Hitch hiking stories from Ladakh

Hitchhiking is a popular way of getting around Ladakh. The places are so remote and the public transportation options so minimal that people have no choice but to hitchhike. And for their part the vehicle drivers are always willing to stop and pickup anyone wanting to go in their direction. Sometimes for free and sometimes for a little fee.

Growing up, hitchhiking was a common practice. Especially during my college days where getting a lift basically made all the difference between arriving in time for class or arriving late and having to miss the entire morning session. I gave up the practice after leaving college and never once hitchhiked during all my travels.

But all that changed when i visited Ladakh last year (2010). I used to take the local buses to visit the villages around Leh and hitchhike on the way back to Leh. There was no other option as the buses were few and far between and sometimes do not run after 5 in the evening. I was a bit hesitant at first, but slowly got into the groove and ended up meeting quite a few interesting characters.