it in Spiti after having been all over the place in the months that preceeded that. I was looking for some trekking options that weren’t part of the standard offerings in the region. A few weeks into my stay in Spiti, I was told of an alternate route to trek from Spiti to Tsomoriri in Ladakh. At 5272 meters above sea level, Takling La ran parallel to the better known Parang La.

My trek to Takling La sprouted from my stubborn quest to conquer and rediscover a trail left unused for so long. The trail exists bare of all the usual signs of activity to help me along my adventure on this trail less travelled! A popular trade route between Spiti and Ladakh in the 19th century, which was now lay forgotten, made me curious to see why.

The Exploratory trek to Takling La was a memorable and valuable experience. It was despite of local skepticism and doubt over my abilities, that I continued understanding the trail before I trekked it. While I was met with some reactions drenched in doubt over my abilities as an urban-dweller, others were quick to reject the thought of me ever completing the journey. It took proving through action to get locals to think of me as someone different from a regular city-dwelling thrill seeker looking for trouble in the name of challenging adventure. One of these friendly skeptics jokingly offered to treat me to butter chicken if I managed to finish this trek. A bet that I happily won in under 5 days. Whether it was my greed for the chicken or curiosity that made me do this trek, is still up for debate, pun intended.

A local, Tenzin, agreed to guide me over the route. However, once he caught air of my plan to go unsupported, hauling all our loads by ourselves, he too began dragging his feet. For someone who didn’t know of my capabilities very well, but knew of the questionable condition of the trail, Tenzin trusted me enough to stick with my plans. So, there we went, the two of us, with more than 25 kg on our shoulders. With enough supplies to last us more than seven nights, we completed the journey in four, reaching Tso Morrori earlier than anticipated. Not only did this early completion earn me points with the locals, it also earnt me their trust and acknowledgement.      

It was fascinating to see the way in which the trust and bond between Tenzing and I grew as we ventured further into the trek. A challenging trek that had me digging into the slippery hillside to make footholds, testing my lungs and legs as I covered steep climbs with 25 kgs on my shoulders, Takling La had me heaving and tired but inspired nonetheless. The experience reassured me of the ways in which an adventure in the outdoors can reinforce comradery and friendship. It’s safe to say that I gained a trusted friend and colleague in Tenzin, who is now an integral part of the Nomadic Trails - India team.

We hope that we will soon be able  to embark on a second adventure to Takling La, taking curious wanderers through the forgotten trail. Full of beautiful sights, challenges, and moments of friendship like none other, Takling La is worth your discovery. It will leave you with an experience few have had, and an adventure only a few can share!