Atop the roof of the world Fashion designer Arjun Khanna, recounts his experience of riding to Ladakh

Atop the roof of the world

Fashion designer Arjun Khanna, recounts his experience of riding to Ladakh

Fashion designer Arjun Khanna is an inveterate globetrotter who recently travelled to Ladakh. He says, “It was the most beautiful experience I have ever had. It was a complete biking trip so not only was it super challenging but was also the most humbling experience ever.” The 15-day trip saw Arjun travel extensively across the plateau terrain. As he puts it, “It is only when one goes biking on a terrain like this that one realises how insignificant one is — almost like a drop in the ocean. One gets to see an enchanted view of the mountains which have been under the sea for millions of years. It is a place so remote and isolated from the modern world.” Arjun travelled about 300-400 kilometers within Ladakh each day, and had a memorable time riding up to the highest motorable pass Khardung La which lies in northern Leh. “It is a high mountain pass with a beautiful landscape and a rugged terrain, which leads down to Pangong Tso with its huge mountain lake in the south east of Ladakh,” he says. During his biking trips, he always kept Leh — the centre of the city — as his base. Indulging in many day trips including trekking from the mornings till late at night, road trips to truly remote areas like Lamayuru Gompa — one of the oldest and largest monasteries in Ladakh, as well as trying out the amazing food and mingling with the locals there. The designer who’s now happily ensconced in his workshop in Mumbai says, “During my trip to Ladakh the weather was sunny with clear skies during the day. At night, the temperature was freezing and specially windy while riding a bike. The whole experience was a life changing one.”