Nov 7, 2020
The Leh–Manali Highway is a 429 km (267 mi) long highway in northernmost India connecting Leh, the capital of the union territory of Ladakh, to Manali in the state of Himachal Pradesh. It connects the Manali Solang valley to the Lahaul and Spiti valleys in Himachal Pradesh and the Zanskar valley in Ladakh. It is open for only about five months in a year, from mid-May or June (when the snow is cleared from the highway) to October, when snowfall again blocks the high passes on the highway. However, the Lahaul valley will now remain connected to Manali for most part of the year through Atal tunnel. The Leh–Manali Highway has been designed, built and being maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) of the Indian army. It supports the heaviest army vehicles. The average elevation of Leh-Manali highway is more than 4,000 m (13,000 feet)[1] and its highest elevation is 5,328 m (17,480 ft) at the Taglang La mountain pass. It is flanked by mountain ranges on both sides, featuring stunning sand and rock natural formations. The road between Leh-Manali in Ladakh. The highway crosses many small streams of ice-cold water from snow-capped mountains and glacial melts without a bridge and it requires driving skill to negotiate fast-flowing streams. The landscape changes immediately after getting past the Atal tunnel and the greenery starts receding upon entering the Chandra river valley in the Lahaul region that lies in the rain-shadow. After crossing Darcha, the greenery completely disappears and the mountain slopes on the leeward side become brown and arid. However, the mountain peaks are covered in snow and shine brightly in the sun. The Leh-Manali highway is generally two lanes wide (one lane in each direction) without a road divider, but has only one or one and a half lanes at some stretches. It has over a dozen Bailey bridges and many of them are now being upgraded to two-lane steel bridges.. The highway has many damaged stretches and under-maintained portions, where even a little rainfall can trigger dangerous landslides. The road quality is poor from Zingzingbar to Pang and high speed can cause discomfort.
Premiered Mar 8, 2020
At an altitude of nearly 4,000 meters, Sking is one of the most isolated villages in the Himalayan region of Zanskar. In just three months, from August to October, the Zanskaris have to harvest and store all their food for the coming year. All the women-young and old alike-work nonstop, from dawn to dusk, and worry about the arrival of winter. Filmed from the point of view of a subjective camera by a young female ethnologist, Land of Women offers a sensitive and poetic immersion in the life of four generations of women during harvesting season. We share their rare intimacy and gradually grow attached to them. “Himalaya, Land of Women” Direction: Marianne Chaud Production: ZED & ARTE France – Manuel Catteau, Thierry Garrel & Pierrette Ominetti SLICE wants to fill up your curiosity!
Nov 29, 2020
Urgan is 9 years old. He lives in a village in the northern Himalayas, isolated at 3,800 meters above sea level. The Buddhist tradition wants him to leave his family to join his monastery. To do so, he will have to cross the Wori La pass, located at more than 5,000 meters above sea level. Accompanied by his cousin, he travels for several days on an initiatory path marked by funny situations, unexpected, spiritual, disturbing or fascinating encounters: a path to enlightenment.