Braq Karpo Base Camp

 Text and Photographs by Mr. Sachin Vaidya

Braq Karpo Base Camp [15,100 ft.] is a base camp to Nindum LhaRi Peak [18,000 ft.]. In local language, Nindum LhaRi means 'The Spirit Mountain'.

The base camp is located in the Kargil District of Indian Union Territory of Ladakh. I did the trek during June 2023 with the help of Kargil based tour company - Roots Ladakh. For location of base camp and mountain, please access the following web page provided by Roots Ladakh.

Location of base camp and mountain

I hereby present day-to-day account of my trek to the base camp.

Day 1 [4th June 2023]

As GoFirst airline cancelled its flights, I had to book Mumbai to Leh [11,483 ft.] and return tickets of another airline. Both the journeys were non stop. Without any night halt at Leh, I proceeded to Kargil [8,779 ft.]. I stayed at Zara Guest House at Kargil, details of the same can be accessed at following google map and reviews:

Zara Guest House

Day 2 [5th June 2023]

In the morning, Roots Ladakh staff [guide: Mr. Nissar and driver: Mr. Mustafa] came to pick me up at the guest house. It was a reunion after nearly two years. My earlier treks with Roots Ladakh were Kun Base Camp and Nun Base Camp during September 2021.

Mr. Nissar had invited Mr. Parvez as a helper who was also a helper during earlier treks during 2021. However, Parvez did not come. Nissar hired a local boy [from Hinasku village] as a helper.

Roots Ladakh vehicle took us to Hinasku [12,150 ft.] village which lies in Kargil District. The journey from Kargil to Hinasku took approximate three hours.

Hinasku was a village in the lap of Himalayas.

It was 100% Buddhist Village.

At the village, Roots Ladakh had put a board with the help of Indian Army.

There was electricity at the village. The night halt was at Hinasku in a home stay.

Day 3 [6th June 2023]

The trek started from Hinasku around 7 am. Lush green fields were visible at the backdrop of snow capped mountains.

Hinasku was a typical Ladakhi village.

The mountains were calling.

The trek route was more or less even.

Coloured wild flowers were soothing to the eyes.

Buddhist religious symbols were visible in the mountains.

Domesticated yaks were found grazing.

A variety of shrubs were found on the way.

A rock had purple shade.

We were nearing our destination for the day.

After walking for around two hours and three km, we reached Chumik Dangmo [14,100 ft] around 9 am.

This was my tent.

This was kitchen-cum-staff tent.

The next day's destination was visible.

Day 4 [7th June 2023]

I photographed the mountains before quarter to six in the morning.

Roots Ladakh staff wound up the camp. In total, there were three staff: guide, cook, helper.

Donkeys were used to carry the luggage during the whole trek.

We started our trek before 8 am. 

At very high altitude, limited vegetation was visible.

The trek path was more or less even.

The weather started turning bad.

Before 10 am, we reached a place where Mr. Nissar decided to pitch the tents. We walked around for two hours and three km.

The camping place was away from and at an altitude lower than Braq Karpo Base Camp [15,100 ft.].

Due to snow at the Base Camp, Mr. Nissar took the decision.

The camp was being set up.

The weather was turning bad.

It was interesting to watch pitching up of tents.

Due to snowfall throughout the day, we had to confine ourselves to the tents from morning till evening. However when the skies cleared after six in the evening, Nissar and I walked towards the Base Camp.

However, we could not reach the Base Camp due to paucity of time.

After photography, we returned to the camp.

                                    Day 5 [8th June 2023]

The donkeys had their food before the return journey.

Bright wildflowers were soothing to the eyes.

We started the return trek around 07-30 am.

For the first time during the trek, we could touch hard snow.

Nissar and I had a group photo.

The water sculpture behind us had been automatically created by leakage from a water pipe supplying water from the mountain to the village lying at relatively low altitude.

The thin water pipe is visible in the following photograph:

The return trek was a gradual descend.

Dew was still visible on tiny shrubs.

Typical Ladakhi landscape was around.

We reached Hinasku village around 09-30 am.

After having rest and tea, we travelled to Kargil by the same route. After buying dry fruits at Kargil market, I came back to Zara Guest House [which was three km. away from the Kargil market] for night stay.

                                            Day 6 [9th June 2023]

After completion of the trek, I travelled from Kargil to Leh by vehicle. I stayed at Hotel Royal Palace for the night. It was a pleasure to meet the hotel manager Mr. Prakash. We knew each other since 2010. I had been his regular customer since then. He was manager at Hotel Yasmin [before renovation], Hotel Mayflower over a period of time and I had stayed at these hotels.

                                            Day 7 [10th June 2023]

The last day was direct flight from Leh to Mumbai. As I got window seat, I could shoot photographs from the window of aeroplane.

Snow-capped mountains were visible from the Leh airport.

A new airport building was being built at Leh.

I had a bird's eye view of the greenery and river.

The next photograph shows a combination of greenery, barren mountains, and snow-capped mountains.

With a few more photographs of snow capped mountains shot from the aeroplane, I conclude my travelogue.