Since she was 12, motorcycles have always fascinated Raima Samui Sarkar. She tried to ride one even before her feet could touch the ground when seated. Her other fascination has been the picturesque landscape of Ladakh. Her dream of combining the two became a reality when she stumbled upon Pathfinders, a biking community that welcomed her to join them on a rigorous ride to the Himalayas.
Pathfinders has been visiting Ladakh on bike since 1989 and has been passing on the experience to the next generation of bikers who have dreamed of taking the much-famed ride.
In an effort to showcase the photography skills of the bikers, an exhibition titled ‘Natural Instinct’ has been set up at the Visual Arts Gallery at the India Habitat Centre. It comprises photographs clicked during their numerous trips.
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One of the photographs says a lot about how tourism has left its mark in the pristine Pangong Tso: it has been littered with beer bottles. The other photographs showcase the surreal beauty of Ladakh. Blue skies, crystal clear water, wildlife and the unique topography are contrasted with the photographs of hard work and determination required to reach places from where such photographs can be taken.
The exhibition also highlights the social programmes that the bikers run during their trip in order to give back to the people of the hills.
The exhibition was inaugurated on Thursday by the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and will be on till December 27.
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