With great vacation comes great responsibility

With article 370 a thing of past Ladakh has opened vistas for travel enthusiasts. Ladakh with its breath taking beauty, picturesque landscape, adventure spots, tranquil environs and religious tourism has much to offer to every age group.
The up gradation of the Ladakh region from a division in J&K to Union Territory will be followed by pumping of funds for infrastructure expansion. A roadmap is in place to promote exchange between tourists and locals. But before embarking on the journey it’s imperative to ask yourselves -

Why Ladakh?
o To get social acceptance from friends and relatives who have visited this destination?
o To extend the influence on social media.
o To tick off one more destination off the bucket list.
The pleasure of travel gets diluted if any of the above holds true. It would be an understatement that tourism exuberance may weaken the delicate ecological ecosystem of the region. The onus lies with us to keep the youngest Union Territory of India just the way it is for our future generations. Responsible tourism might sound the latest buzzword but has deeper meaning. Though no legal implication but purely voluntary implementation the code for responsible traveler were adopted by UNWTO Global Code of ethical tourism. Follow these simple guidelines to be a responsible traveler. 

#1 Research & Reference: A good prep not only builds up the excitement of the tour but helps in understanding the weather, topography and history. Pick up a few local words. Such small acts help to connect better with locals. 
#2 Dress & Undress: Ladakh experiences comfortable weather April to September. Though winter is harsh. Leh town shows traces of cosmopolitan culture but the ladakhis who are predominantly Buddhists and Muslims are calm and conventional. Ditch short dresses for beach holiday, layer ensemble trousers, scarves, shawls work the best.

#3 Customs & Values:
There are numerous monasteries of historical prominence and architectural brilliance. Respect prayer timings and avoid visiting at odd hours. Don’t embarrass yourself by getting friendly with young monks and asking personal questions. Keep loud relatives and whining children out of the monastery.  

#4 Food & Drink:   In India food has religious undertones. Restrict to the menu – don’t ask for beef or pork if unsure of the hotel policy. Drinking and smoking though not banned but is generally discouraged. Discourage food parcels it only adds to plastic waste. Ladakh offers plethora of places that offer authentic regional food. 

#5 Privacy & Safety :
With growth of social media marketing the hunger for that perfect picture has increased many fold. Do seek approval before taking pictures of women and children for ladakhis are primarily shy. Wandering into private property is not called for. Take adequate safety precautions while taking selfies on the edge of the cliff or on a moving bike. The freak accidents turn the whole place into tizzy.

#6 Flora & Fauna : Indian Govt has banned poaching and hunting. The snow leopard, Ladakh Urial & Tibetan gazelle top the endangered list. While riding the double humped camel kindness is the word! The region houses numerous herbs & medicinal plant varieties. Avoid stuffing bags with any plant you can lay your hands on! 

#7 Haste & Waste:
Reduce, Reduce & Reduce. The rising piles of garbage is causing defacement of the hills. Avoid indiscriminate spitting, urinating, dispose trash esp. baby diapers appropriately. Ladakh region follows traditional method of sewage disposal get a hang of it esp. checking into homestay to avoid unpleasantness later.
 #8 Encouragement to Economy: One cannot resist shopping in Ladakh. From pocket friendly memorabilia to exquisite Tibetan rugs, apricot jam, aromatic oils to woollies buy indigenous products and handiworks. If staying in a serviced apartment buy locally grown vegetables and fruits. They are not only fresh but cheaper too. Instead of high end shops for go in the by lanes for buying jewelry.  Avoid getting lured by counterfeit gemstones. Haggle reasonably without sounding rude and arrogant. 

#9 Criticize less Compliment more: Ladakh might not offer hip nightlife and may turn out to be the most rewarding in serenity .Spread the word with honest reviews and help the community grow.