Hotel Caravan Centre

Being up here in Skara, Leh-Ladakh, is quite different from being in a city. Everything depends on the weather and the season. When the roads are open, we get quite busy. When it’s winter, things get very quiet. The hotel is tucked away a bit, so it isn't as noisy as being right in the middle of the main market. We have some space around the building, which is nice. Most of our day is spent making sure there’s enough hot water and that the kitchen is stocked up. It’s not always easy getting supplies up here, so we have to plan ahead. The rooms are simple. We don't have all those high-tech gadgets you find elsewhere, but it's comfortable enough for a few nights. People come here to see the mountains and the monasteries, and we just provide the place for them to rest. We talk to the guests a lot because it’s a small place and everyone ends up in the common areas eventually. It feels more like a big house sometimes than a business. We keep the garden looked after as much as the climate allows. It’s a lot of manual work, keeping the place running in such a high-altitude spot, but we’re used to it by now. It’s just home for us and a stop for those passing through Skara.