I visited Hunder, only to realise how unplanned trips don’t need… | – The Times of India

Is an unplanned trip better than a planned one? In my opinion, a big YES! Planned trips make me anxious. There’s something about itineraries, timelines, and ticking boxes that drains the joy out of travel for me. I prefer to let the road decide—no rigid plans, just a direction and an open mind. Maybe this is just my way of justifying my anxiety, but every unplanned trip I’ve taken has led me to places where I feel I’ve left a piece of myself behind. Even today, if I close my eyes and think about them, I can vividly remember almost every bit of it.One such place is Hunder.It was the month of September, when I along with my friends planned a Leh trip. We had no itinerary basically, but had some places in mind that we wanted to cover. After landing there, we took two days to acclimatize, and then we started our Leh sightseeing, which took us to places like Pangong Lake, Alchi, Lamayuru, Hunder and more.

We had booked an Innova for the entire seven-day trip. Yes, seven days—long enough to slow down and let the landscape sink in. Most mornings, we started early, around 7 or 8 am, to make the most of the day. If you Google the distance from Leh to Hunder, it will tell you the journey takes about four hours. Here’s a small tip: never trust that number. In Ladakh, distances aren’t measured in kilometres or hours, but in moments—moments when you stop again and again because the views demand it. With a relaxed pace and countless photo stops, we finally reached Hunder around 4 pm.One halt that deserves a special mention is Khardung La Pass. It was bitterly cold up there—so cold that we were happily gulping down boiling hot Maggi. There was a small shop selling it, packed with people, and for a moment I thought my turn would never come. But when it did, that Maggi tasted like the best meal of my life. I still crave that warmth and flavour.After some time up there, clicking photos and managing through the crowd, we drove ahead. I was not up for the surprise that Hunder was waiting to unravel.The road stretched endlessly, and we enjoyed every second of it. Leh is one of those places where long drives stay with you long after the journey ends. And then, suddenly, there it was—Hunder. As we approached, everything felt different. It didn’t resemble Leh at all. It felt like a slice of Central Asia dropped unexpectedly into the Himalayas. Once a resting point along the historic Silk Route, Hunder still carries echoes of trade, exploration, and wonder.The landscape changed in the blink of an eye. Silent sand dunes lay before us, surrounded by towering mountains. It looked unreal—like something straight out of a picture book.There were plenty of activities there to keep the tourists engaged. Another highlight was the Bactrian camels that were known for their distinctive two humps. They were used for camel safaris, which many were experiencing. We decided to give it a miss for some good reasons. These camels are the hardy, hump backed leggy animal that is often called the ‘ship of the desert’ that can go days without water.

We visited during the month of September, which is also considered the best time to visit Hunder. It remains accessible and at its most vibrant. During the day time, the weather remains pleasantly cool, when camel rides and desert strolls are easily doable. Try to avoid the winter months, when the temperatures drop below the freezing point, and most campsites also shut down.As the sun dipped below the horizon, the cold crept in quickly. After trying our hand at archery—yes, that was a thing there—we looked for a nearby homestay to call it a night. But the night had other plans. The sky was crystal clear, and the stars felt endless. We sat there for hours, gazing upward, until exhaustion finally pulled us inside.The next day, as usual, we started our journey ahead. I visited Hunder, only to realise how unplanned trips don’t need explaining. But Hunder stayed in our hearts. Until next time. I will try to come see you soon.