'Everybody should visit Ladakh at least once in their life.'
Good advice from Balika Vadhu actor Shashank Vyas.
Balika Vadhu actor Shashank Vyas recently took off on a road trip to Leh-Ladakh with his friends, Tina Datta and Adaa Khan.
He shares his experience with Rediff.com contributor Rajul Hegde.
"My road trip to Leh-Ladakh was the best experience of my life," says Shashank, who is slated to quit Balika Vadhu soon. "I have travelled in India and abroad before and the road trips are wonders in themselves. Usually, trips are all about waiting at the airport and sleeping in a hotel. That is what makes road trips so special. You get to see rivers, mountains and most importantly, a chance of exploring local culture."
Besides Tina Datta and Adaa Khan, two of Shashank's school friends from Delhi also joined the group.
The most memorable part of the trip was the visit to the famous Pangong lake.
"After arriving at Leh, we wanted to go for a bike ride around 5 pm but the locals advised us against it. The next day, we left at 9 am. The snow point is 16,000 feet above sea level."
But there was trouble ahead, as all the tents were booked. Finally, a friend used his contacts to get them a tent for the night.
More trouble lay ahead, when Tina Datta and Adaa Khan got hospitalised, as they were not fit for such kinds of road trips.
"We shoot high voltage scenes all day but Leh-Ladakh's freezing temperatures is very different from the heat of Mumbai. That made me relaxed in seconds. It was my first break of seven days in five years. It was extremely stress-free. The impact of a break like this shows on your face," Shashank says.
Shashank has travelled alone before but prefers to go with people with a good sense of humour, especially when one has to drive for five days!
"Travelling improves your mindset. People are very busy in their careers; a break is always advisable. Everybody should visit Ladakh at least once in their life! Know the beauty of our homeland," he says.
