Who would have thought you can go shopping at 18,380 feet? Apparently you can – at the souvenir shop located at the Khardungla Pass in Ladakh run by the Indian Army. And what it claims is the highest souvenir shop in the world.
What can you buy here? Merchandise with branding of the pass. There were ceramic pen stands going for Rs. 60 each, a set of six coffee mugs for Rs. 180 and decorative plates for Rs. 140 and Rs. 190 in two sizes. There were T-shirts too but I could not check the price.
There were a lot of informative posters and maps on the walls, and I asked if one could buy these. No, said the Army jawan (soldier) on duty. Why don’t you make photocopies and sell these, I suggested. The soldier immediately reacted in an upset tone, “What, you want me to lose my job?” Whoa, hold it. I was not suggesting he do anything illegally but as policy. I decided to leave it that. And focused on reading up the posters and buying a few pen stands.
