Mumbai to Ladakh: A Life-Changing Internship

It was the summer of 2015, and my summer internship was about to begin.

As a student at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences , I was always eager to look into new opportunities and gain real-world experience. When the time came to apply for my summer internship, I knew I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in something truly unique.

I had set my sights on two extraordinary destinations—Andaman and Leh—each offering its own set of challenges and learning experiences. Little did I know that one of these places would leave an indelible mark on my life.

And one fateful day, I received a call back from Ladakh Ecological Development Group in Leh. I was beyond excited and immediately began planning my journey. At the time, I had already shared a remarkable experience with my friend Kavin Gokul — we cycled from Mumbai to Bangalore via the Western Ghats, a journey that had forever changed me. (Will tell you about that later). But this was going to be something even more extraordinary.

Leh, nestled in the heart of the Himalayan desert, is a breathtaking region of stark mountains and tranquil landscapes. However, its fragile ecosystem is increasingly vulnerable, with over-tourism and climate change accelerating the melting of glaciers, disrupting local water sources, and threatening the delicate balance of its natural environment.

I flew from Mumbai to Delhi, then took a bus to Jammu, where I stayed with a friend. After two days of waiting, I found a shared taxi heading to Leh. The season in Leh was just opening up — the roads, closed due to extreme winter and heavy snow, were finally accessible. A group of seven of us piled into a Tata Sumo, and we were off.

What was supposed to be a 22-hour journey turned into a 50-hour ride due to unexpected weather conditions. We stopped halfway through and ended up spending the night at a stranger’s home. That night, I truly experienced the hospitality of Ladakhi people, who opened their doors to us despite not knowing us.

The next morning, we set off again toward Leh, our journey now stretching into what felt like an eternity. The cold was biting, and the discomfort of the ride seemed endless. But after what felt like a lifetime of waiting and traveling, passing through world's most beautiful landscape we finally arrived in the town.

Exhausted but thrilled, I was eager to get some rest. But before anything else, I needed to relieve myself. As I walked towards the bathroom, I was met with something completely unfamiliar — a pit toilet.

Having grown up with running water and modern amenities, this was a whole new world for me. I stood there for a moment, taking in the simplicity of it all. No flush, no taps, just a hole in the ground and a shovel of sand beside it. It was a humbling experience, something I had never encountered before, and it made me realize just how different life can be in a place like this.

It wasn’t just about the toilet—it was about the resilience and resourcefulness of the people living here, making do with what they had. And in that moment, I understood just a little more about how they had managed to thrive in such a remote, challenging environment.

Next day my friend Deachu explained, all the waste collected in these toilets was used as compost for agriculture. It was a perfect example of how the Ladakhi people had adapted to their harsh environment, finding ways to minimize their ecological footprint.

I realized how much we, in urban settings, take for granted when it comes to water and waste management. It was the first of many lessons I would learn in Ladakh — lessons about sustainability, community resilience, and the importance of living in harmony with nature.

Why I Want to Share These Stories

Through these daily stories, I want to offer a glimpse into experiences working with communities, not just as an observer, but as someone deeply engaged in climate solutions and sustainable development.

In each of these stories, I will share the lessons I've learned about how communities around the world are adapting to the challenges of climate change and how we can all make a difference.

I hope they inspire you as much as they have inspired me, and that they help you see the bigger picture of how we can address the challenges of the climate crisis, one small but powerful step at a time.

Stay tuned for more insights on how sustainable living is unfolding in unexpected places and how we can all contribute to a brighter, more resilient future.

#climate #resilience #leh