Lighting The Himalayas Team Treks To Phugtal Monastery

NDTV Prime, in association with the Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE), has undertaken an initiative to power up Phugtal Monastery. The monastery, tucked away in the heart of the Himalayas has always lived in darkness. The expedition team is trekking its way up to electrify it with solar power.

The trekking trail to Phugtal was full of loose sand and rocks. One slip could lead to a fatal fall down towards the river Lungnak.

The team left Cha village for Phugtal early in the morning.
Tired from hiking in the stark terrain of Zanskar, the team continued to walk patiently for hours under the scorching sun.
The trek to Phugtal entails beautiful wide valleys and shadowed mountains at the edge. The team of change-makers walked towards their destination with a sense of awe for nature's beauty.

After climbing the steep mountains of Lungnak Valley for over five hours, the team decided to take a short break. But the fast winds and the blistering heat of the sun made for an undesirable ambiance.
Team members Lee Wadsworth and Jose Lobos gained speed over the others, and walked much ahead of others on their way to Phugtal.
The trek to the Phugtal Monastery is exciting, thrilling and adventurous. The team crossed several crags on their way to the 2,500 year old monastery.

The expedition team included a few porters, electricians and over 2000kgs worth of luggage. The luggage was carried from Leh to Phugtal in vehicles, and on horses.
Walking over rocks for hours injured the feet of a few team members, and caused knee injuries to a few others.
The trek involved walking over the jagged rocks, crossing temporary bridges, and steep passages.

After walking for several hours through the barren mountains of the Himalayas, the team was inching closer to the Phugtal Monastery.