India > Sunset at the Shanti Stupa

India - At the barbers in Leh

I take my time walking into Leh. I refill my water bottles at a refill station. Leh places a lot of emphasis on the environment. For just a few rupees, you can refill an empty bottle with drinking water, which saves a lot of plastic waste. At The German Bakery, I order a slice of cake and a coffee. Today is perfect for a relaxing day to acclimatize. I stroll past the souvenir shops and only give in to buying a Ladakh T-shirt. The design is hand-stitched onto the shirt, and I can pick it up tomorrow evening. After a coffee stop on a garden terrace, I decide to go to the barber. I ask a few times where I can find one, and shortly afterward, I step into a small shop. For less than two euros, I get a haircut, a beard trim, and a head massage. With my new haircut, I continue wandering through the town. Eventually, I end up on a rooftop terrace, enjoying the daily life on the streets below. In the afternoon, I walk to the Shanti Stupa—a large white stupa on the hills just outside Leh.

India - The Shanti Stupa at sunset in Leh

I stroll through streets filled with restaurants, hotels, and trekking agencies. At the end of this street, the long staircase begins, leading up to the Shanti Stupa. I take several breaks, both to enjoy the view and to catch my breath, as the altitude still affects me. The Shanti Stupa was built in 1991 by the Japanese to further promote Buddhism. When I reach the top of the stairs, I walk around the stupa to the left. Meanwhile, the sun disappears behind the mountains, casting the last sunlight of the day over Leh.