Rohtang - Pile Of Dead Bodies??? - II Photo

Photographer’s Note

Rohtang La

Rohtang means "a pile of dead bodies" and La means "pass" in Tibetan. I totally agree that this photo does not do justice to its nomenclature but that is how Rohtang Pass is... totally unpredictable and surprising...

At an height of almost 4000 mts(13000 feet), Rohtang Pass separates the lush green Beas Valley from the barren Chandra Valley. It is one of the two gateways to the Himalayan deserts of Leh-Ladakh and Lahaul-Spiti from Kullu-Manali region. The Pass is closed due to heavy snow for almost 6 months in a year. In summer, when road is cut through snow and the pass is reopened, you travel between many feets high walls of snow on both sides, which is quite an experience.

Rohtang stands true to its notorious name. In Oct 2004, hundreds of people and vehicles were stranded there for a couple of days due to the sudden deterioration of weather and untimely snowfall.

But the summit of the pass turns into lush green meadow in summer studded with violets and varieties of wild Himalayan and Alpine flowers. You can also see beautiful horses n sheep grazing on the pastures...

That is Rohtang for you...

A sequel to Rohtang - Pile Of Dead Bodies??? and Love at 4000 mts... which had two horses.

BHo, ramesh_lalwani, arnabchat, Quentin, ChrisJ, mukesh, bishansamaddar, RADEEH, sayan, s10001in, zeca has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

elBud (2211) 2006-02-14 8:51

hermosa fotografia, hermoso paisaje, el caballo le da mucho balance a tu fotografia, esas montañas y el clima medio nublado, muy buena fotografia

BHo (2177) 2006-02-14 8:52

Hi Amol,

Wonderful capture. Nice pallete of colours with the green grass, misty montains and blue sky in contrast with the white horse. Though the main subject of focus is departing the scene, it doesn't bother me that you have chosen to frame it the way you did. Great shot.

poulinp (4464) 2006-02-14 8:55

Absolutly superb. It would be perfect if the horse was on the other side, and get more space between the eyes and the frame, but eh, this picture's amazing anyway. Beautiful!

sohrab (7423) 2006-02-14 9:03

a beautiful landscape photograph.. i don't remember seeing rohtang so pretty and green.. it was quite a let down for me..

i think it's a pity that you were not shooting on film.. as the digital whatever has made the edges of the horse and the landscape etc quite terrible and it hurts my eyes..

are you talking about vijay and all getting stuck in the snow storm??
take care :)

blue-velvet30 (6524) 2006-02-14 14:03

Hi Amol!
Great composition. Wonderful montains and sky! Great colors. Well done!
TFS ;-)
regards
Dorota

lewiz (1293) 2006-02-14 14:40

Hi Amol,
Stunning photograph. The clouds are great and the simple composition with the white horse in the foreground works well.
Only thing I can suggest is a camera upgrade -- it's holding you back! :)
Thanks, Lewis.

rima (265) 2006-02-15 11:11

CLASS!!!!!!!

arnabchat (7036) 2006-02-15 22:58

the thumbnail suggests a dreamy fantasy world, while the note takes us somewhere else. nice natural take with good colors.

munki (1287) 2006-02-16 19:12

Hi Amol,

Great scenery shot with beatiful colours!!!

Marcos

ramthakur (1501) 2006-02-17 16:02

What a pretty meadow it turns into in August, Amol!
In mid May 1993, after having driven up to Marhi, I had made a quick dash up there to find it in deep snow. All I remember now is the view of those mountains in the distance.
Sach Pass at the other end of Pangi valley is rough and rugged but equally beautiful in August. And it does not have electric poles yet!

Quentin (5278) 2006-02-20 9:52

Hi Amol
This is a beautiful shot with great colours and light. The view on this pass is really pleasant and this horse which fit very well in your image seems to be exhausted as if he was walking from km and km ! Well done
Regards
Quentin

ChrisJ (70271) 2006-02-21 5:28 [Comment]

Show Comment +

rakeshgupta (2670) 2006-02-23 11:44

Hello Amol,
This is really great. I like the Himalaya surrounded by clouds in this lovely foreground. Seeing horse eating grass is very attractive. It proves the beauty of himalaya.
Good colors and sharpness.
Thanks for sharing.
- Rakesh

mukesh (408) 2006-02-24 2:38

Hi Amol - this is a beuatiful picture you have here of Rohtang. I was there in Oct and the place was barren and forbidding - very true to its name.
Yes - weather at Rohtang is always unpredictable and you may get some nasty surprises too. The serenity here quite belies the true nature of the place
Mukesh

bishansamaddar (862) 2006-02-27 7:33

almost unreal beauty. great composition.

anandselvi (1103) 2006-03-22 5:42

Hi Amol
thisis verry good shot nice colours
i like it this photo
thanks
anand

sayan (2609) 2006-03-31 5:18

Great capture amol. Everything is perfect in the picture.. Though I would have preferred to place the horse in the middle.

Regards
Sayan

zeca (20026) 2006-11-17 21:46

Wow!
What a nice landscape! Excellent colours! Beautiful composition!
Regards from Brazil!
Zeca

indraajeet (1773) 2007-12-26 10:05

that's a shot par excellence
indrajit

Photo Information

Copyright: Amol Herlekar (amol) (952)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-08-14
Categories: Nature
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Trekking in the Himalayas, Horses: Forever Free, Poetry in Motion... [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-02-14 8:44
Favorites: 1 [view]